Tripoli fabrication craft center with exhibition

Beirut Arab university, Faculty of Architecture, Tripoli

Project idea

The project is the first-of-its-kind in Mina, Tripoli, a fabrication craft center with exhibition, placed in an uninhabited area near the universities.
Searching for a philosophy for the project, related to the industrial field and manufacturing, and emphasizing the process of fabrication, from the initial idea till the physical product, the project focused on the dynamic action of manufacturing inspired by the rotational movement of the gear, which is a main element in the industries, and on how a rectangular plan derived from the shape of the land can lead to a unique shape out of a simple beginning, adopting Frank Gehry school of deconstructivism as style.

Project description

Applying the concept, the extruded rectangle is divided into three prisms, rotated on the same axis, each one with a specific angle of 15, 30, and 45 degrees anti-clockwise, inspired by the rotation of the gear.
The first one contains the majority of the functions, the second approaches to the entrance, and the third, dramatic and sharp contains the exhibition.
The first unit contains noisy areas as workshops and storages, and it's connected to the third unit which is the exhibition, to deliver products through a hidden corridor. The second unit consists of the main entrance and vertical circulation.
On the other hand, educational zones and employees areas considered as the quiet zones are placed in the first floor.
All of the workshops and classes have openings oriented to the north to be exposed to daylight only. Furthermore, shading devices are used on the south to minimize direct sunlight and glare.

Technical information

The main materials used are brutal concrete on walls and pavements, thermal insulating glass in curtain walls and doors, and painted steel with a shade of red-violet, called Tyrian purple color which was initially fabricated in Lebanon by Phoenician people out of species known by “Murex”, to emphasize the cultural background of fabrication here in Lebanon.
During the day no artificial lights are needed, even in the exhibition, due to the use of skylights with a second skin over the glass to minimize sunlight and throw a great artistic shadow inside.