The Landscape Heirtage of Zouk Mkayel | Agri[cultural] Park | Research Based Landscape Project

The Landscape Heritage of Zouk Mkayel Highlighting the PAST in the PRESENT for the FUTURE to come The Agri[Cultural] Park

Outline 1

Introduction of Zouk Mkayel

2

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces

3

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel

4

Wadi Hantouch

5

Take Home Message

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1

Introduction of Zouk Mkayel

Zouk Mkayel Aerial View

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1.1

Introduction of Zouk Mkayel | Location & Background Information

ZOUK MKAYEL

ZOUK MKAYEL BEIRUT (AUB)

BEIRUT (AUB)

• Keserwan Region • 17 km north of Beirut • 308 hectares

Zouk Mkayel is a small town located in the Keserwan region of Lebanon, just after Nahr El Kalb (Dog River). This project is centred around the existing landscape heritage of Zouk Mkayel and how it has slowly has disappeared throughout the years, with the focus now being of how it can be revived in the present day. The method to achieve this to revive the heritage and identity of Zouk Mkayel as a whole town; collectively and not through individual sectors.

• 36,000 inhabitants • Established in 1307

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1.2

Introduction of Zouk Mkayel | Historical Information

1307: Town of “Zouk Mkayel” emerged when the Memluks advanced from Egypt to Lebanon, building their “Zouks” (settlements).

1807: Zouk Mkayel was the apostolic center

1733: First Arab printing press in the East was built in the Souks of Zouk Mkayel by Abdallah Zakher and Zouki Jeweler Sleiman Kattan.

1825: Bechara Jaffal El Khazen established the economic moement in the market.

1816: Zouk Mkayel was the heart of the Roman Catholic Patriarchate.

1958-1964: Core of Presidential Palace during the mandate of President Fouad Chehab.

1859: The Peasants’ Revolution

1976: Core of Presidential Palace during the mandate of late President Suleiman Frangieh

1963: Attorney Nouhad Nawfal became head of the Municipality of Zouk Mkayel.

2013: New 2 million dollar sports center opened by the municipality.

2003: Twinned with the city of EU, France.

1999: Zouk Mkayel named the “Flower City” and “City of Peace” by UNESCO.

2009: Twinned with the city of RueilMalmaison, France.

Brief History Timeline

Entrance of Zouk Mkayel, 1914

General View, 1915

Palace of the Municipality

The name of the town, “Zouk Mkayel,” emerged on an important date- 1307- when the Crusades retreated and the Mamluks advanced from Egypt to Lebanon. They built their “Zouks” or settlements along the Lebanese shoreline. Due to it strategic position, Zouk Mkayel was a watchtower used to insure that the Crusaders were not attacking them from Greece and Egypt. Before 1307 it was inhabited by a few residents, but was not known. The origin of the word “Zouk” is Turkish, and can either mean guard, sentry, place, souk or square. In the case of Zouk Mkayel, it means “souk”, the Arabic word for market. The word “Mikayel” is derived from the Semitic Languages in the Canaanite books. Like most Lebanese villages, the name “Zouk Mkayel” is a compound and based on a historical event. This historical event is the inhabitation of the Zouk coast by Turkmen.

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1.3

Introduction of Zouk Mkayel | Historical Information - Souk

The Old Souk (Market) is the first pedestrian market in Lebanon, and is important because is combines memory, narrative and history and heritage together. Referring to the Souk growth diagram, it can be seen how the town of Zouk Mkayel grew from around the souk.

The Souk represents the landscape heritage and the built heritage, which have to co-exist; this becomes very evident in the Souk. A mixture of the old architecture with the stairs, the vegetation which ranges from aesthetic flowers to fruit trees to agriculture- it is one of the few places in Zouk Mkayel in which the past has been preserved and remains untouched.

The Souk is only used during the summer when there is the famous “Souk el Zouk� event, where craftsman, fresh food markets and artists come together to sell and display. Other than that, it is a lost place where only the usual brides come to take photographs for their weddings.

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1.4

Introduction of Zouk Mkayel | Historical Information - Souk

Did You Know?

• The Lebanese scouts were established by the Priests at the Mar jirjis Church, allowing boys to take part in the souk activities as well as activities around the town itself.

• There was a local school to teach this craft to the younger generation. Today these crafts are still done but at a much smaller scale although the represent a huge part of the history and development of the town of Zouk and its people.

• The old theatre was located within the souk and it was a community theater with the cast and crew made up of people from the town. Because the theater was so important to Zouk Mkayel, the present day Roman Amphitheatre was built embracing the performing arts.

• Elias Abou Chabake, the famous Zouki poet, took the lead in the theater productions in the souk and was mostly found there, making the souks a local hub for intellectuals to gather and share thoughts and ideas.

• Crafts makers had their shops in the souk, such as jewelers and shoemakers, but the most famous was the Arab Loom (Nawl), which had both men and women practicing this craft.

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1.5

Introduction of Zouk Mkayel | The Past vs The Present

Upper Souk (Market)

Lower Souk (Market)

Presidential Palace

Municipality Palace

The upper Souk was once a place for the shoemakers, who specialized in women’s shoes.

But with time, they slowly disappeared and now there are no festivals or shops open, just residents of the homes.

The lower Souk in the past resembled any other Soukof the time; there was a large variety of things available. Today, it’s a place of leisure, filled with restaurants, entertainment areas and craftsman’s shops.

The Presidential Palace was once home to two of Lebanon’s presidents, putting the town on the map and made it known.

Today it remains closed to the public, despite its renovation efforts from the municipality.

The Municipality Palace is still present today, surrounded by lush vegetation planted by the municipality staff. This palace is also closed to the public.

“Al Nawl” (Arab Loom)

There were special schools for learning this craft, in which the older generation would teach the youth. These craftsmen also took part in international fairs and trades.

Shoemaking

The upper Souk was most known for its shoemakers. Nowadays, they are found in the lower Souk and in fewer numbers. It seems this craft is slowly vanishing.

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1.6

Introduction of Zouk Mkayel | Stories

“I remember that it was all a forest, and no one would dare to walk around after the sun had set because it was very scary. It was full of almond and olive trees, and after a good rainfall we would collect snails.”

Charbel Aoun, raised in Zouk Mkayel

“Your great-grandfather used to plant all kinds of vegetables and fruits around the house, before all the buildings started to rise. And there would be taps that provided water every 100 meters. It was a good time.”

George Aoun, raised & lives in Zouk Mkayel

“All I remember involves me around the garden, having fun and being a happy child.”

Raymond Aoun, raised & lives in Zouk Mkayel

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2

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces In having such a rich culture, heritage and history, it would be a great loss to not maintain and accentuate them. The history and the heritage are what a town is made of, what is has become in the present day and would not be there if it was not for what was done and what had occurred in the past.

One of the main problematics in Zouk Mkayel is major loss of the heritage and identity would be the slow loss of the landscape heritage the vegetation and green areas.

The municipality has done three major steps to address this problem.

1) Collected and compiled all the historical evidence, stories and facts concerning Zouk Mkayel and turning them into a series of different books and volumes.

2)The Municipality magazine: talks about present day stories and developments while relating them to the past and the history.

3) The first public park in the town; a safe green space for the residents and visitors to enjoy.

While this is major step towards maintaining the heritage and history, the books, the magazine and the garden are not accentuating them.

They are not inviting the locals to fully understand their own town, to experience, interact, learn and embrace it.

Conceptual Representation

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2.1

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces | Town Concept

SITE: Are important within themselves; What is present inside the site is valuable information and shows the potential of the site and what it could become in the future.

SURROUNDINGS: Have unique history and heritage that add qualities to the site; Surroundings change, the site changes and adapts to fit into what is happening.

TOWN: Each site and its surroundings are important to the town, defining the town’s heritage and history. They bring out stories and memories from the locals, bringing them to life.

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2.2

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces | Town Concept

Sea-side Agricultural Patch

SITE: Are important within themselves; What is present inside the site is valuable information and shows the potential of the site and what it could become in the future.

SURROUNDINGS: Have unique history and heritage that add qualities to the site; Surroundings change, the site changes and adapts to fit into what is happening.

TOWN: Each site and its surroundings are important to the town, defining the town’s heritage and history. They bring out stories and memories from the locals, bringing them to life.

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2.3

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces | Town Concept

Presidential Palace

SITE: Are important within themselves; What is present inside the site is valuable information and shows the potential of the site and what it could become in the future.

SURROUNDINGS: Have unique history and heritage that add qualities to the site; Surroundings change, the site changes and adapts to fit into what is happening.

TOWN: Each site and its surroundings are important to the town, defining the town’s heritage and history. They bring out stories and memories from the locals, bringing them to life.

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2.4

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces | Town Concept

Club Kahraba

SITE: Are important within themselves; What is present inside the site is valuable information and shows the potential of the site and what it could become in the future.

SURROUNDINGS: Have unique history and heritage that add qualities to the site; Surroundings change, the site changes and adapts to fit into what is happening.

TOWN: Each site and its surroundings are important to the town, defining the town’s heritage and history. They bring out stories and memories from the locals, bringing them to life.

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2.5

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces | Town Concept

SITE: Are important within themselves; What is present inside the site is valuable information and shows the potential of

New Municipality Sports Center

the site and what it could become in the future.

SURROUNDINGS: Have unique history and heritage that add qualities to the site; Surroundings change, the site changes and adapts to fit into what is happening.

TOWN: Each site and its surroundings are important to the town, defining the town’s heritage and history. They bring out stories and memories from the locals, bringing them to life.

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2.6

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces | Town Concept

SITE: Are important within themselves; What is present inside the site is valuable information and shows the potential of

Church Planted Garden

the site and what it could become in the future.

SURROUNDINGS: Have unique history and heritage that add qualities to the site; Surroundings change, the site changes and adapts to fit into what is happening.

TOWN: Each site and its surroundings are important to the town, defining the town’s heritage and history. They bring out stories and memories from the locals, bringing them to life.

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2.7

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces | Town Concept

SITE: Are important within themselves; What is present inside the site is valuable information and shows the potential of the site and what it could become in the future.

SURROUNDINGS: Have unique history and heritage that add qualities to the site; Surroundings change, the site changes and adapts to fit into what is happening.

TOWN: Each site and its surroundings are important to the town, defining the town’s heritage and history. They bring out stories and memories from the locals, bringing them to life.

Abou Chabke Museum

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2.8

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces | Town Concept

SITE: Are important within themselves; What is present inside the site is valuable information and shows the potential of the site and what it could become in the future.

SURROUNDINGS: Have unique history and heritage that add qualities to the site; Surroundings change, the site changes and adapts to fit into what is happening.

TOWN: Each site and its surroundings are important to the town, defining the town’s heritage and history. They bring out stories and memories from the locals, bringing them to life.

Open Road-Side Museum

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2.9

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces | Town Concept

SITE: Are important within themselves; What is present inside the site is valuable information and shows the potential of the site and what it could become in the future.

SURROUNDINGS: Have unique history and heritage that add qualities to the site; Surroundings change, the site changes and adapts to fit into what is happening.

TOWN: Each site and its surroundings are important to the town, defining the town’s heritage and history. They bring out stories and memories from the locals, bringing them to life.

Wadi Adonis

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2.10

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces | Town Concept

SITE: Are important within themselves; What is present inside the site is valuable information and shows the potential of the site and what it could become in the future.

SURROUNDINGS: Have unique history and heritage that add qualities to the site; Surroundings change, the site changes and adapts to fit into what is happening.

TOWN: Each site and its surroundings are important to the town, defining the town’s heritage and history. They bring out stories and memories from the locals, bringing them to life.

Old Inner Roads

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2.11

Problematic: Fading Green Spaces | Town Concept

SITE: Are important within themselves; What is present inside the site is valuable information and shows the potential of the site and what it could become in the future.

SURROUNDINGS: Have unique history and heritage that add qualities to the site; Surroundings change, the site changes and adapts to fit into what is happening.

TOWN: Each site and its surroundings are important to the town, defining the town’s heritage and history. They bring out stories and memories from the locals, bringing them to life.

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3

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel

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3.1

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Building Age

Existing Building Old House New Building

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3.2

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Building Age

Existing Building

Old House

New Building

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3.3

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Developments

Symbolic Buildings Public Garden Sports Center Art Sculptures Memorials Monument of Peace

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3.4

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Developments

Public Garden

Memorials

Monument of Peace

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3.5

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Heritage

Buildings Old Roads Terraced Agriculture

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3.6

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Heritage

Buildings

Terraced Agriculture

Old Roads

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3.7

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Roads & Parkings

Roads Parkings

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3.8

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Roads & Parkings

Old Roads

New Roads

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3.9

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Religion

Churches Cemeteries

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3.10

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Religion

1709 Mar Jirjis

1727 Mar Doumit

1850 Saydet El Maounat (Old)

1966 Saydet El Maounat (New)

2000 Saydet El Najat

Each church represents a different branch of Christianity and each has its own special architecture behind it. They are already preserved, but accentuating them and making them more open to the public would shed light on the importance of religious tourism in the area. The preservation of all the churches and the fact that all are being used heavily is a clear sign that they are of high value. The churches and monasteries are also incorporated into other elements. For example, monasteries make marzipan and have agricultural fields, hold festivals and carnivals for the youth. They are important to represent separately as a religious element, but also tie them with the other elements that they highlight.

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3.11

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Green Spaces

Agriculture Vegetated Lots Scrubland Terraced Agriculture Public Garden Nurseries

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3.12

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Green Spaces

Prunus dulcis

Morus nigra

Olea europea

Pistachia palestina

Zouk Mkayel was a mixture of a pine forest and the typical Mediterranean scrubland. After being inhabited by Turkmen, many pine trees were removed and replaced by oaks trees used for their grandiosity. During the boom of the silk trade between the East and the West, the Oak trees were then replaced with Mulberry trees. These trees were used to feed the silkworms that produced silk. Zouk Mkayel was and important part of the silk trade in the Middle East, and improved the lives of many all while giving importance to the town in the region.

After the silk trade died down, the Mulberry trees were then replaced by almond trees, so many so that the Zoukis decided to utilize them to create a signature sweet. The marzipan – an almond paste sweet - and sambousik – a holiday sweet stuffed with almonds -gave Zouk Mkayel a status as being one of the best and only places in Lebanon to get such sweets.

Pinus halepensis

Punica granatum

Quercus calliprinos

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3.13

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Miscellaneous

Factories & Companies

Shops, Restaurants, Gas Stations

Commercial Zone

Hospital

Charity

Army Residence

Paved Lots

Educational

Beach Resorts

New Villas

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3.14

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Character

“Lost”: Mixture of Industries, Factories, Agricultural land, Beach Resorts

“Suburban”: Families, small gardens, distances buildings, quiet

“Favelas”: Densely built buildings, small narrow roads

“Nature”: Natural vegetation and landscape, mountains and valley

“Commercial”: Sweets, Clothing, Food, Supermarket, Cinemas, Pharmacies, Cafes, Restaurants

“Urban”: Families, City-like feel, cars, close buildings, small food shops

“Village”: Agriculture, old houses, old souks, distanced from highway

“Beverly Hills”: New homes and villas, sea and mountain view, lush gardens and fresh air

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3.15

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Character

“Lost”: Mixture of Industries, Factories, Agricultural land, Beach Resorts

“Favelas”: Densely built buildings, small narrow roads

“Urban”: Families, City-like feel, cars, close buildings, small food shops

“Commercial”: Sweets, Clothing, Food, Supermarket, Cinemas, Pharmacies, Cafes, Restaurants

“Suburban”: Families, small gardens, distances buildings, quiet

“Village”: Agriculture, old houses, old souks, distanced from highway

“Suburban”: Families, small gardens, distances buildings, quiet

“Beverly Hills”: New homes and villas, sea and mountain view, lush gardens and fresh air

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3.16

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Land Use

Institutions

Religious

Scrubland

Residential

Agriculture

Heritage

Empty Vegetated Lots

Commercial

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3.17

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Themes

The project is intended to discover all facts and stories about the heritage and history of Zouk and what gives it its identity. To utilize them in a way to bring them back to life and allowing the locals to rediscover their town in a new light. To be able to provide activities and information about the town in the elements that still very much part of the town.

Craftsmen

Vegetation

Community

Food

Religion

Memorials

Festivals

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3.18

Mapping of Zouk Mkayel | Desk Research There are 4 main types of landscapes according to the book Landscape Narrtives, which are: 1) Narrative Landscapes: routines, rituals, events that represent of follow a narrative structure, such as festivals.

2) Memory Landscapes: Places that serve as the tangible locus of memory for both public and private domain such as monuments, museums or personal places.

3) Interpretive Landscapes: elements and programs that tell what happened in a place, usually to make existing narratives intelligible.

4) Story Telling Landscapes: Places designed to tell specific stories references to events, characters that could be existing or made up.

All these types of landscapes are present in Zouk Mkayel, combined and blended together to form a landscape that tells stories and narratives and holds memories from the old and new generations. Memory is critical in the formation of identity in general, hence gathering and storing the memories help preserve an important place such as Zouk Mkayel, which in turn will aide with the development and what it will or can become in the future. Having a place with such a diverse type of landscape holds a challenge; a challenge to be able to tells these stories, narrative and memories in the landscape.

“Sequencing” began by saying that a story begins with an event that is subject to change. So even if a story is old, it can change to better fit the context that it is in. This is similar to the project in Zouk, in which the stories began with events that happened in the past but can be modified to fit into the present day. Sequences create a sense of “connectedness” connecting events that create an understandable story to the people despite that these events are independent. This shows how important sequencing is when a story or narrative where to be told through the landscape.

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4

Wadi Hantouch

Panoramic View from above the Valley

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4.1

Wadi Hantouch | Site History

Aerial Photo, 1990s

Aerial Photo, 2003

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4.2

Wadi Hantouch | Understanding the Site m

81m

120m

100

88m

130m

74m

64m

102m

1

140m

120m

2

3

150m

135m

142m

4

Base Plan of Existing Conditions

LEGEND Forest Rubble Spontaneous Vegetation Rock Outcrop 1

2

3

4

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4.3

Wadi Hantouch | Topography

0m

150m

135m

142m

140m

120m

88m

130m

74m

64m

102m

81m

120m

10

LEGEND

Existing Topography Lines of Site

Every 50 meters Every 10 meters Every 2 meters Seasonal River Site Limit

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4.4

Wadi Hantouch | Understanding the Site

Analysis of Existing Site LEGEND Bkirke Vegetation

Forest

Factory Sprawl

Destroyed Vegetation

Construction

Regression of Forest

Scrubland

Rubble

Urban Sprawl

Eroded land with random Vegetation

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4.5

Wadi Hantouch | Understanding the Site

Slope Analysis

LEGEND 70% + 55-70% 45-55% 30-45%

Sections throughout the Site

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4.6

Wadi Hantouch | Stories

“Used to be able to walk from the old Souk to the cemetaries, down the valley, cross to Bkirke and then continue to Harissa. There were no buildings or houses at the time - only forest.”

Charbel Aoun, raised in Zouk Mkayel

“There were old Arches over there that have been there from long ago. They were destroyed due to the construction...what a loss.”

Charbel Akiki, Administrative Director of the Union of Municipalities of Keserwan

“In the past people were able to walk at the botton of the valley; there used to be a pathway where people regularly enjoyed walks and nature. That’s not possible now.”

George Zgheib, Urban Planner at the Zouk Mkayel Municipality

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4.7

Wadi Hantouch | Master Plan Concept

Master Plan Concept LEGEND Reforestation Forest Trail River Walk Promenade

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4.8

Wadi Hantouch | Master Plan Concept | Photomontage

Forest Trail Walk

River Walk Promenade

The Forest Trail Walk is the highlight of the project, and can be used throughout the year in all seasons. It goes through the site, where users can enjoy all the trees that make up the history and heritage of Zouk Mkayel. There would be several stop points along the trail where each tree will be highlighted, with its history and importance explained. This trail allows people to experience the forest without having to destroy it. It is a journey of Zouk Mkayel, giving the public a convenient way to enjoy nature.

Although the secondary highligh of the project, the River Walk Promanade is just as important.

Reviving the old memory of the pathway by the river, users will have a place to take their morning or afternoon walks within a natural atmosphere. It would be enjoyed best during the winter time, when the seasonal river appears and the weather is cooler.

A connection to the past, the memories, nature and the other side of the valley, just how this was in the old days.

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4.9

Wadi Hantouch | Master Plan Concept | Erosion Control

Forest Trail Walk & River Walk Promenade The final step in the process would be to build the forest trail walk and the promenade walk. This is the last step as the levels of the ground would be finalized and any significant slope would be removed.

Vegetation & Reforestation Vegetation can also help with the erosion problem, so in addition to planting trees from the research, planting grass, ground cover and shrubs can help stop erosion especially during the winter time where there is excess water runoff.

Erosion Control To help solve the erosion problem, once the soil has been compacted, the use of erosion blankets and geocells depending on the percentage of the slope. To be able to have vegetation, it would be better to use geocells as we can plant over them.

Soil Replenishment Due to the high level of erosion on site, the soil need to be replenished in order for the vegetation to grow. The type of soil needs to be similar to the original type, and needs to be compacted for the erosion control to go over it.

Site Limit

The first step is knowing what the site limit is, or what it can be. Once it is set, we would be able to understand the limitation and constraints, how to deal with them, and start the process.

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4.10

Wadi Hantouch | Master Plan Concept | Vegetation

Pinus halepensis

Prunus dulcis

Quercus calliprinos

Olea europea

Morus nigra

Flowering Chart

Fruit Chart

The Landscape Heritage of Zouk Mkayel: Highlighting the PAST in the PRESENT for the FUTURE to come 51

4.11

Wadi Hantouch | Master Plan Concept | Case Studies

Alexandra Arch & Forest Walk| Singapore| 2008 “Comprising a 1.6 kilometre elevated pedestrian walkway has opened a portal to the treasury of natural heritage in Singapore. Alexandra Link is a key element in bringing to life the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s vision of linking up the 9 kilometre rolling expanse of the Southern Ridges to form an uninterrupted network of linkages for the public to enjoy convenient access to nature.”

Arninge-Ullna Riparian Forest Park | Stockholm, Sweden | 2014 “It envisions a new form of neighbourhood park which combines biological conservation with the functions of an urban park, engaging with the city and nature as one intertwined entity. Broad walkways form the base of the new route into the woods, with narrow walkways branching out and allowing for exploratory detours into the greenery. Native trees and plants are allowed to pierce through the design through recessed ochre gratings and careful excisions in the wooden structures, symbolising the philosophy that lies at the heart of the project.”

The Landscape Heritage of Zouk Mkayel: Highlighting the PAST in the PRESENT for the FUTURE to come 52

Extract the memories of the PAST, Adapt them in the PRESENT, Maintain the Landscape Heritage of Zouk Mkayel for the FUTURE.