Christelle Aoude - Architecture Thesis : Architecture and social restructuration

Lebanese University Faculty of fine Arts and Architecture Department of Architecture Branch III

Architecture and social restructuration.

Thesis submitted to the attainment of a Master Degree in Architecture.

Presented by Christelle Aoude

Supervision Committee: Dr. Mousbah Rajab Architect Raida Mouhsen Architect Fouad Hassanein

2017-2018

Acknowledgements

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my thesis committee for sharing their wisdom and guiding me through this journey. I express my gratitude for their time and their incredible tolerance during the writing of this thesis.

A big gratitude for my family and friends for your enduring encouragement.

To the one I am indebted to, more than anyone else, a sincere thanks to my beloved mother. God blessed me with your presence by myside, I hope to make you proud.

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Contents Introduction: .................................................................................................................................... 5 1.

Chapter 1: The link and rupture between Architecture and Society: ...................................... 9 1.1

A major bond between architecture and society. ............................................................. 9

1.2

The rupture: causes and effects. ..................................................................................... 12

1.2.1

The misleading visions of architects and clients:.................................................... 13

1.2.2

The consequences of post wars movement and modernism: .................................. 14

1.2.3

The impact of globalization on architecture: .......................................................... 15

1.2.4

The outcome of urban planning and regulations:.................................................... 15

1.3 2

Actions and solution towards equity and livelihood: city of Medellin. ......................... 17

Chapter 2: Guidelines towards a remedy: ............................................................................. 21 2.1

Role of architecture in struggling areas:......................................................................... 21

2.1.1

The architect duty in the restructuring the society: ................................................. 21

2.1.2

Architecture as a socio-cultural catalyst: ................................................................ 23

2.1.3

Architecture against crime and delinquency: .......................................................... 24

2.2

Public space: a new strategy to revive struggling communities ..................................... 26

2.2.1

The importance of public spaces in promoting our cities: ...................................... 26

2.2.2

Steps to an effective public space: .......................................................................... 28

2.3

Community participation: .............................................................................................. 29

2.3.1

What’s a community participation and who should contribute?............................. 30

2.3.2

The purpose of community participation: ............................................................... 31

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2.3.3 3

Chapter 3: Situation in Lebanon ........................................................................................... 35 3.1

Tripoli between development and segregation ............................................................... 36

3.2

Studies in the area: ......................................................................................................... 39

3.2.1

Urban development and neighborhood profile: ...................................................... 39

3.2.2

Socio-economic Status: ........................................................................................... 40

3.2.3

Site Survey: ............................................................................................................. 46

3.3 4

Methods of participation: ........................................................................................ 33

Proposed actions:............................................................................................................ 48

Chapter 4: Proposed Project: A Community Center one major solution .............................. 50 4.1

Why a community center?.............................................................................................. 51

4.2

Design guidelines of a community center: ..................................................................... 52

4.3

Case study: ..................................................................................................................... 55

4.3.1

UVA “The Paradise” - Medellin Urban Development Company:.......................... 55

4.3.2

Firstenburg Community Center: ............................................................................. 60

4.4

Site Analysis:.................................................................................................................. 70

4.4.1

Geographic location and landmarks:....................................................................... 70

4.4.1

Roads and sidewalks: .............................................................................................. 75

4.4.2

Site surroundings: ................................................................................................... 77

4.4.3

Surroundings and buildings: ................................................................................... 80

4.4.4

Plot area, Access and Orientation: .......................................................................... 82

4.5

Functions and organigram: ............................................................................................. 90

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4.5.1

Functions required: ................................................................................................. 90

4.5.2

Areas and preliminary bubble diagram: .................................................................. 93

4.6

Importance of the site and its influence on the surrounding: ......................................... 95

General Conclusion:...................................................................................................................... 97 References: .................................................................................................................................... 99 Books: ....................................................................................................................................... 99 Articles: ................................................................................................................................... 100 Websites: ................................................................................................................................. 101 Associations: ........................................................................................................................... 103 Biography:............................................................................................................................... 103 Table of figures: .......................................................................................................................... 105

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Introduction: In a community where poverty, crime, addictions and conflicts are brought up on a daily basis, an urge of hope and change is born inside each and every one of us. Politics, economist, sociologists and various more discipline have been long working on ending crises and fighting the imbalance in the world, some efforts were successful yet other failed to restore equity. However, the society’s concerns weren’t only addressed by those fields. From early times, civilization and its problems were a main focus in the domain of art. In particular, architecture has shown a huge interest in this matter throughout time: architects have always had a duty towards the public in finding effective solutions like sheltering people, providing the equipment that serves their daily activities and treating their most pressing matters. Among their duties come the restructuration of a society in need : here they intend to reform and give new structure and order to the existing configuration.1 In other words restructuring is the act of reorganizing a system in a new way to make it operate more effectively.2 One of the main reasons that triggered those thoughts was the aggravated situation in various countries; segregated and marginalized, different communities are lead to socio-economic problems like poverty, inequality and violence. The causes may differ but architecture might be the one of the solutions to optimize the situation and enhance the quality of life of those who are most in need. The role of architects is not limited to embellish developed countries in new ideas, technologies and materials, it goes beyond that to a more challenging responsibility. Another motive to select this topic is the desire to discover theories and approaches in the field of architecture that tackle the issue of social and economic problems within a society. As architecture is not an independent discipline, especially when it adopts a humanitarian case, this research will expose theories from other fields of studies as urban planning, landscape and sociology that collaborate with architecture in the aim to find solutions. Moreover, the wish of extending the knowledge and learn more about case studies from around the world and the solutions proposed was another factor.

1

English Oxford Living Dictionaries defines the word ‘restructuration’ as: “The action of giving a new structure to something; an instance of this.”

2 Definition of the term ‘restructure’ enlisted in the Cambridge Dictionary. Source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/restructure

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Our society doesn’t lack the potentials nor the goodwill and intentions of its people to improve.

Then again the problem remains because of the lack of collaboration between different parties and the absence of a space designed specifically to contribute and improve livelihood.

This thesis aims to discuss solutions related to the role of architecture in helping to reform the society: it will study the different ways that this discipline has used to target community issues (whether by collaborating with other fields to find the solutions or by shaping the remedy by its own functions and volumes). Moreover, it will highlight the impact of architecture on the public and vice versa: how urban planning, buildings and landscape affect the residence on one hand, and the role of the community in planning and designing their city on the other hand. Additionally, the dissertation will illustrate some similar cases tackling the same matter in order to create solutions for a current case in Tripoli- North Lebanon and to evaluate them.

Throughout time, architecture has persisted as one of the most profound reflections of cultures and societies. It was considered a mirror that illustrate the social, economic and political status of the people. It works on creating the physical environment in which we live, with the aim of answering the needs and fixing the problems of the society.

However, there is an ongoing debate about the nature of the relation between architecture and social life and how it is formed. For instance, a majority likewise the author of the book ‘Cities for People’3, believes that the social aspect and economic needs as well as the culture of a community shapes the physical space. Others consider that it is the opposite way around, this theory -mostly adopted by social scientists- suggests that the physical space and design affect our social behavior and demands4. Though, both theories believe in the existence of a relation between the physical space and the social demands as they interact to influence one another. A problem takes place when the burden of helpless societies starts to shape itself through structure and buildings: Here the physical space is a consequence of the illness, it is not designed nor studied in a way to heal or improve the quality of life. The question now goes beyond the nature of this relation and rather focuses on the reasons behind this scenario: Who’s responsible? Are they the professionals that are following their private interests and forgetting the core of design? Or the

3

Gehl, Jan. 2013. Cities for People. Island Press

4

Bourdieu, Pierre. 1995. Physical Space, Social Space and Habitus. Institute of sociology, University of Oslo

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general plans that are focusing on the development of certain areas while omitting others especially in the absence of any regulations that protect the right of citizens in a peaceful and healthy environment? It might also go back to the idea of mass production and the fast solutions created after wars and crises that concentrate on the concept of sheltering the highest numbers while forgetting other needs that a society will eventually crave for, creating marginalized ghettos.

After tracking the causes, the debate will be elaborated to find solutions. The application of spatialsocial relation plays an important role in increasing and decreasing the segregation of certain communities. But is it really just the role of architecture in the process of restructuring the society when the system failed to do so? Can it reconcile the gap between the affected communities and the system that caused the problem? What are the guidelines for such procedure and design? And how much should the affected community participate in that process?

To develop those statements, this dissertation will be based on different data deducted from academic articles, researches and studies related to the main topic. The course of this work will be grounded on various sources similar to the book entitled “Community Participation Methods in Design and Planning”5 for the author Henry Sanoff6, in addition to “The social logic of space”7 by the writers Bill Hillier and Julienne Hanson.

The approach adopted will be interpretative and multidisciplinary where opposite point of views from various fields of study concerning the topic will be explained, based on proofs and supported by examples. After being analyzed, different ideas will be showcased in real life situations through a case study with the purpose to learn their feasibility in the adopted condition at the end of this dissertation. Additionally, and in order to illustrate the accurate situation, this study will be based on data and studies that states the problems, their causes and consequences. Not letting the absence

5 Sanoff, Henry: Community Participation Methods in Design and planning, 2000, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., United States of America, 2000.

6 Henry Sanoff: Architect since 1962 from Pratt Institute, New York. He career was focused on teaching and academic research and publications. Among many honors, Sanoff received the Statue of Victory, 1985; the Award of Honor, Environmental Design Research Association, 1977 and the Distinguished Fulbright Award to Seoul National University, Korea, 1990. Professor Sanoff is also recognized as one of the founders of the Environmental Design Research Association that has concentrated in the areas of social housing, children's environments, community arts, aging populations and community participation. He was well known for his publications and books including “Creating Environments for Young Children”, “School Design: Planning with People: Integrating Programming Evaluation and Participation in Design”, “Visual Research Methods in Design, Participatory Design: Theory and Techniques”, “Design Games” and “Designing with Community Participation, and Methods of Architectural Programming”.

7 Hillier, Bill and Hanson Julienne: The social Logic of Space, 2003, Cambridge University Press, New York U.S.A, 1994.

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of recent official data from the ministry of social affairs be a bump on the road, this dissertation will be grounded on collected data from a quantitative/qualitative site survey to get information directly from the affected community. The choice of the questionnaire samples will be aware of the ‘representativeness’ of the population envisioned, in accordance to the time available to submit the feedback. A meticulous exploration of studies executed on the region from multiple private parties and NGOs will as well be taken into consideration. This sequence will be supplemented by interviews and meetings with NGO’s and municipalities to identify and discuss the strategies and actions proposed, also to have access on accredited data for the research.

The thesis will be divided into five major parts: the first will describe the social-spatial relation, then it will highlight the separation of those two components that occurred while enlisting its causes and effects on the society, to later discuss the solutions proposed through a case study. In the second part, the main focus will be on finding a solution for marginalized communities through architecture and public spaces. The participation of the affected community itself will similarly be highlighted. In the third chapter, a current case from Tripoli will be presented: its actual situation from social and economic status to livelihood and existing problems. Previous studies on the chosen region will also be mentioned and argued with an on field questioner with the residence.

The solutions and answers will be concluded and presented. Eventually, in the fourth chapter, one of the suggested options will be adopted as an architectural project to develop and design accordingly. The site analysis, the functions and program of the project will be detailed in the fifth chapter.

To sum up, the content of this thesis will be presented in a systematic way in order to conclude a good strategy to restructure the affected city. The elaboration of information will come to use in an architectural project sited and designed at the end of this thesis.

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1. Chapter 1: The link and rupture between Architecture and Society: This chapter is dedicated to understand the relation between architecture and society throughout the years and how they influence each other. The main focus is to determine the role of architecture on the social and economic levels in order to define the reasons behind the rupture between those disciplines. The dissertation will gradually elaborate the effect of this split on society and how much damage it caused.

1.1 A major bond between architecture and society.

Architecture, like any other form of art, is intertwined with the society, however the mother of all arts seems to be far more rooted into the society than any other form. As it is a physical expression in a precise geographic location, architecture reflects the ambition, the artistic sensibility, the economic wealth, the level of progress in the field of technology of any civilization, the component of their climate, topography and the structure of their social organization. As Ismail Serageldin8 once said in a seminar about ‘architectural transformations in the Islamic world’: “Not only does the architecture of any people physically express all this, being the net result of all the contradictions that society embodies, but it also helps shape the vision of the society of itself. It is both a mirror of that society's activities and an instrument shaping its identity.” One of the most profound examples of how architecture reflects the culture of its host might be the traditional architecture of the Muslim world. The form of the cities and their buildings were defined by the people, their cult and beliefs and their daily activities. It was also a response to the dominant hot climate through the use of natural resources and adequate materials, also the shape and ratios of openings and voids.9 (Figure 1 and 2)

8 ISMAIL SERAGELDIN, Founding Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the new Library of Alexandria, inaugurated in 2002, is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Library of Alexandria. He is advisor to the Egyptian Prime Minister in matters concerning culture, science, and museums. Serageldin has published more than 100 books and 500 papers on different topics, including biotechnology, rural development, sustainability, and the value of science to society.

9

Extract from Proceedings of Architectural Education in the Islamic World, Seminar Ten in the series - Architectural Transformations in the Islamic World, 1986. Published by Concept Media for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Singapore, 1986, pp. 75-88.

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1

2

Figure 1: (Left) Old souks of Tripoli, Lebanon showing the narrow covered streets in response of the commercial lifestyle and the dominant weather.- http://www.ericlafforgue.com/album/lebanon/ Figure 2: (Right) Amran, Yemen showing the city, whether done by architects or only builders, that is a physical reflection of society's social, economic, cultural and technological realities as well as an adaptation to the physical environment. https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_East/Yemen/West/Amran/Hababa/photo330016.htm

A more recent successful example would be the architecture of the “green city” of Freiburg in Germany. Not only it changed the region into an ecofriendly district, it also worked on meeting resident’s needs. Starting from the car-free zone to making all streets paved and accessible by pedestrians and bikes, creating a human scale city that promote social interactions and communications.10 From private housing to public equipment, the design of each building was meant to insure users comfort in the smallest details. Sustainable approaches were used inside the buildings and outside in order to make the region more livable. Public spaces were provided for daily activities and interaction. Community participation was a key element; the concept was to introduce the newest technologies and strategies in a way that responds to their social and economic activities, to their climate, weather, nature and typology, also to the culture and the heritage of the site.11 Hence, architecture was a pure reflection of the society on various levels: it didn’t function independently but it was by far the most form of art linked to the reality of the society in its economic, social, cultural, political and religious dimensions. However, it wasn’t completely constrained by societal actuality but it rather took part in articulating and improving society’s

10http://www.ecotippingpoints.org/our-stories/indepth/germany-freiburg-sustainability-transportation-energy-greeneconomy.html 11

http://www.livablecities.org/articles/freiburg-city-vision

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perception of itself in an aesthetic approach. In other words, architecture was the ‘image of progress’ that expresses the society in a physical world.

It is undeniable that architecture has had, in many circumstances, a deep connection with society.

However, this link hasn’t always succeeded in nourishing the cities and reflecting its positive sides, which triggered a new debate about the nature of this relation in order to discover how both parties interact and influence each other. Did architecture always only mirror the society and respond to its multiple dimensions? Or did it have any part in changing the civilization and reform it through design, planning and functions?

The theory adopted by the many social scientists, believes that the social dynamics play a role in shaping the built space. Bourdieu12, for example, describes the social space as an invisible set of relationships that tends to illustrate itself through the physical space. It is only when realized in space that society is recognized as existing, spatial order is what help predict the cultural differences between a society and another therefor the built space is the translation of the ideas and orders of a community. The lifestyle of a certain public is mainly anticipated by reading the space that they exist within. Moreover, this theory relies on historic facts: it explains that the society’s activities like agriculture in the first place led to the formation of fixed settlements then to the early development of state. The same applies to the industrialization that changed the morphology of societies and therefore changed the space around them.

While, for the author of “How does cities affect people?” Jan Gehl13, architecture along other aspects of the city (like streets and infrastructure) has a huge impact on the citizens and their behavior, leading to change and reorder the society and its activities. Gehl was interested in the intersection of the physical environment and life, he explained how humans are small, slow and curious and how they use their sense to experience the world around them. Yet, sight takes 75% of people sensory experience, in other words, what citizens see in a city do matter, leading to the

12 Pierre Felix Bourdieu (1930 –2002) was a French sociologist, anthropologist, philosopher, and public intellectual. Among his writings, he showed an interest in the ways that people cherish, consume and produce architecture. Bourdieu spent much of his life trying to understand cultural consumption and production through detailed empirical research that included studies of dwellings, art, museums, photography and aesthetics.

13

Jan Gehl (1936, Copenhagen) is a Danish architect and urban. His career focused on improving the quality of urban life by promoting pedestrian and cyclist lifestyle. He is a founding partner of Gehl Architects. Awarded for his numerous publications, he also dedicated time in writing books like: ‘Public Spaces, Public Life’ and ‘Life Between Buildings’.

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important role of design and volumes in our daily journey. Older theorists, like Oscar Newman14 and Hillier, also stressed on the idea that the built form determines the natural movement of people, assuming that the space comes first and the society is detected through it and not the other way around. In other terms, it is the architecture that influence the recipient.

This debate doesn’t question the fact that a relation exists and persists but rather interrogates the influence of architecture and society on each other. Conversely, there seems to be a rupture in this ‘undebatable’ link that put in light other questions. For instance, what if architecture fails to promote its own environment and rather became a burden that categorizes its host as marginalized and neglected? Considering that the society shapes architecture and then by its turn the physical space shapes us, what is architecture really forming in the big masses that doesn’t reply to the socio-economic needs? This time, the problem is that the physical environment is not employed socially but instead it is generating societal problems like isolation and segregation of communities and neighborhoods.

1.2 The rupture: causes and effects.

Architecture, unlike any other form of art, is by far more dominated by the ruling of commercial elites and even more controlled by the gain and economic interest than all the artistic theories. This fact has led architecture, in various cases, to overlook the impact of the built space on the society in response to other factors. In order to find solutions, one must first fully understand the reasons behind the problem and recognize its consequences. In this case, the factors can be various and might differ by nature depending on each situation. In this part the most remarkable reasons will be elaborated as the following: 1.2.1

The misleading visions of architects and clients,

1.2.2

The consequences of post wars movement and modernism,

1.2.3

The impact of globalization on architecture,

1.2.4

The outcome of urban planning and regulations.

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Oscar Newman: a theorist, architect and city planner. He encompasses ideas about crime prevention and neighborhood safety.

His theory was developed in the early 1970s as he wrote his first book: “Defensible Space” in 1972. The book contains a study from New York that pointed out that higher crime rate existed in high-rise apartment buildings than in lower housing projects. The conclusion was based on the fact that residents felt no control or personal responsibility for an area occupied by so many people.

Throughout his study, Newman focused on explaining his ideas on social control, crime prevention, and public health in relation to community design.

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1.2.1

The misleading visions of architects and clients:

The failure of architecture towards the society might be partly the mistake of architects. Today many of them became more fixated on maximizing their potential to introduce the newest technologies into their projects rather than focusing on the sustainable, humanitarian rationale aspect of the design. That desire of fame and following the world’s trends shouldn’t omit the necessary inclusion of a multi-dimensional analysis of the society that hosts the project as it will eventually influence its surrounding. Margaret Crawford15 sat the question “Can architects be socially responsible?”. In her diagnosis, the architects are lacking sense of social responsibility in their professional practice, as they have steadily moved away from engagement with social issues, surrendering both the tools and the ideological aspirations that might allow them to address the economic, political, and the social concerns posed by modern life. Crawford had acknowledged the gap between “individual concern and professional indifference” that seemed only to widen.

From her perspective, the environmental issues did receive some attention in the architectural discipline after 1991, however the social ones got less attention. She continues however, to stress on the need to address both issues equally without shading the urgent social attention required nowadays in favor to other oppressing matters.16 Clients on the other side should take part of the blame as well, especially the ones that failed to educate themselves of the great responsibilities they undertake when building their cities. Most of the owners wish for the most profitable way to use their lands and buildings. That desire to maximize the profit might sometimes risk losing the humanitarian thoughts. This factor will aggravate the situation when more buildings are produced based on this mentality.

15Margret

Crawford, Professor of architecture with a PHD in urban planning from UCLA. Crawford teaches history and theory of architecture, urbanism, and urban history as well as urban design and planning focusing on small-scale urbanity and postmodern urbanism. Her work is dedicated to study everyday urbanism that understand the specifics of daily life as a base for urban theories and design. Among her various publications and books: "Can Architects Be Socially Responsible?" in Out of Site: A Social Criticism of Architecture, edited by Diane Ghirardo, 1990 and "Daily Life on the Home Front: Women, Blacks, and the Struggle for Public Housing," in World War II and the American Dream: How Wartime Building Changed a Nation, edited by Donald Albrecht, 1995.

16

Crawford Margaret, “Can Architects Be Socially Responsible?”, in Diane Ghirardo (ed.), Out of Site: A

Social Criticism of Architecture, Bay Press, Seattle, Wash.: 1991.

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1.2.2

The consequences of post wars movement and modernism:

After World War II, an urge to accommodate large numbers of people surfaced: villages and cities were demolished and former residents became homeless. Ever since, the physical environment has probably been most radically alerted than any time since towns were shaped.17 Modernism emerged earlier with various successful projects that the public came to associate with strong aesthetic and progress but it didn’t establish its reputation until after the post war era where it grew a mass popularity: the “strong sense of social responsibility” in the modernist pioneers was thought to raise the living conditions of the masses, it seemed so promising that it was named as the style of the century.18 Therefore, it was implemented as a solution to the preceding disappointment: it was meant to meet the most basic social needs through the creation of urban utopias. Modernists believed that embellishment should follow the structure and the function of the building. Social interaction and family life were a main concern in the planned environment. The vision was to build a trouble free areas by mixing high masses blocks with patios to create squares and zoning services interlinked by roads.19 However, the movement could not effectively understand the social dynamics of families and communities, resulting many problems within their huge blocks leading to crimes, violence, addiction, racism… The author of “How does cities affect people?” critiques the modernism paradigm and the rapid growth of big scale components afterwards, insisting on the need to have cities in human scale that invite people to be healthy and interactive.

Jan label the modernist architecture as big and cold large buildings that caused fewer people in the streets though a rupture and disconnection between the public due to the unhealthy physical space around them.20 To end those problem many buildings were wrecked in the seventies, among which the demolition of Pruitt-Igoe in St. Louis in 1972. This incident symbolized the surrender of architectural design as a remedy to important social concerns of cities. Producing an important consequence: a disbelief and confusion to what the role of architecture actually is.21

17

Ibid Page18

18 Jeremiah, D. (2000). Emergency, Economy and Modernization: 1940-1953. In: Architecture and Design for the Family in Britain, 1900-70. Manchester: Manchester University Press. pp. 123-163.

19

Greenhalgh, P (1990) Modernism in Design, London: Reaktion pp.1-24

20

Ibid page 10

21 Sevtsuk, A. “How we shape our cities, and then they shape us”, MAJA: The Estonian Architectural Review, pages 10-15, 2012.

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1.2.3

The impact of globalization on architecture:

As globalization takes on the world and changes everything from the operation of nations to everyday life, architecture is as well affected by those major transformations and can’t escape this new trend. The media played a big role in the matter: advertisers made it look clear that westernized fashion equal sophistication and ‘cool’. In diverse developing nations around the world, people are persuaded to meet their needs not through their community or local economy, but by trying to purchase from the global market. As Theodore Levitt22 has described it: “everywhere everything gets more and more like everything else as the world’s preference structure is relentlessly homogenized.”23 In architecture, the chronological development of globalization corresponds very closely to the ascendancy of Modernism. It later became an International Style with the same global ambition: as cities now strive to attract global investment and tourism, they seek brand differentiation and symbolic modernity. The established marketing technique is the commissioning of public buildings by star architects. The buildings must be extraordinary and designed by one of a small group of global architects instead of being “influenced by their context and seek to enhance local character and heritage” as a former president of RIBA Georges Ferguson24 has stated. The problem of this international style is that it responds to globalized ideas and needs instead of the local demands, resulting a rupture between the built space and its residents and community.25 1.2.4

The outcome of urban planning and regulations:

In addition to the reasons mentioned earlier, the urban layout and the building regulation also appear in some cases to create social problems. The Chilean Pritzker prize winner Alejandra

22

Theodore Levitt (1925- 2006) was an American economist and professor at Harvard Business School. He was also editor of the Harvard Business Review and a best-selling author of the 90’s in economic, political, management, and marketing fields. Levitt was known for popularizing the term ‘globalization’ through an article entitled "Globalization of Markets".

23

Levitt Theodore, Harvard Business Review, May- June 1983.

24

George Robin Paget Ferguson (1947) is a British politician, former architect and entrepreneur. He was president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (2003–2005) where he was Renowned for his work on causes like education, environment and urbanism.

25

Adam Robert – Globalization and architecture – academic publication Cambridge Scholars -1990

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Aravena26 highlighted through his work his interest in the social side in the field of architecture: he mentioned along the budget constraints that “the building logic, the political framework, and the policies, are part of the equation and we're not well trained for that”. The urban planning and the regulations are the main guidelines to design, it affects the functions of buildings, its footprint and the whole allure and image of the city. However, the policies of most cities those days, generate the high rise typology; it became a symbol as if you can’t have a city without the tower and multistorey buildings. Yet the way they became privileged is mainly the problem, as the market is motivated to only generate profit, it’s omitting the way a building and city should be conceived as a space that reacts positively with its society. The urban planning that diminishes schools, parks, public buildings and other elements of the city, creates a marginalized community and the problem of exclusivity of those equipment to a privileged category of the society that can afford the transportation and access. Another urban planning problem is the absence, the misusage and the unequal distribution of public space. Parks and gardens, if available, are kept locked for most of the day and buildings for common use are increasingly centered on consumption. The streets are the only truly inclusive and accessible public space, especially in a city with a big revenue gap. Nevertheless, the expanded growth in vehicle usage has made streets completely unusable from a pedestrian perspective. In most circumstances the walkways seem to be missing.

If available, wider than one meter and usable, they are occupied by transgressed kiosk, vendors or parked cars.27 Despite the availability or absence of certain public spaces or equipment, there is also the problem of accessibility of neighborhoods and cities. More allied street networks can improve public transit links allowing people to reach more destinations with lower transportation costs. Yet a poor connectivity and the exploitation of the roads and sidewalks could decrease the accessibility leading to less economic activity, less sociability, poor livelihood conditions and more segregation.28 In most cases, the public spaces are undervalued and misused leading citizens to not have any interest in accessing them. The authorities’ measures to overcome this abuse of

26 Alejandro Gastón Aravena Mori (1967): Chilean architect who won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2016. He was the director and curator of the Architecture Section of the 2016 Venice Biennale.

27

http://www.onthecommons.org/magazine/fall-and-rise-great-public-spaces-0#sthash.sJCRkE5m.dpbs

28

Raymond, Mark- “Victims of the city” – TEDX PortoSpain-Mark Raymond is an architect from London and has been responsible for a wide range of architectural, urban design and planning projects throughout the Caribbean since 1993.

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public space has also been frequently unsuccessful, leaving common areas empty, dead or unreachable.

The causes of the rupture might differ, but it seems that the consequences are similar.

Architecture became more and more detached from the society and its needs, cities become less dynamic and unwelcoming even to its residents resulting a reduced amount of economic and social activity. Eventually the citizens will become victims of the city and their neighborhoods will grow to be more segregated and polarized. The high and middle class that can afford to move out will eventually do so, investor will lose interest in those regions and property values will decrease rapidly. Zoning laws will work on developing newer suburbs and areas that will eventually benefit from infrastructure, public spaces and diversity in functions and equipment. However, it will prevent poor, moderate-income and minority families from moving in or even profiting from the new lifestyle due to their restricted income and meager accessibility. The poor areas will become more marginalized and eventually could become a secret hideout of several illegal activities more than other areas of the city.

1.3 Actions and solution towards equity and livelihood: city of Medellin.

As the reasons are various, the solution of such aggravated situation must be set in a multidisciplinary method, combining solutions for the different causes that shaped the problem. Such systemic and structural issue cannot only be solved by architectural tools but rather as part of larger urban strategy collaborating with various practices, politics and legislations.29 Architecture, no doughtily has an important role in transforming the physical space and renovate the quality of life, yet its role comes under an urban strategy that combines the social, political and economic study of the situation. This was the case of Medellin city of Colombia, one of the most recognized town by its previous highest murder rate in the world. The city underwent a major alteration that made it an exemplary of urban transformation worldwide. In order to understand more the process of restructuration of a struggling city and what could be done, this part of the thesis will be dedicated to elaborate the case study of Medellin city, its horrific struggles and the actions taken to improve the situation.

29 Harvey David, “The Freedom of the City�, in Mark Swenarton, Igea Troiani, and Helena Webster (eds.), The Politics of Making, Critiques; v. 3, London: Routledge, 2007, p. 23.

17

The northwestern Colombian city of Medellin was once the most dangerous metropolises with high murder rates, violence, discrimination and poverty. It was home for gang lords and leading drug dealers like Pablo Escobar30 who turned his city into a stigmatized region by militarizing and radicalizing the poor. The local residents were afraid of crossing certain areas, children weren’t allowed to play outside and bullets were flying constantly through buildings. For a long time, Medellin, the second largest city in Colombia, was suffering and outsiders were frightened to invest in the town which steered a recession in the economic and social activity. Education was not an option either for the majority of the children. All of this led to a more divided community, more violence between residents and an increase in informal territories and slums31. It was until the death of Pablo Escobar in 1993, that the city had a hope for change. A new political party took charge and set out a strategy of social urbanism for a major transformation aiming to lift the poor and revitalize the region through architecture, public space, education and transportation. The generation of the strategy was based on a participatory approach gathering representatives from business, members from the municipality, NGOs, unions, universities and even some gang members regularly met to discuss the future of the city.32 The idea of Social urbanism consists of thinking with a more holistic conception: growing a physical transformation by focusing on creating public spaces from outside parks and gardens to buildings and centers. Economic catalytic projects were also held to redevelop former industrial sites and improve start-ups business and micro enterprises. The purpose was to recover the confidence in the city and promote transparency, equity and safety among the residents.33 One of the first steps was to improve the transportation systems for a better accessibility: instead of the hundred steps that residents used to take from the upper hill to the center of the city, a modern 348 meters escalator was added along with a metro-

30 Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria (December 1, 1949 to December 2, 1993) was a Colombian drug trafficker who eventually controlled over 80 percent of the cocaine shipped to the U.S., earning him the rank of one of Forbes Magazine’s 10 wealthiest people in the world. Escobar entered the cocaine trade in the early 1970s, collaborating with other criminals to form the Medellin Cartel. He earned popularity by sponsoring charity projects and soccer clubs, but later, terror campaigns that resulted in the murder of thousands turned public opinion against him. He was killed by Colombian police in 1993.- source: https://www.biography.com/people/pablo-escobar-9542497 31https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/social-urbanism-experiment-breathes-new-life-into-colombias-

medellin/article22185134/ 32https://www.economist.com/news/americas/21603432-transformation-colombias-second-city-will-be-hard-copy-trouble-

miracles 33

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/hoy-san-diego/sdhoy-medellin-inspires-as-model-of-urban-2016jun14-story.html

18

cable as an addition to the already existing Metro system (the only Metro in Colombia)34. After the voting of the citizens, the focus was brought on education, the slogan therefor became “Medellin the most educated”. The aim was providing equity thus emerged the network of building national schools, funding scholarships. Library parks were built as a symbol to the new Medellin, trying to reflect that violence, which limits opportunities can be confronted through knowledge and social inclusion. Their work was not limited to the built environment as they also managed a new system to improve the quality of teaching and nutrition in conjunction with architecture.

Another fundamental aspect in this restructuration process was the design of public squares and parks in the poorest areas, the intervention included stairs, paths, bridges, soccer field, parks and plazas, creek and environmental restorations… The design of the public library had an outside park, two multi-purpose classrooms and an internet café for people to grab a book and read freely.

F3

F4

F5

F6

Figure 3 Amphitheatre at the foot of a the metro-cable.

Figure 4 Large public building along with the botanical Garden, and the park explora.

Figure 5 Amelioration of schools in the region.

Figure 6: Library San-Javier built in Medellin.

(Source : https://favelissues.com/2010/02/01/medellin-%E2%80%9Csocial-urbanism%E2%80%9D/)

A community center was also executed to host learning programs and workshops to tutor the residents, from different age range, skills and expertise in various fields and help them get jobs.

The center offers music, art and cultural activities meant to improve the quality of life of inhabitants and their culture. Every public space was specifically adapted to the context and needs of the neighborhood. By increasing the sense of ownership, they have succeeded in motivating residents to go out of their homes and interact with each other and with the urban fabric of their hometown.35 Other initiatives involved in Medellin’s transformation were infrastructure and

34

Roldan, Mary, “Wounded Medellin: Narcotics Traffic against a Background of Industrial Decline”, pp. 130

35 Professor Ivan Turok is the deputy executive director at the Human Sciences Research Council. https://mg.co.za/article/201405-15-citys-social-urbanism-offers-a-model

19

relocation of people by providing them a better shelter to live in. The city was supplied with water, gas, sanitation, telecommunications and electricity and the essential needs it lacked before.36 Now Medellin is renowned worldwide for its capacity for transformation through social innovation. Reconstructing a city depends on long-term commitment and continuity. It's a model city that has achieved greater coexistence.37 It has emerged as an example of a set of urban interventions seeking to redress deep and long-standing social and spatial imbalances.

Conclusion: To sum up, the debate is not questioning the presence of a relation between architecture and the society, rather than searching for the missing piece that led to the rupture of this connection. The causes might be multidisciplinary, and few among them are directly related to architecture, however they seemed to aggravate the issue and larger the gap. The case of Medellin in Colombia is one example of how a city can be restructured to help its citizens gain power over the burden of problems they are facing. In result, a series of buildings and services were constructed and installed to tackle each a certain socio-cultural issue. This case among other, can illustrate the power that a building can have when well designed and managed. The structure all alone certainly have not much influence nor success without a planned strategy to revive the city, however, the type of the functions it accommodates, the volumes and architectural language and the materials‌ all play a role in designing the new image and vision of the marginalized neighborhood. But does any type of building have same effect if inserted in an urban plan to restructurate? Does a private building touch as much people as a public one does?

36

Margaret Anderson- https://borgenproject.org/medellin-colombias-urban-transformation-social-change/

37

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/hoy-san-diego/sdhoy-medellin-inspires-as-model-of-urban-2016jun14-story.html

20

2

Chapter 2: Guidelines towards a remedy: When dealing with marginalized cities and the urban problems, the restructuration process

must be radical and multi-disciplinary. However, in this course, architecture through its functions and design, has an important role. Architecture has the potential to deliver more than shelter, infrastructure and beauty, a potential that should not be overlooked but should rather be explored especially in stigmatized communities. In this chapter, certain questions will be underlined in purpose of elaborating a solution. What can architects do to solve these issues and do they have an integral role to play? And how does architecture work against crime and violence? How does it affect the human behavior? Are public spaces a solution for the struggling regions? And what could community participation bring more to the table to help improve the situation of those neighborhoods?

2.1 Role of architecture in struggling areas: Among many, architecture is considered as a luxurious feature that only certain social groups can afford and maintain. Yet, architecture is not an added option to the buildings and volumes, as it presents the process of designing and elaborating the project from day one. Therefore, even the simplest space has a certain architecture that could be reflected on the users and the perception of the structure. Through the smallest details a building could have major impact on the surrounding and operators.

2.1.1

The architect duty in the restructuring the society:

Given the principal role of the architect in how cities are planned and designed, the architect can directly shape the outcomes of a design process to the improvement of a community’s overall quality of life, sustainability, social equity, health and resilience… addressing the larger needs of collective social responsibility. Through spreading their knowledge from their practice into local communities, architects can be “ambassadors” of new strategies that incorporate social and environmental factors. Alejandro Aravena38 of Chile, a Pritzker Prize laureate, was recognized for his commitment to social housing as well as his brilliance in architectural design, his approach was based on his idea of small changes do matter, saying: “It's a mistake to think that if the

38

Ibid

21

problem is big, the solution must also be big�. Aravena and his collaborators have worked on projects with clear social goals, building more than 2,500 units combining innovative, flexible and direct architectural solutions for low-cost social housing. The project covered all aspects of the complex course of providing housing solutions for the underserved with a deep understanding of the importance of the community and the residents. The architect believed in the importance of public involvement in the design processes rather than relying strictly on government action and on the housing market. His work was elaborated based on the current needs of the society with a big understanding of their future vision and requirements, leaving space for later addition in a way that the building serves this generation and the one that follows in the most sustainable and social approach.39

Figure 7: Elemental's design for the Monterrey development in Mexico: an affordable housing projects – Source: DeZeen online architecture magazine (source:https://www.dezeen.com/2016/04/06/alejandro-aravena-elemental-social-housing-designsarchitecture-open-source-pritzker/).

39

https://www.devex.com/news/the-role-that-architecture-can-play-in-the-development-agenda-88124

22

2.1.2

Architecture as a socio-cultural catalyst:

Whether it is a good or a bad influence, buildings certainly have a tremendous impact on their surroundings, therefore architecture and buildings should be well designed and studied to understand the community and its needs in order to provide a positive influence. Their responsibility is to incorporate strong social programs with an ability to respond well to the context and site constraints. When architecture succeed in understanding the cultures needs it could act as an agent of social change.40 In order to translate the vision of the architect and illustrate the necessities of the society, a building must be able to symbolize, connect, respond and understand its host. The need to symbolize is to adopt the visions and goals of the society through architectural values that help give direction to this aim and illustrate the image of change. This could be done through the use of materials, technologies and building systems that reflects the society’s attempt to social progress. Nonetheless, this approach doesn’t replace the need to create a social connection- the need to connect- between the building and its surrounding. Architecture could be a catalyst that promotes individuals socially and culturally by providing interactions between the indoor and outdoor space creating a spatial relationship. It could also define the public and private within a building and connect it to the public/private spaces that surrounds the design to extend the circle of communications and exchange. The design should as well be compatible and responsive to the contextual situation. It should address the social issues of the area and portray their meaning and try to work on fixing them. The need to be responsive in building could be through providing functions and activities within a building. It should be part of the community fabric in a way to blend in and give a sense of belonging to the users. The masses, size, scale and materiality also play a role in inviting the public to an edifice that reply to their needs. Finally, the need to understand is the recognition of the human behavior and society’s everyday reality. The attempt is to deal with dysfunctional aspects of the society and produce a solution or prevention to overcome the situation.41

40

Bussel, Abby. "The (Social) Art of Architecture." Progressive Architecture. January 1995, page 43-46.

41

Hatch, C. Richard, ed. ‘The Scope of Social Architecture’, New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1984.

23

2.1.3

Architecture against crime and delinquency:

Beyond the different responsibilities that architecture embraces, reducing crime and delinquency is another add to the list. It’s no question that law enforcement is a must and can’t be replaced, and that architecture by itself cannot stop violence, yet it appears design alerts human behavior and could be a step to reduce the disobedience of people.

The Yale Law Journal dedicated many publications to illustrate the effect of architecture in the prevention process against corruptions. In one of its volumes, it stated that design should reveal three basic concepts.42 First, it should create the opportunity of natural surveillance by the residents, neighbors and the bystanders on the streets by making the space formed easily viewed.

Jane Jacobs43 stressed on this idea by implementing that the more people are brought to the streets the less crimes occurs. Jacobs suggests that architecture should emphasis the public norms and encourage individuals to be involved in their community as the highest crime rates occur in places with poor visibility like narrowed pathways. The mechanism of natural surveillance relies mainly on three outputs: the diversity of building use, the design of those buildings and the lighting. The diversity of buildings’ functions and serving more than one primary occupation at different time of the day will bring people outdoors and will increase the life of the streets. The building design on the other hand, promotes the addition of windows especially in high-traffic areas to overlook on the public space.44 In addition to lighting that helps in having more visibility and attracts people to be in a specific place; it’s another way to improve surveillance. It is by mainly designing wide hallways and corridors and creating a large welcoming entrance outside and inside the building.

Jacobs highlighted her idea by using a sketch that shows a configuration of a school before the preventive approach (Figure 8 - a), explaining that the informal areas for gathering are blocked from sight and far from the school territory. She suggested that limiting the formal gathering in a long and thin space in approximate to the building with limiting the entrances to the minimum

42 Katyal, Neal Kumar, “Architecture as Crime Control”, The Yale Law Journal Company, Inc Vol 111, No 5. March 2002.

Page 20.

43

Jane Jacobs (1916 - 2006) was an American-Canadian journalist, author, and activist. She became famous for her influence on urban studies, sociology, and economics. Her influential book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961) argued that the new urban strategies did not respect the needs of most city residents.

44

Ibid page 35

24

need will limit the possibility of misbehaving thou all areas are being viewed and monitored easily.45 (Figure 8 - b) a

b

Figure 8 Plans showing two different examples of a school layout. (Source: Katyal, Neal Kumar, “Architecture as Crime Control”, The Yale Law Journal Company, Inc Vol 111, No 5. March 2002. Page 17-18.)

The second concept in crime-prevention techniques is the presence of landscape that offers a sense of territoriality. The feeling of ownership provokes residents to take care of the place, additionally it helps warning the intruders that they are about to enter a ‘private zone’ even when it’s about a community public space. By working on the exterior and interior layout, architecture can manipulate that feelings of territoriality, it could also use some symbolic barriers like a short series of steps, an archway or a greenery fence.

The third way used to reduce violence is through community building. Ralph Erskine46, a Scottish architect, once noticed that a building could have a job of improving the human relations especially the public buildings. In his perspective, private buildings produce a feeling of isolation for the citizens, yet the public outdoor space will make them feel vulnerable and easily harmed.

Therefor a semi-open space like a public building might make people feel less isolated and less unprotected: residents will find it easier to differentiate strangers from others. Another advantage

45

Ibid page 46

46 Ralph Erskine (1914 –2005) was a Scottish architect and urban planner, he was awarded the RIBA Royal Gold Medal. Erskine was reworded as one of the twentieth century's greatest architects giving European cities the finest post Second World War new housing communities. His method was divergent from everything happening around that time as he put the focus on social regeneration and the interests of local people. He wrote the preface to the English translation of Jan Gehl's influential book “Life Between Buildings”, published in 1986.

25

of those public buildings is that they promote social interaction while feeling safe and secure, reducing social segregation. Creating a space that facilitate unplanned social communications can help bringing people together and forming social bonds between community members. Those spaces could be around waiting areas or places intended for people to spend time like parents waiting for their children at playgrounds. Additionally, some forms and shapes of architecture can create a community symbol that contribute in empowering the collective identity.47 Architecture could be a law enforcement strategy that promotes the development of social norms and law-abiding citizens through shaping behavior and taste against crimes and violence.

2.2 Public space: a new strategy to revive struggling communities Another approach to remedy the situation in stigmatized neighborhoods is the introduction of the public space and the improvement of existing infrastructure. “What defines a character of a city is its public space, not its private space. What defines the value of the private assets of the space are not the assets by themselves but the common assets. The value of the public good affects the value of the private good.” stated the UN-HABITAT executive director Joan Clos I Mathieu.48 According to the online Urban Dictionary, a public space is ‘a place for everybody to enjoy their coexistence and represent their collectivity and common interest without drowning or disaggregating their diversity’.49 In this part, the importance of public spaces in the revival of marginalized neighborhoods will be illustrated along with the factors that make such a space effective and successful.

2.2.1

The importance of public spaces in promoting our cities:

While our cities are facing struggles on daily basis: from unemployment, demographic shifts and socio-economic troubles, the social bonds and the sense of community are being demolished

47

Ibid page 48

48 Project

for PUBLIC SPACES –Booklet entitled ‘Place Making & the Future of Cities’ Produced under the auspices of the UNHABITAT Sustainable Urban Development Network (SUD-Net) with funding from the United Nations Federal Credit Union.

Page 5.

49 https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=public%20space

26

gradually. It seems barely impossible to have one major solution that could fix the complexity of the situation, yet there might be a promising potential in an unexpected spot to transform and revive the heart of local communities: the public space.50 A public space is a platform that serves the public good and promotes social cohesion. It is, by definition, a place where people from different backgrounds, regardless of their income and personal circumstances, could meet, interact, socialize and discover common passions. It is considered as a notion of a livable and human environment that could be a powerful instrument of social inclusion51. Urban planners described public areas as the “third place” 52where people spend time between home (known as the first place) and work (considered as the second place). They refer to it as the ‘Living Room’ of the society, a favorite place to meet, talk, sit, relax, stroll, read, to build relationships, exchange ideas, act comfortably and have a good time. According to their approach, the third place is a community builder as people enjoying those locations feel socially equal.53 A careful physical planning of those settings can play a major role in opening up segregated areas acting as an intercultural dialogue for different members of a certain community.

Their aim is to provide a good place for nearby residents according to their needs and aspirations: bonds among neighbors are strengthened, economic development is nourished and the sense of belonging is raised.

For instance, many cities around the world believed in the power of public space to restructure the area. Melbourne for example, widened its sidewalks and added eye-catching features to keep its streets pedestrian-friendly, which turned out to highly increase the number of people going out in public. Cordoba, southern Spain, transformed its riverfront into a series of famous parks.

Portland demolished a parking garage to build a town square.54 Yet Barcelona was the best to illustrate the power of public spaces. The city was once a gloomy industrial center, on the contrary

50

https://www.pps.org/blog/why-public-places-are-the-key-to-transforming-our-communities/

51

http://www.saferspaces.org.za/understand/entry/public-spaces

52 Celebrating The Third Place (2000), Oldenburg – Source: https://www.pps.org/reference/roldenburg/- Ray Oldenburg is a professor emeritus of sociology at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. He is the author of "The Great Good Place."

53

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2016/09/14/third-places-as-community-builders/

54 ALTERNET/ ENVIRONMENT:” If You Build It, They Will Come -- on Foot- From Copenhagen to Bellevue, a movement has emerged to reclaim public spaces.” Author: Jay Wall jasper / Ode -February 17, 2006 –Source: https://www.alternet.org/story/31951/if_you_build_it%2C_they_will_come_--_on_foot

27

it is now celebrated as a sophisticated city with glamorous places that attract international attention and equally enrich its local residents with a sense of pride. The heart of this transformation was its famous promenade the Las Ramblas. Following the defeat of the dictatorship system, during which time public gathering was firmly suppressed, local residents formed new squares and public spaces all across the city in the process to heal from the scars of political repression. The key to restoring life of the less fortunate community relies in public places.55 However, it seems that not all public spaces, whether it’s an outdoor or indoor space, have the same impact on the surrounding. Some of them fail to achieve the goals mentioned previously due to the lack of planning for this type of space. In many cases, builders have the illusion of creating a public space when they are really overlooking that their approach is rather private: similar to malls and exclusive clubs and recreational areas that are patrolled by security and are accessible for a certain time to a certain class of the society. Those edifices are functioning to separate people by class, income, culture or religion. A poor design and the lack of participation might also be another challenge against the success of public space. The design should be responsive to the users therefor their participation in the creation process is a must. In other terms, the success or downfall of achieving the goals of a public space are certainly related to various criteria that should be followed in the design process.56 2.2.2

Steps to an effective public space:

Healthy, attractive, active and well-functioning public spaces are the trigger for revitalizing communities by empowering socio-cultural activities and jumpstarting economic development.

There seems to be various approaches that adopted this mentality of transforming a struggling city through public spaces. So what are the steps to produce such an interactive and effective public space?

One of the most striking strategies used since the nineties is Placemakingi. This technique recognizes that the community is the expert when it comes to public space. Questions of social and culture norms, climate, traditions and activities must be studied according to each society. It’s true that the public space is a common goal but the mentality of each community differs, meaning

55

http://www.onthecommons.org/magazine/fall-and-rise-great-public-spaces-0#sthash.sJCRkE5m.dpbs

56

Ibid page 7

28

that what is acceptable in western or European cities could be considered inappropriate in some Asian cities. Therefore, and in order to ensure that the built public space would be fruitful, there must be some guidelines to follow. Linkage and accessibility are essential in this process. The space must be connected to its surrounding physically and visually; it should be convenient to everyone (kids, pregnant women, elderly, people with special needs…). People should have entry to the area by using a variety of transportation option like bus, cars, bikes, or simply by walking on maintained sidewalks. A good image of the space is also a key for its success: it doesn’t only change the perception of a stigmatized site but also endorse a feeling of pride in the residents of the area. The comfort, safety and cleanliness are also important in making a good impression for users. It could be done by simple urban furniture like convenient seating, available lighting and provision of recycle bins. Another factor to ensure the success of commune zones are the usages and activities: when you give people something to do, they’ve got more reasons to come to a certain place and turning it to a more vivid and full of life. Those activities like community games, training or artistic activities trigger more social interactions between strangers. Those social bonds tend to create a sense of attachment to the community and place.57 Events and festivals could be attended in those zones and annual agendas could be followed to keep the space vivid and alive.

It’s also essential to have a management plan that understands and promotes ways of keeping the area safe and lively and to become familiar with the patterns of how people use the park in order to improve the place in the most beneficial way.58

2.3 Community participation: “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”- Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities Community development has evolved significantly over the last decade. Comprehensive plans are essential to address neighborhood challenges and to build a healthy community, requiring much more than physical infrastructure such as housing or the provision of social services. It is now known that building a sense of community, fostering citizenship, and creating both economic

57

Article: What makes a successful place? Author: Project for Public Spaces Date Posted: Dec 30, 2009 Source: https://www.pps.org/reference/grplacefeat/ 58Article: 10 Principles for Successful Squares; by the Author: Project for Public Spaces; Date Posted: Dec 1, 2005; Source: https://www.pps.org/reference/squaresprinciples/

29

and social opportunities for all are imperative goals. Tools like arts and culture allow innovative ways to achieve this step59. As communities face a range of challenges such as joblessness, lack of affordable housing, assuring public safety, equitable redevelopment, transportation access and vacancy; it’s a must to restructure their faith in their physical space through engaging them in shaping that space. The process of restructuring the city goes beyond the duty of architects and lawmakers, and become a role of the community itself. As they contribute to define their problems and fix the target, their participation will lead any intervention on the area from the functions needed to the design that translates their ambitions. Therefore, the community participation become a must to the design process and an effective strategy in restructuring cities. Yet the definition and methods of participation are various, they are mostly adaptive to each case. In this section of the dissertation, a brief in look of the concept of community participation will be discussed.

2.3.1

What’s a community participation and who should contribute?

Community participation can be defined as the involvement of people in projects to solve their own problems. Members of the community can’t be forced to participate in plans that affect their surrounding and life, however, they should be given the opportunity when possible.60 It is considered as a basic right for humans and a fundamental principal of democracy. The participation usually occurs when a community organizes itself and takes responsibility for managing its problems. Taking responsibility includes identifying the problems, developing actions, putting them into place, and following through.61 “Participation reduces the feeling of anonymity and communicates to the user a greater degree of concern on the part of the management of administration. . The notion of community participation has also benefits in enhancing the sustainability of the community development projects.62 The sustainability related to development activities and programs is a huge concern to the government and donors after the

59http://www.socialinnovationsjournal.org/74-what-works-what-doesn-t/1079-creative-placemaking-as-a-neighborhood-

revitalization-strategy 60

Community participation; chapter 12- section 1: what is meant by community participation? – Source: UNCHS (1986) Community participation in Low-cost Sanitation; United Nations Center for Human Settlements (Habitat): Nairobi. http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/evaluation/watsan2005/annex_files/WEDC/es/ES12CD.pdf 61

Advocates for Youth. Unpublished data from the Burkina Project. Washington, DC: 2001.

62

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/effect-community-participation-sustainability-based-calebwasilwa/

30

completion of any project. However, when the community is engaged in the designing solutions, they create a sense of ownership that promote the project and expend its chances in lasting longer and be beneficial. With it, residents are actively involved in the development process.”63 However, it seems that when it comes to community participation there are different meanings and definitions that vary for different people and sometimes for the same people in different situations.

The reason for that is because participation is contextual: it changes by type, level of intensity, extent and frequency. A genuine participation occurs when actions taken are controlled by empowered people. It’s a concept that covers different forms of decision making by a group of involved members. Participants may vary according to their interest: people choose to participate if they see themselves affected by an issue or a possible threat or profit by a proposed facility.

Members of the community should contribute at their own levels of interest and expertise and their willingness to commit time and energy. Women, elderly, and minorities should also take a role in decision making. The participation method provides them with the platform to do so. Yet the participation of youth is very essential in the course of planning as they should contribute to their community and believe that they are capable of creating solutions. Often oppressed by adults’ expectations, this could be their chance of to prove themselves as responsible, active, creative and cooperative. This experience is essential in forming a sense of belonging and an opportunity to become socially productive. Society also benefits from youth participation by developing the appropriate activities, the younger generation will eventually keep out of trouble, they’ll have a sense of possession of their space that drives them to keep it safe, clean and well- maintained.

2.3.2

The purpose of community participation:

Community participation is the grass-root of democracy and equity, where everyone has a right to give their opinion and share their thoughts. It helps in doing an assessment of the culture and analyzing the strength and weakness of a certain community. It helps revive the links between residents and the government and actors working in the region. It includes information exchange, resolving conflicts and supplementing design and planning. The main objective of community participation is to involve people in design and decision-making. That way their trust and confidence in the actions taken will increase. People will be more accepting and cooperative in

63 Sanoff, Henry: Community Participation Methods in Design and planning, 2000, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., United States of America, 2000. Chapter: Participation Purpose; subchapter: Current views of community participation; page 8

31

the process of work and planning with the focus to establish a new system and find solution to their current problems. Additionally, it provides people with a voice to ask for their needs to be responded, a platform to state what they aspire and to share their vision of the future of their neighborhood. Eventually, participants will assist in improving plans, decisions and service delivery. They will have a sense of ownership of the change that is occurring. People sharing the same goals will be brought together in this process and ultimately a sense of community will be promoted upon members. On the other hand, the community participation will help wider perspectives, additional perspectives expand options and enhance the value of the ultimate decision. The more views gathered in the process of making a decision, the more likely the final product will meet the most needs and address the most concerns possible. If you fear repercussions of going against a vocal group, engagement can often be done anonymously64. In addition to the fresh perspectives, new information is provided also by the participation of the public. Decision makers are fully aware that the future users of a space will have an intimate and unique relationship with the area that they often do not have. The community’s knowledge can provide new information on a project that is being planned. Their involvement brings more data to the decision and approach, including scientific or technical knowledge, facts about the context its history and character. More information can make the difference between a good and poor decision and will influence the design concept and vision. The focus is to bring people together to determine what they desire to do and help them find ways in determining how to do it. Facilitation can also include the use of a variety of techniques whereby people who are not professionally trained can organize themselves to create a change in the environment. “Citizen participation has a broad value to community life. In a general sense, the purpose of citizen participation is to inform the public, get the public’s reactions regarding the proposed actions or policies, and engage in problem solving to come up with the best solutions for everyone” –Unknown, 1994. What enhances legitimacy to a decision is not only the constituent of the decision but also its perception: the decisions should be fair, open, and democratic.65 Eventually, when the strategies and decisions are built upon local’s needs and aspiration with full knowledge even on the smallest details whether technical or conceptual, the outcome will have

64

https://www.socialpinpoint.com/blog/6-reasons-to-participate-community-engagement/

65

Ibid.

32

higher chances of success. History has proven that healthier public decisions take place when the public is involved in the decision-making process. People have more ownership for the program’s success if they have had a part in creating it. They also hold a key element that only comes from their experience. Decision-makers need the voice of experience to line up with facts and figures produced by studies.66

2.3.3

Methods of participation:

Community participatory methods involve the engagement of community members and participants right from the beginning. There are many different ways of beginning this process of interacting with the community and participants. Each case should have its own strategy of work that is better suited to the context. In this section, we present action steps that are essential during the design and implementation of any type of participatory program.

The first step of any participation method would begin by a participatory program and explain the process to community members and potential participants. A first visit with the community might be appropriate to coordinate with local stakeholders and key players in the region. Local contacts can mobilize other main stakeholders for meetings and coordination. Stakeholders may include members of youth representatives, women, opinion leaders, birth attendants, community health workers, teachers, community counselors, faith representatives, and noticeable elderly and influencers. Those meetings will help explaining the project’s details and the level of participation that will be anticipated from the target group. In the case of highly participatory program, this may include their involvement in the initial design of the program, the identification of the target population, facilitation of meetings for the target population or community members, and researching and addressing the problems faced by the target population. Gaining their trust is a must in the process, afterwards they must select the strategy they willing to adopt. The selection of a methodology of work is usually based on the appreciation of a perceived threat or necessity.

Another significant step would be to consult with the community about local professionals and personnel that could be hired to facilitate the program rather than bringing outsiders. It is usually more helpful for a facilitator to be from the same cultural background as the participants and wellinformed in the participants’ concerns. Once the strategy and the team are set, the participants are

66

Source: http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/683-community

33

asked to imagine how their community will be in twenty years, and try to translate this vision into words and images. After the brainstorming, the objectives of community participation are stated.

Here, it becomes clear that participation is perceived according to the type of issue and people involved. If differences in perception and expectations are not identified at the outset, and realistic objectives are not made clear, the expectations of those involved in the participation program will not have been met, and they will become disenchanted.67 Planning for participation requires that the contribution methods be matched to the objectives, and the suitable method to be selected. The professional’s role is to facilitate the community’s ability to reach decisions about problems they are facing in their surrounding through an easily understood manner.

Conclusion: By symbolizing, connecting and responding, architecture could be a step toward the solution. A well designed building could be a fight against violence and delinquency and could help introduce a safer environment. Public spaces among others, were proven in different countries to be a good solution to revive the streets and bring back life to it. Those spaces illustrate a platform where everyone is welcome to hang out, express themselves, communicate and relax. A public space promotes social bonds and interaction for residents. Nevertheless, to have an effective public area, community participation become a must. The participation of the society ensures to target the real problems more effectively, endorses a sense of ownership and offers an equal and democratic opportunity for each member of the community. Using the strategy of letting people decide and design the space they are going to use guarantees the success of the project and its sustainability. However, in extreme cases, where the socio-economic problems facing the society are major and more complex, the solution should more responsive and thorough. Therefore, public buildings are introduced to accommodate a diversity of functions to fill the gap and tackle the variety of issues that the community is dealing with.

67

Ibid page 10 -16

34

3

Chapter 3: Situation in Lebanon In this chapter, the general view of the situation in Lebanon will be demonstrated with a

particular study of the northern capital Tripoli and how it’s been affected by diverse factors. Many studies were held in the region to illustrate the socio-economic and life conditions, however, this dissertation will focus on studies that were targeting the main subject of the thesis. In the latter part, a series of urban solutions and proposed actions will be presented to finally adopt one particular answer and elaborate its impact in the process of restructuring a struggling city.

Lebanon is a small scaled country on the Mediterranean Sea. According to the World Bank its total population was around 4,223,553 in 2010. Among this number, 87% are currently living in urban areas with a majority (estimated at 64%) residing in large agglomerations mostly in the region of Beirut and Tripoli (UN-HABITAT, 2008). Those cities were affected by the urbanization process that is taking place globally on different economic, social and cultural levels.

Generally, city conditions stimulate the economic growth and create livelihood opportunities; they form a site of diverse religious and sub-cultural groups and communities making life in cities culturally inspiring and socially richer. However, Lebanese towns have been facing numerous challenges, they vary from the complexity of providing equitable economic opportunities and access to social services to everyone, to securing safe places and making the urban environment healthy and sustainable.

While the diversity in culture, religion and socio-economic background of residents in Lebanon is enriching on one side, it has also contributed in the creation of urban division and the intensifying conflicts especially during and after the Lebanese civil war (1975 –1990) on the other side. It is clear today that the urban geography of cities and major urban centers have become spatially divided along sectarian lines, with pockets formed to accommodate for the less advantaged groups (the poor, the internally displaced, refugees, migrant workers, etc.…) resulting in informal areas developed around major cities.68

68

Urban profile: Lebanon Urban Profile- A desk review report – October 2011- UN Habitat.

35

3.1 Tripoli between development and segregation Tripoli, the capital of the North, seemed to be suffering the most among cities of the cost line. Lebanon’s second largest city has many potentials to be an economic, industrial and cultural capital due to its rich history, its monuments, the train station, port, the international fair and oil refinery.69 Yet it seems that the city is facing a huge recession leading to draw another image of the whole area especially after the war. In the recent years, many conflicts were submerging the news. Violence, terrorism and deprivation were the new face of the city and poverty was one big name that shadowed the capital of north. International attention was brought to the situation in Tripoli, making the city score high in the decreased livability conditions among the world. (Figure 9). This alarming indicator illustrate the diminished situations of life in the area in comparison with different cities around the world.

Figure 9: Map of change in livability score from 2007 to 2017 ( Source: Economist Intelligence Unit – Economist.com)

The recent local and international incidents had their share in shaping the current situation.

Along with the internal conflicts between Jabal Mohsen and Beb el tebeneh, high amounts of immigrants and refugees came to Lebanon and a great number settled in Tripoli in the past few

69 Mediterranean Network for the Promotion of Sustainable Urban Development Strategies and three new UDS- Development Strategies for Mashreq Countries; Prepared by Muhanna & Co in collaboration of different Unions and municipalities; Urban Community Al Fayhaa, Al–Fayhaa Urban Sustainable Development Strategy, Tripoli, Lebanon, October 2011.

36

years. Those major elements were the center of media’s attention and NGO’s work. Yet, there are other prime issues that seem to be omitted on the news. The city, long before those incidents was bleeding: life conditions were unfortunate, infrastructure was crumpling, economic and industrial activities were in a big downturn and a stigmatized image was taking over. Territories and the urban layout of the city were also facing many struggles and governance was nowhere to be found.

According to Tripoli City Profile, held by UN Habitat in 2016, they identified some critical points that affected the territory’s development and governance. The presence of three approved master plans accompanied by weak suggestions that are separated and different in content led to the fragmentation of the metropolitan. The lack of communication among different territories with the absence of regulation frame for urban projects were another add to the list. Their search of previous urban planning policies, land use and zoning led them to multiple urban project from 1964 to 2014.

However, most of the project were rejected, not implemented, outdated or uncompleted. Another major key is the un-unified governance body resulting in a non-coherent policy and a classification across the region. The democratic state is as well weak in Tripoli and the number of voters is low due to ineligibility and voters turn-outs amongst the eligible. The town lacks the contribution of its residents hence their needs and aspirations are left unheard which make the gap between the people and the state wider. 70 Among other problems that the city is struggling with, is the issue of unsteadiness between different regions on multiple dimensions including education, social, economic and livelihood.71 The results of this imbalance led to a visible division in the city between the privileged, the middle and poor class. Studies show the different life conditions of the citizens and reveal that the old city and its extensions are the most affected. This part of the city was characterized by its rich history and architecture: similar to the old Islamic cities, the architecture and planning were widely attached to the dominant culture and daily activities of its residents. However, nowadays the daily routine of people from job, leisure and activities are widely different. The privileged social class was able to relocate itself in a space that reflects its economic status and social desires, leaving behind unfit spaces to the less fortunate. The expansion and the surrounding show signs of a

70

UN Habitat Lebanon -City Profiles- Tripoli – 2016- UN Habitat

71

Ibid.

37

rupture between the physical place and the society that is accommodated. This, along with all the other difficulties has turned this part of the city as the least developed and the most struggling.

Figure 11: Building quality map. Source: adapted from Schinder (2014)

Figure10: Socio-economic groups in Tripoli metropolitan area. Source: adapted from Schinder (2014)

Nevertheless, various tries to revive the city were implanted, some focused on the new area where people can invest in new ideas and events, others targeted the segregated regions and the historical part, and fewer coordinated on the whole region. NGOs, on the other hand, are well engaged in the city which offer valuable opportunities: it helps build a structure based on the coordination between the state and non-state governance entities with a direct contact with the inhabitants.

38

3.2 Studies in the area: In this section, the results of several studies will be presented to illustrate the circumstances of the past and current situation of the city of Tripoli and its residents. The outcomes cover different fields similar to livelihood and neighborhood profile, socio-economic situations and education status.

3.2.1 Urban development and neighborhood profile: After the assessment of UN Habitat, entitled “City & Neighborhood Profiles� the city was divided upon the quality of buildings. The maps show the big gap between the portion of new buildings and the poor quality.

Poor quality Very poor quality New Fair to good quality

Figure 12 Map of diverse building quality- Source: UN Habitat - City & Neighborhood Profiles-2016

The reasons for such distribution could be tracked back to the post-war reconstruction decisions.

This step has amplified the consequences of the war and accentuated the gap between the City and the rest of the national territory. However, even before the economic decline after the war, the old city was seeing changes that have an effect on its social tissue. In fact, with the expansion of the city, alongside with industrialization and trade, the native people of this region, especially the rich 39

class, moved to the new neighborhoods seeking a new lifestyle and better economic opportunities.

With time, the old city of Tripoli and its surroundings have been affected by a social and economic mutation, leading to the start of urban segregation and spatial separation. This steered many popular movements against marginalization. High population densities have tensed the severely dilapidated urban infrastructure. The majority of property holders live and work outside the old city. With low cost rents, entangled property rights, and the large number of renters occupying each building, it is more viable for owners to allow their buildings to decay than to suffer from the high cost of rehabilitation and conservation.72 The overall area is not only facing the problem of private property maintenance and image but also the public spaces, if available, are vastly infected.

The old city now lacks adequate lighting, wastewater disposal, good infrastructure and urban furniture. It is short on proper sanitation and garbage collection; mainly in the area of the vegetable and meat markets. Additionally, the region is deprived form open public spaces. Which puts in question another problem of the whole image of the area.

3.2.2 

Socio-economic Status:

Urban poverty in Tripoli:

Overall, the study concludes that 57% of Tripoli’s families are deprived, and of these, 26% are considered extremely deprived.73 Tripoli is seen as a poor city with pockets of wealth, especially with how the classic existing humanitarian response tools do not fit to an urban humanitarian response where the social fabric between neighborhoods and communities is another key missing.74

72

Ibid.

73

Kabalan, Leila -Urban inequalities and poverty in Lebanon: what can be learned from the social market economy? -Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs-Konrad Adenauer Stiftung & AUB policy Institute – Beirut 2016

74

Ibid.

40

Figure 13: Pourcentage of deproved families according to neighbourhoods in Tripoli. (Source: Study on urban poverty in Tripoli, Social Affairs Ministry, in cooperation with ESCWA and UNDP, 2015.)

A study conducted in 2011 by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA), in cooperation with the Arab Urban Development Institute, exposed the scale of deprivation75 that characterizes the entire city and each of its neighborhoods. The results revealed that 60% of Tripoli’s households are deprived, with almost the half extremely deprived.76

75 The methodology consisted of a multidimensional Urban Deprivation Index, which assesses a household’s basic socioeconomic deprivations in the fields of education, health, housing and economic conditions. Each of these categories is measured using three indicators that reflect deprivation of basic needs, capabilities, resources and rights, such as parents’ education, health insurance coverage, housing amenities, and household economic conditions. Households considered deprived are those that are showing six or more of the deprivation indicator criteria. Econometric analysis and sensitivity analysis were used to identify indicators that were most related to income levels in Tripoli.

76

Ministry of Finance: Public Finance Reports 2005–2011

41

Figure 14 Proportion Of Deprived Households In Tripoli (source: Arab Urban Development Institute and UN-ESCWA.)

Figure 15: Proportion of deprived households according to urban deprivation index (source: Arab Urban Development Institute and UN-ESCWA.)

Many problems were caused due to the economic conditions. The social cohesions were affected and weakened as the local solidarity resulting high levels of delinquency, pessimism, poverty, and faintness in the mobility, collective perception, social security coverage, etc. The young population that covers around 51.15% of the total population in the old city is the most affected. 

On the education level: The dropout rates are increasing rapidly as children are more concerned in supporting their families financially: 12.1% of youth between the ages of 6 to 15 are not enrolled in school systems and 12.6% are analphabets and illiterate.77 Schools on the other hand, rate less than the national rate and student with certain difficulties are unsupported by the system of the regional institutions.

77

Safadi foundation report on: Socio-Economic; Participatory Assessment - The Old City of Tripoli; 2016

42

The number of students enrolled in public schools is higher than the ones enrolled in private institutions.78 The educational negative indicators are comparable to the ‘ghettos’ situation all over the world. The socio-economic department in Safadi Foundation recommended in its study that the education problems are not fully solvable within educational institutions, but they need to be strengthened and supported by external institutions as the brutal circle of the urban poverty cannot be easily broken79.

Diagram 1: 3.5% of girls between 6 and 30 years old have a degree in higher education (exclusive of technical programs) (Source: Safadi foundation report on: Socio-Economic; Participatory Assessment - The Old City of Tripoli; 2016)

Diagram 2: According to the HHS, 56.4% of girls between 15 and 18 years old are registered in a school or a training organization; this rate reaches 85.2% at national level according to the Central Administration of Statistics.80 (Source: Safadi foundation report on: Socio-Economic; Participatory Assessment - The Old City of Tripoli; 2016)

78

MEHE and ESCWA studies.

79

Ibid.

80

(a)HHS –SF, Old City of Tripoli 2015;

Central Administration of Statistic (MICS3, 2009- Excel Tables, Educational Status): Net Attendance Ratio in “remaining North Lebanon districts” in Primary schools(b) and Secondary Schools(b’);

43



Living Conditions and Neighborhood Environment: There is a pessimistic vision concerning the perception of the community members, living inside the marginalized neighborhood, towards their urban settings. Unsatisfied about their living environment, yet the majority does not have the intention to relocate itself for social bonding reasons, local communities are living in a paradoxical situation. Their reasons are not clearly expressed except the fact that they cannot afford the rent of a house outside their region. Moreover, they expressed a solid social and cultural connection with the local community. In addition, taxes payment is avoided by those residents especially in poor families in a try to maximize their incomes. This situation evokes fear and instability for entrepreneurs, precipitating social decline in a community with high poverty rates.81 Based on HHS (Health & Human Services), local population perceive their entourage as overpopulated. Conversely, based on other analysis and previous studies, this perception was proofed not to be accurate but rather anticipated due to the weakened social cohesion and spatial promiscuity. However, the inhabitants declare that they are willing to participate in a serious civil society initiative to improve their living conditions and neighborhood environment.82

Net Attendance Ratio in Lebanon in Primary schools(c) and Secondary Schools(c’) 81

Ibid. page 29

82

Ibid page 30

44



Delinquency and Addiction problems: The community and especially the youth are deprived from leisure activities due to the weak presence of public institutions and the absence of cultural public spaces. The study held by Safadi foundation also illustrate the low rate of families that participate in community activities (around 7%), yet 70% expressed their desire to engage in community activities aimed to improve the status of their neighborhoods.

Figure 16 Numbers to illustrate the lack of facilities in the struggling region of Tripoli. (Source: Safadi foundation report on: Socio-Economic; Participatory Assessment - The Old City of Tripoli; 2016)

An additional survey was held by Oum El Nour association in Al Fayhaa region concerning the drugs and addiction problems. The results were highly shocking as the residents of the region are unaware of the aggravated situation. More than 50% were stressing on the positive benefits on drug addiction, more than half of the interviewed people consider avoiding the subject is better than discussing it and high numbers were able to locate providers of drug materials. In order to understand the dreadful results, further surveys were realized. According to the extended study, most youth that are using drugs show signs of failure in school and in social interactions, they have the least knowledge on the bad impact of those toxic materials on their health. High numbers of addicted parents accept their addicted children as they also uneducated on the risks and harm they are exposed to. The study recommended at the end, to spread awareness through activities and development programs. They also suggest to offer the youngsters a safe place to spend their free time as the results has showed that those bad habits are acquired from spending free time in cafes and on the streets and from peer pressure.83

83 Presentation entitled “‫ ”ﺗﺪﻋﻴﻢ ﺍﻟﻤﺠﺘﻤﻊ ﻟﻠﻮﻗﺎﻳﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻻﺩﻣﺎﻥ ﻭﺗﻘﺪﻳﻢ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪﺓ ﻟﻠﻤﺘﻌﺎﻁﻴﻦ ﻓﻲ ﻁﺮﺍﺑﻠﺲ‬realized by Safadi Foundation, Oum El Nour association, in collaboration with the European Union – 2017.

45

3.2.3

Site Survey:

An additional survey was held in a particular region of the city of Tripoli in the purpose of elaborating more accurate data and to interact with the resident of the area directly. The study was targeting ‘Moharam’ area located on the southern entrance of the city (as shown in map1). The choice was set on this particular region because of its deprived conditions and the absence of highlighting its situation in major studies done on the whole city.

Map 1: Tripoli’s map showing the location of Moharam area.

The survey was based on a series of questions that will give a qualitative and quantitative overview of the people, their aspirations and fears. The majority of the questions were closed questions with multiple choice for answers and only few open question concerning their future vision of their city and life in it. The team that prepared the survey was composed of three students: two sociology undergraduates and an architecture senior. The time of the survey was limited to one month for academic reasons, the site visits were held at different times of the day including weekends. The sample was destined to cover diverse age range (mainly people aging from 12 to 50), different gender and various occupations. The target was to identify the needs of all categories of this society, either employed or unemployed. The main focal places to hold the survey were public spaces like parks and streets. Private spaces were also visited such as workstations to ask employed people, and households to have direct contact with housewives, children and unemployed people.

The objective was to have an insight of the actual conditions from the residents on multiple levels and in different places.

The overall results were mainly coherent concerning general topics such as the need of public playgrounds and courts other than the already existing due to their poor conditions. (85% of the 46

people answered that the region lacks public spaces for gatherings and spending times). The majority (65%) also approved on the idea of the lack of halls for events and celebration especially on religious occasions. Among the parents that sends their children to nearby schools (the region has a very restricted number of public schools), high number (70%) answered that the educational system is not enough and it lacks activities such as sports, outdoor trips and curriculum activities specially for the students with certain difficulties. As for their own level of education, parents and adults showed interest in attending workshops and training sessions (90% answered that would like to attend). However, they find it hard to join such programs for multiple reasons as the cost of some programs and the distance of the locations that host the workshop in other region of the city. As for security measures and global view of their environment, people seemed to have different points of views: the highest rates (approximate to 60%) saw their streets and entourage extremely unsafe and dangerous especially for their kids (in particular in the afternoon and at night as streets gets empty). Others only had a problem with cleanliness of the streets and the infraction of the sidewalks. The general vision of the region is highly pessimistic, a number of interviewed members stressed on the issue of constant conflicts between individuals that causes discomfort for the surrounding (an approximate of 65% approved on the presence of conflicts in the area, 30% answered that there are no conflicts and 5% refused to give a clear response). In their opinion the reasons of repetitive clashes between residents is a consequence of the poor condition of the residents similar to unemployment, their economic and financial status, the lack of decent activities to pass their free time and drug addiction problems that cause stress to the consumers.

The drug situation in this region is one huge problem that couldn’t be omitted, yet the people were divided in almost equal opinions concerning the subject. 50% assured on the fact that drugs and addictive substance were a huge problematic in the surrounding, 30% denied this statement and 20% preferred to skip this question). The first group (20%) were deeply afraid of discussing the matter and answering the questions related, even causing some of them to leave the interview.

Among the residents that shares this opinion (30%), it appeared that an undeniable rate considers the subject taboo, other do not seem to recognize it as a problem and assume that the high number of addicts in the region is similar to any other place. Opposite to this perspective, the other half (50%) were openly afraid of the aggravated situation and especially its impact on the youth.

When asked about their aspiration and future vision of the region the totality of people showed a desire of change, however they seem to see their homes in worsen states in twenty years. The survey was supported also by interviews with different NGO’s working and based in Tripoli. The main aim of those additional interviews was to understand more their strategy of work towards 47

this region. However, their prime obstacle in extending their work in Moharam region and its surrounding old neighborhood was the lack of spaces inside those areas. The old city, according to different NGO members, are highly dense, renting existing building might be affordable but the costs of restoration and inhabiting those old structure is extremely high in addition to their restricted surfaces. Their location in the new expansion of the city made it difficult for resident of the poor neighborhood to have an easy access to their services. Most NGO’s highly wish to be able to rent locations from the municipality in a more approximate diameter to be able to achieve their missions.

3.3 Proposed actions: In response to the bad condition of the city, many studies and action plans were conducted in the area. Their target was various from livelihood circumstances, conditions of the infrastructure and buildings, the economic field and employment, education and culture and the diverse social problems. In old cities, especially Arabic cities, it is hardly possible to apply the sectoral approach.

Those cities, as mentioned previously were deeply related to the society’s needs, however number of them currently fail to do so as the society has changed and developed. Therefore, a holistic approach should be adopted, combining the social with the economic as well as the urban aspects while respecting the cultures and the history of the city. Any development plan (either social or economic) should be built and determined on its social, economic and cultural realities.84 Among the studies was the ‘Al-Fayhaa Sustainable Development Strategy Project’ (AFSDS) that illustrated a number of issues that the allied municipalities are facing with a list of proposed actions on multiple dimensions. This thesis however is going to highlight certain parts that are related to the main theme. One of the first focuses was the creation of urban park due to the lack of green areas compared to the population and the absence of equipment accessible for the middle and poor classes. The aim is to improve the quality of their lives and the environmental situation of Al Fayhaa. Another project was proposed to fix the accessibility problematic inside the city, by establishing a public transport lines and parking lots. The city is facing a chaotic problem in the transportation sector since the civil war. Fixing this problem along with providing accessible sidewalks with a streetscape design will eventually reduce the traffic jam, will improve the

84

Ibid.

48

environment, make transportation accessible for everyone specially the middle and poor class, and facilitate the approach of certain equipment and public services. Additionally, they dedicated a section for the improving the use of public spaces and the construction image in order to place the city on the path of sustainable development. Another project to revive the struggling part of the city was through re-organizing the existing cultural and sports facilities for leisure and recreation.

It includes public playgrounds, libraries polyvalent spaces in order to implement social justice and equity among all residents. Enhancing the social status starts through education and by helping the young exploring their creative potentials, and economic and psychological abilities. By providing such spaces, delinquency problems will be reduced and children won’t be left in unsafe environments like the streets in their spare time.

Additionally, to this study, certain NGOs and association such as the Socio-economic department in Safadi Foundation added a list of recommendations after conducting surveys and site studies.

The list of actions targets different dimensions such as education and health sector, socioeconomic and social urban development. Among their recommendations: - Following the negative education indicators and high rates of delinquency and school dropout, the proposed project was a local committee’s establishment project to support the educational process including student orientation center. A motivation mechanism of self-performance project to help educate the less fortunate with a socio educative assistance along with a primary health care department.85 The mission targets the lack of programs specialized in raising awareness, the lack of advanced opportunities for students and the gap in capacities of families to support their children in their educational life. The absence of specialized programs to deal with scholastic challenges and any guidance system for the students and their families is also a central issue that the center aims to deal with.

- Traditional industries support projects to help locals in branding their products and merchandise.

The program could include investment and marketing offices and should integrate youth as workforce in handcraft sector project through vocational training center.86

85 Presentation under the title of:’ The Socioeconomic Participatory Assessment of the Old City of Tripoli (OCT)- Approach, Findings and Proposed Interventions”- by Safadi Foundation- May 2017.

86

Ibid.

49

- Awareness and civic culture promotion project for local committees in order to improve life conditions. The culture promotion could be done through cultural vitalization of public spaces project with the establishment of socio cultural clubs for women and children.87 The project also includes a technical assistance to support families with housing problems. The prime focus of this proposal is to deal with the poor citizenship participation followed by a fragility in the urban tissue.

The indicators also show a deterioration in the social stability, a negative city image and low attractiveness due to the restricted number of public spaces along with the issue of transportation sector.

Another study concerning the issue of addiction and drugs listed a series of targets that any proposed action should take into consideration. The list consists of recognizing the main factors that caused the problem in the first place which are: the unemployment and academic failure, the need of integration, and the undeveloped personal skills. The purpose here is to focus on solutions for those main factors in order to deal with the problem. The actions also should target not only the youth as they are the most affected by this issue but also their families, their parents in particular.

Different approaches and actions are set in a try to empower the needy and promote the whole city equally. The strategies may differ and enlist different type of ideas, yet their main focus are the socio-cultural projects that improves the quality of life and motivate residents to act and work towards the overall benefit of their space.

4

Chapter 4: Proposed Project: A Community Center one major solution After describing the situation in Lebanon and in particular in the northern city Tripoli, and

enlisting some recommended actions, one project will be proposed in this chapter tackling the problems facing the region. An adequate site will be chosen and analyzed in order to elaborate an architectural approach to restructure the marginalized community. The thesis will highlight the importance of the selected approach, its functions and volume that will accommodate the most urgent needs of the society. Guidelines and design process will be sited in the sub-chapters

87

Ibid

50

including case studies that will showcase the architectural and humanitarian success of similar projects.

4.1 Why a community center?

When dealing with marginalized communities that are facing various socio-economic problems that are equally important and linked with each other, the answer must be radical and the proposed project should offer multi-dimensional solutions. The project should introduce functions that will provide new activities for the residents, a quality of space that will help them escape the hurtful streets and invite them to interact and be active, and an artistic approach that translate a new vision and illustrate an image of change. As the problems are interlinked and one causes the other, the wider needs are meet, the more the community will see change. The different categories of the community should be involved as much as possible. The target is to cover various types of issues and a maximum number of members affected. In order to combine all of the above and achieve one of the steps of the restructuring process, a community center might be a major solution.

A community center is a type of public buildings that often work to resolve certain problems found within a society. Its purpose, in different cases, is to reduce poverty, delinquency, crimes and drugs… the center can also offer services like health care, educational trainings, parks, social, cultural and recreational activities. It combines as well multiple functions to cover most of the society needs. As a public space, a community center is a location where members of the society get together for group activities, social support, public information, and various events.88 The center may sometimes be open as a meeting place for the whole community or for a specific group in the community which need accommodation.

Community centers have multiple values that make them essential in offering services to communities. The architecture of the building aims to enhance the quality of life and to reflecting a better image of the society by creating an identity for citizens. They have a major role in resolving conflicts within certain parties and empowering the pride and ownership of a given community by providing an open space for all family members and different social groups. It’s a good place to hang out for individuals from diverse background, age, abilities -including those with disabilities and special needs- with no interest in the economic status and regardless of their

88

Definition of ‘community center’ from the online Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/community-centre

51

capacity and income to pay for access. A community center provides a sense of involvement that has been associated by many case studies with lower levels of crime, vandalism and juvenile delinquency. On the health benefits side, parks and recreational facilities included in those buildings contribute to the well-being and fitness of children, youth, adults, and seniors by reducing stress, rage and lowering blood pressure. It offers a space for people to express themselves and release their thoughts and anger freely. It’s a good answer for physical as well as mental health issues. Economically, community centers help rise the property value of their surroundings, they are one of the reasons for business relocation and they provide significant indirect revenues to local economy from events such as arts, music, tournaments and holiday festivals. By increasing the economic activity, they ensure the life back to the surrounding and enhance the overall livability of the streets. A well-designed community center will not only add a physical experience but also a visual one while respecting the culture and the environment of its surrounding. In many cases, we find that community centers are planned in a sustainable and selfsufficient method to highlight the importance of an ecofriendly life style.

4.2 Design guidelines of a community center: The goal of this type of buildings is to incorporate a range of societal issues in a program and a process for various uses. The intention through the use of these social aspects is to find solutions that act as a catalyst for social engagement, change, and growth. The outside and inner design of the building should not only accommodate the functions needed that are missing in the community but also should reflect the mission behind the project.

To begin with, the design of a community center is intended to promote a sense of a welcoming atmosphere that orient pedestrian from the exterior spaces to the inside. The design should be pleasing to the eye and body; it should follow a human scale yet imposing the new vision of the region. It will reflect ideas and ambitions of its users and help promote positive growth for the surrounding area. This could be achieved by the use of different materials, colors ‌The new construction have to enhance life to the existing community and boost further growth. The design must respect the adjacent neighbors, be integrated into the community fabric both physically and visually and respond to the context in a positive and significant manner. However, it should be highly visible and easily accessible. An outdoor space should introduce the building with a

52

pleasant and relaxing landscape. The center must be open to all with an ability to view the variety of activities from pedestrian paths to motivate others to come and be part of this new era.89

Figure 17 Conceptual render showing transparency of a building, its connectivity on the street level and an outdoor space to introduce the building. (Source : http://bustler.net/news/tags/shipping-container/4809/1051/lot-ek-selected-to-design-new-yorkcity-s-pier-57)

A community center exists to serve a number of functions in response to the educational, social, and recreational needs of the community. It is simply a place for the community to come together and enjoy social, cultural, recreational, and fitness activities. It seems that within the human culture, there has always been a hunger to have a sense of belonging, a sense of community. Hence, the design should reflect the pride of the community and the building should be an identifiable landmark to both users and non-users. It is an icon of public focus and social gathering.

Community building should have wide comfortable spaces to host the highest number of users and to form new relationships among members. Spaces need to be designed for different activities to tackle the social and educational focus of the building. It should be as diverse as those community members that would use it. Consequently, the building should be flexible in plan to allow for functional changes that may occur in the future, using feasible structural grid, partition walls, expandable levels, ‌ The center might enclose areas where members can take classes, learn how to cook, learn how to draw, compete in athletics, perform, dance, ‌ It also provides an outlet for community expression and reflection like meeting rooms, assembly space, amphitheater, and recreation areas that are open to the community members as well as available for rent by

89

Linn, Charles, "In/ington Community Center, Fremont, California," Architectural Record, June 1996, 82-87,

53

businesses, organizations, clubs, families or any number of users. The facility is used round the clock, benefiting all age groups and backgrounds thus the building should be adaptable for different ages, it should be well equipped for people with special needs, for elderly and pregnant woman and kids. Encouraging users to mobility by using stairs and ramps instead of only elevators could also be implanted.90

Figure 18 Conceptual model showing a combination of stairs and ramps. (Source: http://nexttoparchitects.org/post/119631599441/by-pegorin-nexttoparchitects-escadarampa)

As the community center help growing the society in a healthier way, natural ventilation and daylight are essential ingredient. The environment must be safe: a good orientation and a studied relation between the inside and outside is also required in a way that people feel safe and relaxed.

Open spaces with voids and wide visibility could also discourage vandalism and keep everybody safe with no blind spot and defensible space.91

Figure 19 Conceptual sections showing how a building can introduce daylighting and natural ventilation.(Source: https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/fe/22/e4/fe22e4af24b01337cb1d3677440da9d7.jpg)

90

Ibid

91 Keegan, Edward, "Carol Ross Barney: by building consensus and with limited means, Carol Ross Barney elevates the public realm," Architecture, September 2002, 87-93

54

Additionally, a community center is best designed in sustainable and environmental approaches.

This way, the building will be self-supporting and low on maintenance. It will motivate people to adopt an ecofriendly life, it will help restructure the image of the region by abiding to the newest laws and global needs. Embracing a green building in struggling areas will drag more attention, exposure and funds for the project. The new vision of the place will attract more investors and will definitely empower the city and its residents. 92

4.3 Case study: Three case studies will be illustrated in this section in order to analyze and understand the different approaches in the design process of an existing Community Center. Two of the projects will be in an urban context, as for the third it will illustrate the design lines used in the Medellin case on the suburb of the city as mentioned in chapter 1.

4.3.1

UVA “The Paradise� - Medellin Urban Development Company:

Located in San Antonio de Prado in Medellin, Colombia, the Articulated Units Life (UVA) The Paradise Community center is part of the process of urban transformations in the neighborhoods of Medellin. This building is one example of the architectural approach adopted in the periphery of the city.

92

Ibid

55

Figure 20 Articulated Units Life (UVA) The Paradise Community center in Medellin, Colombia. (Source: https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-de-medellin)

Figure 21 Overall look of the project. . (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollourbano-de-medellin)

The program is intended for public meeting, promotion of sport, recreation, culture and community participation, under three main concepts. The first targets the equipment that indorse 56

balance in services for the community and the city, the second concept is about reviving the urban space through effective public space. As for the third, it highlights the interaction of citizens with a physical space generating a new experience that lets them use the five senses through Architecture.93

Figure 22 : Division of the function between recreational activities 15%, Sports 20%, Kids’ daycare 35%, culture 18% and the rest for the existing court(Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-demedellin).

The 3879.0 square meter building hosts different cultural activities, music and sports. In 2015, a community participatory design was held to elaborate this project: citizens shared their views and ideas for the construction and functions. Proposals such as space for extreme sports, music and dancing and for cultural interactions were set on the table. The results were an architectural program divided to 4 volumes that revolve around an existing football court that links all the functions. The extension of field was set to be a larger public space on the same level of the main road.94 The other functions were distributed on different lower levels while taking into consideration the natural resources on the plot like existing trees and natural ventilation and daylight.

93

https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-de-medellin

94

Ibid

57

Figure 23 Conceptual diagrams showing the evolving volume around the existing playground. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-de-medellin)

Though Medellin had few public areas, the challenge was to design a public building that gathers multiple services: parks were set on the covers shaping city balconies, an outdoor gym, a skate park, a playground, a community events hall and an interactive space with water jet that are 100% effective and accessible free of charge. The program wasn’t limited to leisure and recreational activities, as music rehearsal rooms were set along with dancing rooms, recording studio and an auditorium in accordance of their five senses architectural concept. The inner space is also designed upon each function with special interior layout for the kids’ daycare and outdoor space.

Figure 24 Site and general layout of the community center. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-eduempresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-de-medellin)

58

Figure 25 Ground Floor of the community center and the outdoor functions and playgrounds. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-de-medellin)

Figure 26 Lower Floor hosting different functions. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresade-desarrollo-urbano-de-medellin)

59

The material used for the construction is primarily concrete, the faรงades however were composed by a series of multicolor verticals brises chosen by the community in the participatory design process. The building uses a bioclimatic sun protection strategy to insure the health and comfort of users.95

Figure 27 Elevation pattern and colors. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-dedesarrollo-urbano-de-medellin)

Figure 28 Colorful Vertical louvres to protect from the sun heat and embellish the elevation. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-de-medellin)

4.3.2

Firstenburg Community Center:

In the city of Vancouver, the community benefits from an enduring model of community architecture that symbolizes their pride. The Firstenburg Community Center is a LEEd Gold Certified project that accommodates thousands of visitors daily to enjoy public benefits in a successful green design building.96

95

Ibid

96

www.opsisarch.com

60

Figure 29 General view of Firstenburg Community Center.(Source: www.opsisarch.com)

The multi-use facility combines recreational and community spaces along other services like a library, a lap pool and water activities, gymnasium, dance studios, multi-purpose rooms and event halls. The center brings together a diverse mix of users from different age range making the total area equivalent to 6000 sqm. The building was carefully designed to be integrated in the site and to act as a welcoming space for the whole family.97

Figure 30 The double height basketball court allowing visitors and users to have a visual access on the games and trainings.

(Source: www.opsisarch.com)

97 Publication of “Firstenburg Community Center in Vancouver, Washington� Case study- by Opsis Architecture - 920 NW 17th Avenue Portland, OR 97209

61

Figure 31 Plan and different functions in the center. (Source: www.opsisarch.com) 1 Library 2 Courtyard with Spray Ground 3 Bus Stop 4 Future Lap Pool 5 Bike Parking 6 Furstenberg Community Center

7 Walking Trail / Service Lane 8 Porous Concrete Paving 9 Established Coniferous Forest 10 Future Parking

The Community Center is divided on two levels shaped in a way to minimize the footprint and preserve mature trees that stand on the plot. The footprint and position of the building are a result of careful analysis of the areas of healthy and significant trees, solar orientation, prevailing wind direction, noise from the adjacent street, and program requirements. An outdoor space is widely set to introduce the buildings allowing people to park their car, bikes and buses before entering the building. Use of alternative transportation is encouraged by building a bus stop and shelter, providing ample bike parking and designated carpool parking and creating pedestrian links to an adjacent park and future regional trail. The parking lot has an organic shape to help maximize the number of significant existing trees retained, while it uses porous concrete and a drainage system to collect all of the storm water and reuse it on site.

62

Figure 32 Different plans and functions of the community center. (Source: www.opsisarch.com)

The volume takes into consideration the need of transparency and good lighting by opening large windows for daylighting and courtyards to allow interior functions to connect with the natural landscape. Local plants were planted in the surroundings creating an ecology forest as a habitat for birds and other species.

Figure 33(left) Photo of the entrance showing the transparency of the project. (Source: www.opsisarch.com) Figure 34 (right) Photo of the double skin faรงade. (Source: www.opsisarch.com)

As for the materials, the selection was set upon the durability, beauty and sustainability as the center is heavily used. Non-toxic enduring materials were used in an esthetic way to clad the outer shell. Among which were Douglas fir trees that existed earlier on the site but were detected as diseased were harvest and treated to be reused in the wall paneling, screens, benches and seats.

63

Figure 35 Interior view showing the materials used. (Source: www.opsisarch.com)

The interior space was also set in a way to facilitate the communication and interaction between people by using light separation and glass. Ample daylighting, natural ventilation and non-toxic finishes help Firstenburg community center in providing a healthy environment. Various systems were used to improve the indoor quality sort of monitor and sunshade technics, model simulating air patterns and space temperatures were created in order to refine the natural ventilation systems.

Windows are operated by sensor-activated actuators to provide deep penetration of daylight into the building and natural ventilation. The same was done on north facing monitors at the gymnasium to provide natural ventilation and throw daylight deep into the building for balanced, glare-free natural light. Air quality was also further improved by co2 sensors and vents were used as well.

Figure 36 Photos of different functions and the light materials used to endorse visibility and visual connection among users.

(Source: www.opsisarch.com)

64

Figure 37 Sustainable systems used in the project(Source: www.opsisarch.com).

The Community Library was designed directly adjacent to the Firstenburg Community Center.

The building focuses views into the large standing trees and captures filtered daylight. The dramatic, sloped wood ceiling, the reading room and the checkout are open visually to the nearby children’s area, teen area, and meeting rooms. A large community meeting room features a shared entrance for use when the Library is closed. The children’s area contains a curving wood parent seating, a family story room and an outdoor courtyard. 98

Figure 38 The glazed library allowing a visual connection and daylighting. (Source: www.opsisarch.com)

98

Ibid.

65

4.3.3

Surry Hills Library and Community Center:

In Crown street Surry Hills, Australia, a community center and library were built to accommodate different cultural and leisure facilities for the residents of the region. The region is characterized by a diversity of age, income and cultural backgrounds. The context is residential dating back to the Victorian style.99

Figure 39(Left): Perspective view of Surry Hills Community Center.(source: https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-libraryand-community-centre-fjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo) Figure 40(right):Entrance view of the Community Center.(source: https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-andcommunity-centre-fjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo)

Designed by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp, the project is about 2497 sqm spread on a constrained site measuring 25 by 28 meters and bound on three sides by roads. The community participation was one key element in the design process as members of the local society were present in the consultation leading to a facility that everyone can share. The community made clear their need for a library, a community center and a children center gathered in one building, in one place.

Their vision was to assemble those function in one truly shared place for the whole community to meet and use in different ways. The project was a pure reflection to the community’s values and aspiration100.

The hybrid public building lodge various functions such as: a library and a resource center, a community lounge and meeting space and a childcare department. The main concept is the use of transparency to make the building more welcoming, accessible and open to the public view.

99

https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt/

100

ibid

66

However, it was also important that the building will embodies the values of the community. The results were shaped in a structure that combines openness, accessibility, transparency, sustainability and the general values and aspiration of the people. A simple platform with prismatic glass could be seen from the street level. The closure of the main road was a modest public park in order to extend the function of the building and reasserted itself as public place.101

Figure 41: Photos of the interior space of the center. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-andcommunity-centre-fjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo)

The use of double skin with automated timber louvres helped filter and control the sunlight and view. The inner space is transitional form that mediates the scale of the surrounding buildings that applies to human scale in a more welcoming environment. A cloud-like roof profile suspend above the entrance to mark it while shading in from rain and sunlight.102

101

https://architizer.com/projects/surry-hills-library-and-community-centre/

102

ibid

67

Figure 42 (left): Photo from the library showing the glazing pattern . (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hillslibrary-and-community-centre-fjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo) Figure 43(right): The Timber double skin used on the Facades. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-libraryand-community-centre-fjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo)

A Library on the ground floor and lower ground hold a wide collection of history books and public references along with a computer lab and a conference room. The community center on upper floors comprises a meeting space with verandah, commercial teaching kitchen, neighborhood center, administration, offices and amenities. The childcare section is on the highest floors with a separation for different ages between 1- 2 years old and 2-5 years’ old, an outdoor landscape and playground with an automated shade roof. 103

Figure 44: Photo of the childcare department with a playground and automated roof. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hillslibrary-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo)

103

ibid

68

The array of environmental initiatives also contains a thermal labyrinth for passive filtering and tempering of the air, solar-tracking louvre systems, automated fabric shading, mixed mode ventilation, extensive photovoltaic array, geothermal cooling bores, green roof, rainwater collection and recycling, and sustainable material selection. The building is computerized to automatically monitor and control the internal environmental conditions, to adjust the ventilation and sunshade louvres throughout the day controlling heat load, light and shade, and converting lights on and off when necessary.

Figure 45 Illustration of the ecofriendly system used in the community center of Surry Hills. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hillslibrary-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo)

The center has been embraced by the local community since its opening. It is a welcoming community place for all ages and all social groups. It provides facilities that embody the values of equity of access to information and resources that are essential to building communities.104

104

Ibid

69

4.4 Site Analysis: In this section a site analysis will be conducted in order to understand the plot and its surroundings.

This step will help elaborate an interpretation of the opportunities available and the problems, in order to define the needs and functions of the projects along the guidelines of the design and a bubble diagram.

4.4.1

Geographic location and landmarks:

As the studies showed the unfortunate situation in Tripoli, the site for the community center was chosen in one of the most struggling neighborhoods of the region called ‘Moharam’. Tripoli is a Lebanese local authority which is located in an administrative division of North Lebanon Governorate (Mohafazah) which is limited on the northern side by Akkar, from the east by Baalbek and Hermel, from the south there Mount Lebanon and on the west side the the Mediterranean Sea. Tripoli District is one of six districts of North Lebanon Governorate: Batroun District, Bcharreh District, Koura District, Minieh-Danniyeh District, Tripoli District and Zgharta District. The municipality takes part in the Federation of Fayhaa Municipalities105 that covers the city of Tripoli, Al mina, Bedawi and Alkalmoun. It is located 87.36 km away from the capital Beirut106 and it is considered as the second largest city in Lebanon with a total area of 30 square kilometers and an estimated population of 348726 inhabitants in 2011 (with 72% living in the city of Tripoli).107

105

http://www.localiban.org/article748.html?debut_juridiques_articles=2#pagination_juridiques_articles

106

https://www.distancecalculator.net/from-beirut-to-tripoli-2

107

Ibid.

70

Figure 46 The eight governorate of Lebanon. (Source: edited by Christelle Aoude) Figure 47 Administrative Districts in North Lebanon Governorate. (Source: edited by Christelle Aoude)

Map1 of Al fayhaa Region.

71

The city is well known for its great history, it expanded its roots from the old city to the borders of the sea. However, the old city and its surrounding seems to be suffering the most. Moharam is one of the quartier on the expansion of the old city. It’s located on the southern entrance of Tripoli and a few meters away from Al Nour Roundabout. On its northern side is the ‘Haddadine’ region, ‘Abou Smara’ on the east and the boulevard on the west side separating the deprived area from the new ‘Dam and Farez’.

Map 2: Moharam location in reference to Tripoli and the old city.

72

The region could be accessed from different directions. It is easy to reach the site from the southern entrance (1 according to Map 3) of Tripoli by taking the secondary road. Another way to approach the area is from the Al-Nour roundabout (2 according to Map 3) which connects various regions of the city and link the old city to the new agglomeration. The plot could be also located through other landmarks like the graveyard in Haddadine area (3 according to Map 3) and the Taynal Mosque (4 according to Map 3) one of the historical monuments in the old city of Tripoli that dates back to the mamluk era back to 1335.108

Map 3: Landmarks around the site.

108

http://www.tripoli-city.org/taynal.html

73

The area of Moharam is about 351321.29 m2. According to the municipality of Tripoli, the number of houses in Moharam are estimated around 2109 units. The estimated population therefore is calculated considering the average of five inhabitants per household, according to a local Mukhtar, making a total of 10545 inhabitants. Local Mukhtars also give an average of 3 over 5 inhabitants per household to be among youth and children. The region has a high density population with approximate 0.03person per sqm and a built area that covers more than 60% of the total region.

Some photos from the site will illustrate the actual situation of the plot and its surroundings.

(Figure 48)

Figure 48 Photos of the plot.

74

4.4.1

Roads and sidewalks:

As access to the site is a major factor in any project’s success, the road network must be studied along with the sidewalks, their availability and conditions. The roads in the surrounding of the site vary between principal roads, secondary, narrowed and blocked as shown in the map (Map 4). The chosen site is located on two islands crossed by a narrowed road and is enveloped from three other sides by secondary and narrowed streets. On the forth side, a road seems to be currently blocked but it’s assigned to be opened as the master plans indicates. The other island is adjacent to another built island with no access in between. The site is easily accessed from different neighboring region as the road network surrounding the islands is directly connected to the old city on one side and to a main axis in Moharam area on the other. Though, the condition of the roads is miserable making it difficult to pass through. The sidewalks, when available, are facing the same condition: cars from the repair shops are taking over the passage way.

Map 4: Types of roads around the site.

75

The mode of transportation in the region are primarily cars and motorcycle. Pedestrians could be sighted and public transportation appears to be limited to taxis. The traffic varies upon the type of roads producing nods in certain areas resulting traffic jam and noise pollution in those same spots as shown in the Map 5.

Map 5: Traffic in the surrounding along with the nods and noise pollution.

76

4.4.2

Site surroundings:

‘Moharam’ is classified in the P13 building zone, according to Tripoli Master plan (Figure 49), which is classified as a residential and commercial. The function of the buildings surrounding the site are distributed between the Ground floors and upper floors as shown in the maps in Map 6 and Map 7.

Figure 49 Tripoli Master Plan showing the classification of Moharam area as zone P13.( Source: Municipality of Tripoli)

77

Map 6(Left) showing the functions of the surrounding buildings on the Ground Floor level.

Map 7 (Right) showing the functions of the surrounding buildings on the other levels.

The entourage is mainly residential with mechanics and car repair shops (commerce) on the lowest floors. Three mosques are in the nearby area, one of them is historical Taynal Mosque, the second is Al- Siddik mosque located on the boulevard faรงade and the third is Al Amira Mosque.

Along the religious building, different graveyards are situated in the neighboring in vaste areas surrounded by fences. There are three widespread cimetery in the nearby span that were originally united but were eventually seperated in order to build roads and facilitate the transportation. Two educational facilities are also found in the neighborring, the fisrt is a new vocational trainning center that offers free certified workshops for youth (girls and boys) between the age of 16 and 24 in different fields directly related to the market demands and local jobs oppurtunities.This center aims to give the uneducated a chance to persue a decent profession with their program. The other facility is a public secondary school specifically for girls. The capacity of the classes is very limited, the condition of the building is also poor and the educational system is not suffiecient as it stops after a certain level. Public spcaes in the region are also restricted, there are mainly four spaces dedicated for the community: the first is a public garden on the lateral side of Taynal 78

Mosque, the second is a football court, the third is a public garden with a kids playground and the fourth is also a municipal space with a basketball court within it. However, the public areas in this region are facing different problems on various levels. Along with the poor management of those spaces, people seem to be avoiding those places. According to the site survey,the reasons for this is the lack of belonging to the open space, the restricted schedule of the openning and closure, the poor accessibility and the design approach that doesn’t seem to be inviting people. The playgrounds have a raw flooring that may cause injuries for users and are mainly unsafe for kids.

The gardens are fenced with high walls and metalic grid that produce a feeling of inprisonement.

And electricity generator are placed inside those spaces, producing noise and pollution all around the place. Another major factor that led to unused space is the dangerous accessibility: the football court and the gardens are located on parallele side of a principal bridge that connects Abou Samra region to the Boulevard. A pedestrian metalic bridge is set to facilitatet the cross from one side to the other, however the state of the passage is highly unsecure and could be extremely hazardous especially for kids

Figure 50: Entrance of the football court.

Figure 51(Left): The electricity generator on the side of the court along with the raw flooring.

Figure 52(right): The highway bridge that separate the different public zones.

79

Figure 53(left): The fenced empty public garden, also with electricity generators on the side.

Figure 54(right): The fenced basketball court covered with the metallic overhang (an unhealthy material banned in different countries).

4.4.3

Surroundings and buildings:

In order to have an integrated design, the morphology of the buildings must be analyzed, from heights, year of construction and materials used. The regulation of the zone P13 applied on this region clearly specifies the maximum height to 38m along other regulations (as shown in Table 1). Therefore, the height of the buildings in the near islands varies between a one level building to a high rise 11 floor structure as shown in Map 8.

Set Back from all the sides

3m

Surface investment

Ground Floor level :60% Other levels:40%

Total investment

3

Maximum height

38 m

Number of floors

unspecified

Table 1: Regulation in zone P13.

80

Map 8: Heights of the surrounding buildings.

According to the residents of the region, the buildings could be divided into 3 eras of construction (Map 9). However, Taynal Mosque seems to be older than any other edifice in the nearby environs, making it the most historical dating back to a very early period (according to the description plate on its front entrance, the mosque dates back to 1335 AC).

Map 9: Year of construction of the different buildings in the region.

81

The materials used for the construction of those structures are also related to the year of their execution: Concrete seems to be the most used in the majority of the buildings and stone appears only in one which is Taynal Mosque.

Map 10: Materials of construction used in the buildings in the region.

4.4.4

Plot area, Access and Orientation:

The plot is divided in 2 paralleled islands joining a number of lots. Roads border 3 peripheral sides and one road crosses between the islands separating the site into 2 entities. The area of those two varies resulting different exploitation ratio (Table 2).

Plot Area Set Back from all the sides Surface investment GF level:60% Other levels:40% Total investment: 3 Maximum height

Plot 1 4667.359 m²

Plot 2 5852.792 m²

Total 10520.151 m²

3m

3m

-

2800.4154 m²

3511.68 m²

6312 m²

1866.9436 m²

2341.12 m²

4208 m²

14002 m² 38 m

17558.4 m² 38 m

31560.4 m² -

Table 2: Investment and exploitation of the plots.

82

Map 11 also shows the general sun path according to the site, the wind direction from the south west side and the only view from between the two plots to Taynal Mosque (Figure 56).

Map 11: Site with the different constraints, Sun path, Wind direction and view.

83

Figure 56: View of Taynal Mosque from the road between the 2 plots.

Figure 57: Section AA’ of the site.

The plots have a slight slope of only few meters that varies as the land get higher in the middle and more flat at the edges. The soil in this area is a mixture of clay, sand, agriculture soil and red soil. As for the existing vegetation, there is a clear absence of any type of significant plantation or trees leaving place for wild grass and bushes.

Figure 58: Section BB’ of the site.

84

Sun and shading are major elements in the design process, therefor the sun path must be studied in different seasons of the year. The diagrams in Figure 59 and 60 illustrate the sun solstice and the dropped shadows from nearby buildings on the chosen site. Those diagrams were taken at the same time, at noon, on various dates: 

Summer solstice: June 21st (sun highest in the sky)



Autumn equinox: September 21st (half way between high and low point)



Winter solstice: December 21st (sun lowest in the sky)



Spring equinox: March 21st (half way between low and high point)109

December 21:

March 21:

Figure 59: Sun Path at noon on different time of the year.

109

Shady Attia; ‘Bioclimatic Urban Design and Site potentials’- Workshop on Bioclimatic Design in Hot Climates – May,2017.

85

June 21:

September 21:

Figure 60: Sun Path at noon on different time of the year.

Following the charts above, the South-west axis is mainly blocked by high rise building which does not allow sunrays to freely lay on the plot from 1pm till sunset. This implies the need to maximize the daylighting in the building from the East-South side through large windows and the use of voids to provide nature lighting to the south-west side.

86

According to Tripoli weather station, the climate of Tripoli (the coastal region) is subtropical, the average of the temperature is variable between 17.4째C (maximum) and 26.6째C (minimum). The average rainfall for the year 2015 was approximate to 1563.9mm with an amount of 1296.3mm on the 28th of January, the wettest day of that year.

Chart 1 Climate indicators other the 12 months of the year.

The ratio of rainy days over the driest is 0.14. As for the wind speed, the charts below show the different speed and direction of the wind around the year in accordance to the temperature.

North

Chart 2 Wind speed and direction from January to June. (source: Climate consultant 6.0- California Energy Code Comfort Model 2013- Tripoli Weather file: Latitude:34.42째 North, 35.87째 East; Time zone from Greenwich 2; Elevation 0)

87

North

Chart 3 Wind speed and direction from July to December. (source: Climate consultant 6.0- California Energy Code Comfort Model 2013- Tripoli Weather file: Latitude:34.42° North, 35.87° East; Time zone from Greenwich 2; Elevation 0)

On average, wind direction is south-west for most of the year with an average speed of 2km/h.

The wind is at maximum speed between the months of February, June and August. As the SouthWest side is blocked by high rise buildings, the new buildings will be safe from strong winds specially in the winter (December, February and April). As for the summer season, the plots will be shadowed from the surrounding buildings (South-west side) and summer breezes from southeast will be blocked.

In order to maximize the comfort hours around the year, different strategies should be considered in the design process in this climatic zone similar to sun shading, natural ventilation, passive solar systems and humidification and dehumidification technics for cooling and heating.

88

Chart 4 showing the natural comfort zone and how it could be expanded with different technics. (source: Climate consultant 6.0California Energy Code Comfort Model 2013- Tripoli Weather file: Latitude:34.42째 North, 35.87째 East; Time zone from Greenwich 2; Elevation 0)

Figure 61: showing the different technics to boost the comfort zone and the percentages of their efficiency in this climatic zone. (source: Climate consultant 6.0- California Energy Code Comfort Model 2013- Tripoli Weather file: Latitude:34.42째 North, 35.87째 East; Time zone from Greenwich 2; Elevation 0)

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4.5 Functions and organigram: Following the studies held in the area of Tripoli, the recommendations and suggested actions, a list of functions could be deducted in order to fulfil certain needs of the society and work towards solving some of their socio-economic problems.

4.5.1 

Functions required:

Hall and gathering lobby with voids and waiting areas to create a space for social interactions and communication, this space should be an extension to the outdoor space in order to welcome people from the streets to come in.



Sport facilities: This department includes a gymnasium, multipurpose court with lockers and facilities, a room for ping pong tables and racket sports, and an indoor court for skating and biking.

The purpose of having sports facilities is to provide life skills training programs to build resilience of at risk youth and reduce anti-social behavior. Youth engaged in sports and physical activities increase adaptive and positive behavior and address risk factors related to violence, crime and drug use.



Logistics department:

o Offices mainly rented for NGO’s working in the region, the number of NGO’s in Tripoli is largely big and many find difficulties to find a location in the Old city of Tripoli because of the restoration fees for the buildings available in the area.

o Multipurpose rooms for the NGOs: Many clubs’ and organizations’ work requires large spaces, those activities could be directly with assemblies of people where they need to gather them, divide them into groups to do certain trainings or selfdevelopment workouts …

o Social services offices: as the studies showed high numbers of personal conflicts in the region along with great rates in household problems, the social services offices will be an assistance for the residents to help them overcome their issues and be helped professionally to deal with certain cases. The social department can also have an orientation center to help students and graduates to choose their track in life and make the right choice especially with if there are minimum abilities to afford schools and universities.

o Conference room for health awareness campaigns: According to the studies held in the region, a majority have little to no knowledge about health problems and drug 90

use. This method will approach people and spread awareness among all age range, the center will attract users’ attention to medical issues while they are enjoying different activities. The conference room could be also used for clubs meeting or by members of the society that need a location to hold professional gatherings.

o Daycare space for kids: as parents are participating in the community center activities or for working parents in the region that can’t afford the private daycare centers fees, they will need a safe place for their kids to hang out and stay. A daycare facility in the center will be a good option for parents as they keep their kids near them. The children will as well benefits from programs and classes and a nursery with minimum medical aid.



Education and skills: To deal with the high numbers of unemployment, the high rates of school drops and women status in those societies, the center will host different workshops and classes that target different interests and ages so everyone will have a skill to acquire. The space required is as following:

o Workshops for crafts and hand-made skills and learning programs, divided between youth and women as the type of skills differs. Women will be offered workshops in knitting and sewing, in crafts making and design and packaging, planting and gardening, self-defense and other optional activities. As for the youth different type of skills will be presented similar to recycling workshops, electronics and digital craftsmanship, video making, furniture and lighting crafts…

o A library to maintain a certain level of education and invite people to learn and discover more. The library will be divided into different zones as some users will be assisted by guides and others will be free to choose books, articles, journals on their own. A section will be personalized for children; a reading area will be on the side for staying-in and a story telling stair will be on the other so the community can interact and share ideas. A media tech will be also available for youth and adolescents.

o Computer labs for digital workshops and trainings, especially in marketing workshops, accounting, video-making and digital arts classes.

o Study rooms for student and after school educational activities: as the region lacks places for youth to gather and study in groups, the center will provide a safe environment for them to help them study and evolve academically.

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o Theoretical Classes: the studies showed high rates of drop outs and academic activities. The reasons may differ between lack of academic assistance in public schools, parents unable to help their kids in homework leading them to fail, youth leaving school to work in the day and help their families financially. The center will hold classes after school assistance to help students with academic difficulties and failures, also it will provide an opportunity for the drop outs to have a paralleled system of education to maintain a certain level of knowledge.

o Non-theoretical classes (or studios): other than the academic knowledge, youth of the region should have access to other curriculum activities that their schools do not offer, their parents can’t afford and the region doesn’t have. The classes could be multiple as art classes, sculpting, graffiti art, dancing classes (hip hop, techno, oriental…), music classes (singing classes, instruments learning courses, recording studio…). This kind of activities not only will offer new skills for the community but it will also be a way to release thoughts and ideas and be a platform to express themselves freely.

o A kitchen: this service will be used for different purposes. It could serve for cooking classes for women or children activities in addition to serving food and catering for events and big gatherings.



Common services:

o Theatre for performances and student shows. The theatre will include a stage, backstage, seating for a minimum of 350 persons and a screening set.

o Event Halls: the halls will serve any event that the community will have like weddings, funerals … it could also serve as an expo room for selling artistic work, crafts and goods done by the communities. The halls are multi use, it will have direct access for the kitchen, storage room and a loading deck.

o Outdoor gardens and spaces with kids’ playground including various activities like skating, biking, …

o Cafeteria to serve the users in all time. o Gathering room for youth with a game room so that adolescents have a place to meet and hang out other than the streets. The game room will include pool table, chess lounge, karaoke, …

o A senior lounge for the elderly as they still are part of this community. Their lounge will include a gathering space, a game section like chess and backgammons and other activities to keep them engaged in the society.

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In addition, for the sections above, the center will also accommodate an administration office to manage the whole center, a staff room, technical rooms and storage areas and off course parking lots and outside areas.

4.5.2

Areas and preliminary bubble diagram: Average Area

Department

Function

Details

meter) Hall & lobby

300

Gym

150

Multipurpose court

Sport facilities

(in square

Sports classes Ping pong room

450 3x 50sqm Local league standards

Lockers and showers Offices for NGO’s

150 45 20

5 x 8sqm

40

Meeting room

20

Logistics

Multipurpose room

230

department

Social services offices

4 x 5sqm

20

Conference rooms

100 people

150

Daycare

200

workshops

660

Library

300

Education and skills

Computer lab

department

Study room

4 x 20sqm

80

Theoretical classes

5 x 30sqm

150

Non theoretical classes

5x 40sqm

200

100

kitchen Theatre Event halls Gathering rooms for youth

Common space

(including game room)

50 350 x2 with different sizes

450 900 150

Staff area

30

Cafeteria

150

Senior lounge

100

Administration

115

Technical room

70

Total

5460

93

In addition to the built area calculated in the table above there will be the corridor and services space, different open-air facilities and services like outdoor areas, parking lots and gathering space.

Bubble diagram:

94

4.6 Importance of the site and its influence on the surrounding: The choice of the site plays a major role in the success of any humanitarian project intended to help restructure its surrounding. The area, the accessibility, the visibility and the orientation are prime elements in the process. Therefore, the importance of the chosen site relies on different levels.

The residential surrounding: As it’s a public building, its location in a residential zone is very important. The functions of the building are set to help people and change their life style, therefore it should be in approximate of their homes and daily activities. The distance from multiple mosques is also useful as people will have easy access to the religious buildings. In addition to the significant landmark that Taynal mosque represents as it attracts worshipers from the old city and visitors from outer regions.

The accessibility and visibility: the plot is highly connected to the road network as it surrounds it from different sides and through the paralleled islands. Sidewalks however seems to be misused and missing in some cases, however the number of pedestrians in the region- according the site visits- is enough. The plot is easily visible from the secondary roads passing on its edges and could be easily located for passerby. Its proximity from the old city, as it is located on the northern limits of Moharam area makes the site very strategic. The building hence will be serving not only the residents of Moharam area but also people from the entourage and the old city. The project will have an increased influence on the overall region as it’s situated inside the targeted area.

The area: The surface of the plots is sufficient to host the majority of the needs and equipment. It allows to build up in a horizontal and vertical way making space for an outdoor area to introduce the building and fulfill all the requirements needed. The choice of having two paralleled islands is based on the need of a cultural outdoor spaces that communicate with people on the street level and have a human scale features that introduce the building. The project is urban therefor it shouldn’t be limited to one plot but rather spread out to reach and impact as much as it could.

The project aims to help promote the life of a certain social class by offering a physical space well designed according to the needs of the society and with their aspiration. The architecture of the building and outdoor space should be inviting and welcoming for the community and well integrated in their context and culture. The aim is to present an opportunity of development and new vision of the struggling community through utilities, activities, design and volume in a center 95

where the whole society will be proud to call as their own. The building also should attract outsiders in order to promote to socio-economic engagement of different parties and be a symbol of change of the stigmatized image.

96

General Conclusion: Living in an unfair world where some cities evolve and promote the lives of its citizens while other cities are marginalized. Many cities around the world suffer from the lack of basic needs like security, peace and equity in opportunities and it is no question that an intervention must be made. The livelihood, social and economic conditions of residents are part of architects and planners work as the result of their design is transmitted in their daily lives. The way a building can intervene to change a certain situation may differ according to the place and conditions.

However, it became undeniable that the physical space has an impact on its surrounding on different levels from users’ behaviors to overall view of the place.

The role of architecture and buildings can go way beyond its shapes and volumes to tackle socioeconomic problems. Hence it is not the only solution and alone it couldn’t achieve all the goals, it certainly adds values when addressed in an action plan to remedy the situation. Public buildings among other type of structures, have a major role in the revival of deprived cities. Public space in general, have proved to transform cities by bringing people together, spark economic development and drive environmental sustainability. Cities are valued for their public spaces and residents benefits the most. Community participation however is a key factor in the process of restructuring a marginalized city: the more people get involved in defining their problems and be part of the decision making, the more the outcome will be on the right track. The project where residents are involved in its process, have better possibilities of success as it grows a sense of ownership in them making the project more sustainable and efficient. Community centers, among other public building, have the role of gathering the community together and offer them a platform to communicate, exchange ideas and learn new skills that helps them make more operative decisions.

It’s part of the solution that different cities adopted around the years. The results in various cases where positive, leading different parties to suggest a project of community center in Tripoli- North Lebanon after deducting the main problems facing this city. As architecture cannot fight alone all the struggles of the society, the center should be part a large urban strategy that redefine multidimensional aspects to revive the marginalized neighborhood. The Architectural should however, play a part of the new vision for the region through design, concept, materials, volume and functions. The proposed center will reply to the needs of the society of Moharam and the old city as they are the most marginalized region of the town. It will accommodate multiple functions that interest different age range, genders and occupations, it will be the socio-cultural hub of the region. And the design should translate the new vision and aspiration of the community. The space 97

will be dealing with the deepest struggles of this society and bringing citizens together to fight their unfortunate conditions.

The attempt to restructure the society through architecture is one step in a long process.

However, the burden in the success or failure of such projects does not only relays on the design, the physical space and the functions inside. It expands beyond that to the way people preserve it, how authorities manage it and how society evolve through it to maintain any project sustainable and beneficial.

98

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ALTERNET/ ENVIRONMENT:” If You Build It, They Will Come -- on Foot- From Copenhagen to Bellevue, a movement has emerged to reclaim public spaces.” Author: Jay Walljasper

/

Ode

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17,

2006

–Source:

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

Celebrating

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Place

(2000),

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–

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by Safadi Foundation, Oum El Nour association, in collaboration with the European Union – 2017.



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

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 

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

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Source:

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

English Oxford Living Dictionaries defines the word ‘restructuration’ as: “The action of giving a new structure to something; an instance of this.”



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101

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

Kabalan, Leila -Urban inequalities and poverty in lebanon: what can be learned from the social market economy? -Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International AffairsKOnard Adenauer Stiftung & AUB policy Institute – Beirut 2016



MEHE and ESCWA.



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

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

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Biography: 

Alejandro Gastón Aravena Mori (1967): Chilean architect who won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2016. He was the director and curator of the Architecture Section of the 2016 Venice Biennale.



George Robin Paget Ferguson (1947) is a British politician, former architect and entrepreneur. He was president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (2003–2005) where he was Renowned for his work on causes like education, environment and urbanism.



Henry Sanoff: Architect since 1962 from Pratt Institute, New York. He career was focused on teaching and academic research and publications. Among many honors, Sanoff received the Statue of Victory, 1985; the Award of Honor, Environmental Design Research Association, 1977 and the Distinguished Fulbright Award to Seoul National University, Korea, 1990. Professor Sanoff is also recognized as one of the founders of the Environmental Design Research Association that has concentrated in the areas of social housing, children's environments, community arts, aging populations and community participation. He was well known for his publications and books including “Creating Environments for Young Children”, “School Design: Planning with People: Integrating Programming Evaluation and Participation in Design”, “Visual Research Methods in Design, Participatory Design: Theory and Techniques”, “Design Games” and “Designing with Community Participation, and Methods of Architectural Programming”.

103



ISMAIL SERAGELDIN, Founding Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the new Library of Alexandria, inaugurated in 2002, is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Library of Alexandria. He is advisor to the Egyptian Prime Minister in matters concerning culture, science, and museums. Serageldin has published more than 100 books and 500 papers on different topics, including biotechnology, rural development, sustainability, and the value of science to society.



Jan Gehl (1936, Copenhagen) is a Danish architect and urban. His career focused on improving the quality of urban life by promoting pedestrian and cyclist lifestyle. He is a founding partner of Gehl Architects. Awarded for his numerous publications, he also dedicated time in writing books like: ‘Public Spaces, Public Life’ and ‘Life Between Buildings’.



Jane Jacobs (1916 - 2006) was an American-Canadian journalist, author, and activist. She became famous for her influence on urban studies, sociology, and economics. Her influential book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961) argued that the new urban strategies did not respect the needs of most city residents.



Margret Crawford, Professor of architecture with a PHD in urban planning from UCLA. Crawford teaches history and theory of architecture, urbanism, and urban history as well as urban design and planning focusing on small-scale urbanity and postmodern urbanism.

Her work is dedicated to study everyday urbanism that understand the specifics of daily life as a base for urban theories and design. Among her various publications and books: "Can Architects Be Socially Responsible?" in Out of Site: A Social Criticism of Architecture, edited by Diane Ghirardo, 1990 and "Daily Life on the Home Front: Women, Blacks, and the Struggle for Public Housing," in World War II and the American Dream: How Wartime Building Changed a Nation, edited by Donald Albrecht, 1995.



Oscar Newman: a theorist, architect and city planner. He encompasses ideas about crime prevention and neighborhood safety. His theory was developed in the early 1970s as he wrote his first book: “Defensible Space” in 1972. The book contains a study from New York that pointed out that higher crime rate existed in high-rise apartment buildings than in lower housing projects. The conclusion was based on the fact that residents felt no control or personal responsibility for an area occupied by so many people. Throughout his study, Newman focused on explaining his ideas on social control, crime prevention, and public health in relation to community design.



Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria (December 1, 1949 to December 2, 1993) was a Colombian drug trafficker who eventually controlled over 80 percent of the cocaine shipped to the 104

U.S., earning him the rank of one of Forbes Magazine’s 10 wealthiest people in the world.

Escobar entered the cocaine trade in the early 1970s, collaborating with other criminals to form the Medellin Cartel. He earned popularity by sponsoring charity projects and soccer clubs, but later, terror campaigns that resulted in the murder of thousands turned public opinion against him. He was killed by Colombian police in 1993.- source: https://www.biography.com/people/pablo-escobar-9542497



Pierre Felix Bourdieu (1930 –2002) was a French sociologist, anthropologist, philosopher, and public intellectual. Among his writings, he showed an interest in the ways that people cherish, consume and produce architecture. Bourdieu spent much of his life trying to understand cultural consumption and production through detailed empirical research that included studies of dwellings, art, museums, photography and aesthetics.



Ralph Erskine (1914 –2005) was a Scottish architect and urban planner, he was awarded the RIBA Royal Gold Medal. Erskine was reworded as one of the twentieth century's greatest architects giving European cities the finest post Second World War new housing communities. His method was divergent from everything happening around that time as he put the focus on social regeneration and the interests of local people. He wrote the preface to the English translation of Jan Gehl's influential book “Life Between Buildings”, published in 1986.



Theodore Levitt (1925- 2006) was an American economist and professor at Harvard Business School. He was also editor of the Harvard Business Review and a best-selling author of the 90’s in economic, political, management, and marketing fields. Levitt was known for popularizing the term ‘globalization’ through an article entitled "Globalization of Markets".

Table of figures: Figure 1: (Left) Old souks of Tripoli, Lebanon showing the narrow covered streets in response of the

commercial

lifestyle

and

the

dominant

weather.-

http://www.ericlafforgue.com/album/lebanon/ ............................................................................. 10 Figure 2: (Right) Amran, Yemen showing the city, whether done by architects or only builders, that is a physical reflection of society's social, economic, cultural and technological realities as well

as

an

adaptation

to

the

physical

environment.

-

https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_East/Yemen/West/Amran/Hababa/photo330016.htm ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 105

Figure 3 Amphitheatre at the foot of a the metro-cable. ............................................................... 19 Figure 4 Large public building along with the botanical Garden, and the park explora. ............. 19 Figure 5 Amelioration of schools in the region. ........................................................................... 19 Figure 6: Library San-Javier built in Medellin. ............................................................................ 19 Figure 7: Elemental's design for the Monterrey development in Mexico: an affordable housing projects

–

Source:

DeZeen

online

architecture

magazine

(source:https://www.dezeen.com/2016/04/06/alejandro-aravena-elemental-social-housingdesigns-architecture-open-source-pritzker/). ................................................................................ 22 Figure 8 Plans showing two different examples of a school layout. (Source: Katyal, Neal Kumar,

“Architecture as Crime Control”, The Yale Law Journal Company, Inc Vol 111, No 5. March 2002. Page 17-18.) ........................................................................................................................ 25 Figure 9: Map of change in livability score from 2007 to 2017 ( Source: Economist Intelligence Unit – Economist.com) ................................................................................................................. 36 Figure10: Socio-economic groups in Tripoli metropolitan area. Source: adapted from Schinder (2014) ............................................................................................................................................ 38 Figure 11: Building quality map. Source: adapted from Schinder (2014) .................................... 38 Figure 12 Map of diverse building quality- Source: UN Habitat - City & Neighborhood Profiles2016............................................................................................................................................... 39 Figure 13: Pourcentage of deproved families according to neighbourhoods in Tripoli. (Source: Study on urban poverty in Tripoli, Social Affairs Ministry, in cooperation with ESCWA and UNDP, 2015.) ............................................................................................................................... 41 Figure 14 Proportion Of Deprived Households In Tripoli (source: Arab Urban Development Institute and UN-ESCWA.) .......................................................................................................... 42 Figure 15: Proportion of deprived households according to urban deprivation index (source: Arab Urban Development Institute and UN-ESCWA.) ......................................................................... 42

106

Figure 16 Numbers to illustrate the lack of facilities in the struggling region of Tripoli. (Source: Safadi foundation report on: Socio-Economic; Participatory Assessment - The Old City of Tripoli; 2016) ............................................................................................................................................. 45 Figure 17 Conceptual render showing transparency of a building, its connectivity on the street level

and

an

outdoor

space

to

introduce

the

building.

(Source

:

http://bustler.net/news/tags/shipping-container/4809/1051/lot-ek-selected-to-design-new-yorkcity-s-pier-57)................................................................................................................................ 53 Figure 18 Conceptual model showing a combination of stairs and ramps. (Source: http://nexttoparchitects.org/post/119631599441/by-pegorin-nexttoparchitects-escadarampa) .... 54 Figure 19 Conceptual sections showing how a building can introduce daylighting and natural ventilation.(Source: https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/fe/22/e4/fe22e4af24b01337cb1d3677440da9d7.jpg) ....................... 54 Figure 20 Articulated Units Life (UVA) The Paradise Community center in Medellin, Colombia.

(Source: https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbanode-medellin) .................................................................................................................................. 56 Figure 21 Overall look of the project. . (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-elparaiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-de-medellin) ............................................................. 56 Figure 22 : Division of the function between recreational activities 15%, Sports 20%, Kids’ daycare

35%,

culture

18%

and

the

rest

for

the

existing

court(Source

:

https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-demedellin). ...................................................................................................................................... 57 Figure 23 Conceptual diagrams showing the evolving volume around the existing playground.

(Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbanode-medellin) .................................................................................................................................. 58 Figure

24

Site

and

general

layout

of

the

community

center.

(Source

:

https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-demedellin) ....................................................................................................................................... 58

107

Figure 25 Ground Floor of the community center and the outdoor functions and playgrounds.

(Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbanode-medellin) .................................................................................................................................. 59 Figure

26

Lower

Floor

hosting

different

functions.

(Source

:

https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-demedellin) ....................................................................................................................................... 59 Figure 27 Elevation pattern and colors. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-elparaiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbano-de-medellin) ............................................................. 60 Figure 28 Colorful Vertical louvres to protect from the sun heat and embellish the elevation.

(Source : https://www.archdaily.com/782851/uva-el-paraiso-edu-empresa-de-desarrollo-urbanode-medellin) .................................................................................................................................. 60 Figure 29 General view of Firstenburg Community Center.(Source: www.opsisarch.com) ........ 61 Figure 30 The double height basketball court allowing visitors and users to have a visual access on the games and trainings. (Source: www.opsisarch.com) ......................................................... 61 Figure 31 Plan and different functions in the center. (Source: www.opsisarch.com) .................. 62 Figure 32 Different plans and functions of the community center. (Source: www.opsisarch.com) ....................................................................................................................................................... 63 Figure 33(left) Photo of the entrance showing the transparency of the project. (Source: www.opsisarch.com) ..................................................................................................................... 63 Figure 34 (right) Photo of the double skin façade. (Source: www.opsisarch.com) ...................... 63 Figure 35 Interior view showing the materials used. (Source: www.opsisarch.com) .................. 64 Figure 36 Photos of different functions and the light materials used to endorse visibility and visual connection among users. (Source: www.opsisarch.com) ............................................................. 64 Figure 37 Sustainable systems used in the project(Source: www.opsisarch.com). ...................... 65 Figure 38 The glazed library allowing a visual connection and daylighting. (Source: www.opsisarch.com) ..................................................................................................................... 65 108

Figure

39(Left):

Perspective

view

of

Surry

Hills

Community

Center.(source:

https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-and-community-centrefjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo) ........ 66 Figure

40(right):Entrance

view

of

the

Community

Center.(source:

https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-and-community-centrefjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo) ........ 66 Figure

41:

Photos

of

the

interior

space

of

the

center.

(Source

:

https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-and-community-centrefjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo) ........ 67 Figure 42 (left): Photo from the library showing the glazing pattern . (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-and-community-centrefjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo) ........ 68 Figure

43(right):

The

Timber

double

skin

used

on

the

Facades.

(Source

:

https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-and-community-centrefjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo) ........ 68 Figure 44: Photo of the childcare department with a playground and automated roof. (Source : https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-and-community-centrefjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo) ........ 68 Figure 45 Illustration of the ecofriendly system used in the community center of Surry Hills.

(Source

:

https://www.archdaily.com/57339/surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-

fjmt/5008ed8728ba0d27a7000d07-surry-hills-library-and-community-centre-fjmt-photo) ........ 69 Figure 46 The eight governorate of Lebanon. (Source: edited by Christelle Aoude) ................... 71 Figure 47 Administrative Districts in North Lebanon Governorate. (Source: edited by Christelle Aoude)........................................................................................................................................... 71 Figure 48 Photos of the plot. ......................................................................................................... 74 Figure 49 Tripoli Master Plan showing the classification of Moharam area as zone P13.( Source: Municipality of Tripoli) ................................................................................................................ 77

109

Figure 50: Entrance of the football court………………………………………………….........78 Figure 51(Left): The electricity generator on the side of the court along with the raw flooring.….78 Figure 52(right): The highway bridge that separate the different public zones. .………………...78 Figure 53(left): The fenced empty public garden, also with electricity generators on the side…...79 Figure 54(right): The fenced basketball court covered with the metallic overhang (an unhealthy material banned in different countries) ………………………………………………………..…79 Figure 56: View of Taynal Mosque from the road between the 2 plots…………………………..83 Figure 57: Section AA’ of the site……………………………………………………………..…83 Figure 58: Section BB’ of the site………………………………………………………………..83 Figure 59: Sun Path at noon on different time of the year………...………………………………84 Figure 60: Sun Path at noon on different time of the year………………………………………..85 Figure 61: showing the different technics to boost the comfort zone and the percentages of their efficiency in this climatic zone. (source: Climate consultant 6.0- California Energy Code Comfort Model 2013- Tripoli Weather file: Latitude:34.42° North, 35.87° East; Time zone from Greenwich 2; Elevation 0)

List of Maps: Map1 of Al fayhaa Region. ………………………………………………….…………………..70 Map 2: Moharam location in reference to Tripoli and the old city. …………………….......…..71 Map 3: Landmarks around the site. . …………………………………………..…………......…..72 Map 4: Types of roads around the site. . …………………………………………….………..…..74 Map 5: Traffic in the surrounding along with the nods and noise pollution. . ………………...…..75 Map 6(Left) showing the functions of the surrounding buildings on the Ground Floor level….....77 Map 7 (Right) showing the functions of the surrounding buildings on the other levels……….….77 110

Map 8: Heights of the surrounding buildings. . …………………………………………..…...….80 Map 9: Year of construction of the different buildings in the region…………………………….80 Map 10: Materials of construction used in the buildings in the region……………………………81 Map 11: Site with the different constraints, Sun path, Wind direction and view……….…………82

List of Charts: Chart 1 Climate indicators other the 12 months of the year……………………...……………….86 Chart 2 Wind speed and direction from January to June. (source: Climate consultant 6.0California Energy Code Comfort Model 2013- Tripoli Weather file: Latitude:34.42° North, 35.87° East; Time zone from Greenwich 2; Elevation 0)………………………………………………...86 Chart 3 Wind speed and direction from July to December. (source: Climate consultant 6.0California Energy Code Comfort Model 2013- Tripoli Weather file: Latitude:34.42° North, 35.87° East; Time zone from Greenwich 2; Elevation 0)………………………………………………...87 Chart 4 showing the natural comfort zone and how it could be expanded with different technics. (source: Climate consultant 6.0- California Energy Code Comfort Model 2013- Tripoli Weather file: Latitude:34.42° North, 35.87° East; Time zone from Greenwich 2; Elevation 0)………...…88 Table 1: Regulation in zone P13………………………………………………………………….79 Table 2: Investment and exploitation of the plots………………………………………………81

i

Placemaking is an approach adopted by Project for Public Space (PPS) that signed with the UN-Habitat an agreement of collaboration in 2011. The PPS strategy however dates back to 1975, founded on the work of William Whyte, the author of ‘The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces’. The program includes planning and designing educational organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities. This partnership is serving the development of cities where citizens of all income groups, social classes, and ages can live safely, happily, and in economic security. They promote the idea of “the right of the city” and focus on the dire circumstances of the world’s poorest urban region. Working in several countries around the globe, the association was able to publish various handbooks and documents to their most striking success stories, the steps taken to achieve their goals and the challenges they faced.

111

Lebanese University Faculty of fine Arts and Architecture Department of Architecture Branch III

Community Center - Moharam Architecture Project

Presented By: Christelle Aoude

Supervision Committee: Dr. Mousbah Rajab Architect Raida Mouhsen Architect Fouad Hassanein Architect Hiba Saadeh Professor Khaled Tadmouri

2018