Solidere - Beirut Central District by MARIANA MAZRAANI

Solidere - Beirut Central District

UDES 0006 - Case Studies in Urban Development and Design

Presented by Mariana Mazraani - Z5458384

Content

I. Introduction

A. History of Beirut Central District

B. Lebanese Civil War

C. Redevelopment of BCD: Initiating Solidere

D. Dramatis Personae: Key Stakeholders

II. Background and Contextual Information

A. Climate and Geographical Context

B. Cultural Context

III. Design and Development Process

A. Preserving Heritage and Cultural Identity

B. Preserving urban Morphology

C. Integrating Modern Developments

D. Use andAnalysis of Space in Sequence of Key Events

IV. Conclusion

A. The Project: History of Beirut Central District

Figures 1 & 2: Solidere Master Plan, Beirut Central District. Source: Martyrs Square Analysis-Beirut, 2016. Available at: https://issuu.com/sherineyehiazein/docs/booklet_final_ac82130bd1451c- Accessed on: 10/10/2024.

B. Lebanese Civil War: 1975 - 1994

The Lebanese Civil War left Beirut Central District in a state of despair. Therefore, a need of revitalization and redevelopment spiked after the war ended.

https://issuu.com/sherineyehiazein/docs/booklet_final_ac82130bd1451c- Accessed on: 10/10/2024. -

Figure 1: Solidere Master Plan, Beirut Central District. Source: Martyrs Square Analysis-Beirut, 2016. Available at:

C. Redevelopment of BCD: Initiating of Solidere

Solidere: Solidere was established speciﬁcally to revitalize Beirut post Lebanese Civil War in 1994.

District Size: 191 Hectares, 118 Hectares including 30 Hectares open spaces + 73 Hectares reclaimed from the sea.

Vision Statement: “To create a 24-hour active Downtown that serves a hub of business, ﬁnance, culture, and leisure”.

Raﬁq El-Hariri: Former Prime Minister that initiated Solidere in 1994 with the aims of redeveloping “Downtown Beirut”. He secured governmental support in directing regulatory processes and legislations (Pinxteren, 2012).

Figure 1: Solidere Master Plan, Beirut Central District. Source: Martyrs Square Analysis-Beirut, 2016. Available at: https://issuu.com/sherineyehiazein/docs/booklet_final_ac82130bd1451c- Accessed on: 10/10/2024.Edited by Author.

D. Dramatis Personae: Key Stakeholders

Developers: Solidere’s Board of Directors

Nasser Chammaa: Chairman and CEO, 1994.

Ghazi Youssef: Vice Chairman, 2018.

Ziad Abou Jamra: Vice Chairman and GM, 2018

International Architects and Urban Planners:

Zaha Hadid: Beirut Souks building.

Steven Holl: Beirut Marina.

Rafael Moneo: Galley of Beirut Souks.

Figures 1,2 and 3: Left Image: Nasser Chammaa, Top Right Image: Ghazi Youssef, Bottom Right Image: Ziad Abou Jamra. Source: Solidere, 2024. Board of Directors | Solidere - Accessed on 3.11.2024

Figure 4: Top Left Image: Zaha Hadid Beirut Souks Building, BCD. Source: BBC News, 2018. Lebanon crisis: Fire erupts in Zaha Hadid-designed shopping centre in Beirut

Figure 5: Bottom Left Image: Steven Holl Marina Building, Waterfront BCD. Source:HQ Architecture. Steven Holl: BEIRUT MARINA & TOWN QUAY by STEVEN HOLL | HQ Architecture - Accessed on 3.11.2024.

Figure 6: rafael Moneo Gallery of Beirut Souks, BCD. Source: Gallery of Rafael Moneo's Beirut Souks Explored in Photographs by Bahaa Ghoussainy - 11 - Accessed on 3.11.2024.

II. Background and Contextual Information

A. Climate and Geographical Context: Mediterranean City

BCD Climate: Mediterranean Climate with hot and dry summers and mild and cold winters accompanied with a coastline along BCD.

Infrastructure redevelopment is designed to sustain the environment and avoid contamination of Marine Life.

Features:

Stormwater and Sewage.

Water Supply and Groundwater protection.

Seawater Intrusion.

BCD outdoor spaces are designed to be usable in both winter and summer.

Features:

Sheltered seated areas

Covered/shaded walkways

Orientation consideration of the quality of light and shadowing.

Topography and Views

Figure 1: Urban Development, Hydrology and Topography of Beirut Collage. Source: Iaac, Barcelona, Retrieved from: https://www.iaacblog.com/programs/berot-metabolic-cycle-greater-beirut-area/ Edited by Author - Accessed on: 09.10.2024. Figure 2: Solidere

B. Cultural Context: Cultural Identity and History

Figures: History of BCD, Beirut Central District. Source: Martyrs Square Analysis-Beirut, 2016. Available at: https://issuu.com/sherineyehiazein/docs/booklet_final_ac82130bd1451c- Accessed on: 10/10/2024. - Edited by Author.

B. Cultural Context: Cultural Identity and History

Figures: Solidere Master Plan, Beirut Central District. Source: Martyrs Square Analysis-Beirut, 2016. Available at: https://issuu.com/sherineyehiazein/docs/booklet_final_ac82130bd1451c- Accessed on: 10/10/2024. - Edited by Author.

III. Design and Development Process

Figures: Architectural Detials. Source: Martyrs Square Analysis-Beirut, 2016. Available at: https://issuu.com/sherineyehiazein/docs/booklet_final_ac82130bd1451c- Accessed on: 10/10/2024. - Edited by Author.

A.

- Accessed on: 09.10.2024.

on: 3.11.2024.

Figure 1: Zokak El Blat, BCD. Source: Solidere: solidere.com/city-center/urban-overview

Figure 2: Saifi Village. Source: Pin page - Accessed

Zokak El Blat - Wadi Al Jamal Saiﬁ Village

B. Cultural Context: Preserving Urban Morphology

https://issuu.com/sherineyehiazein/docs/booklet_final_ac82130bd1451c-

Figure 1: Urban Morphology, Beirut Central District. Source: Martyrs Square Analysis-Beirut, 2016. Available at:

2: Google Image

Figure 3: Sursock Museum, Arabic Influence. Source: Stephanie D’arc Taylor,

Figure 4: Hamra Street. Source: Stephanie D’arc Taylor, 2018.

C. Cultural Context: Integrating Modern Development

Figure 1: Beirut Waterfront with Hotels District. Source: Booking.com: Hotels in Beirut. Book your hotel now! - Accessed on: 09.10.2024.

Figure 2: Solidere, BCD. Source: beirut central district modern developments at night - Search - Accessed on: 2.11.2024.

Figure 3: Solidere, BCD. Source: beirut central district modern

Figures 1,: Circulation Diagram, BCD. Source: Martyrs Square Analysis-Beirut, 2016. Available at: https://issuu.com/sherineyehiazein/docs/booklet_final_ac82130bd1451c- Accessed on: 10/10/2024. - Edited by Author.

D. Use &Analysis of Spaces: Key Events - Etoile Square

Etoile Square 1960s Revolution - 2019 Revolution - 2019

1: Etoile Square 1960s. Source: Martyrs Square Analysis-Beirut, 2016. Available at: https://issuu.com/sherineyehiazein/docs/booklet_final_ac82130bd1451c- Accessed on: 10/10/2024. - Edited by Author.

2: Etoile Square During Revolution, 2019. Source: Revolution in Lebanon 2018 v1, Nova Fisher, 2020. Available at: Revolution in Lebanon 2019 v1 - Accessed on 3.11.2024

Figure 3: Mental map of BCD according to protestors, BCD, Beirut. Source: Yasmina Ipek, Society for Cultural Anthropology, 2020. Available at: https://culanth.org/fieldsights/activists-in-becoming-lebanons-october-17-revolution-and-its-afterlives Accessed on: 1.11.2024.

Figure

D. Use &Analysis of Spaces: Key Events - Etoile Square

Pedestrian Streets

Figure 1: Etoile Square 1960s. Source: Martyrs Square Analysis-Beirut, 2016. Available at: https://issuu.com/sherineyehiazein/docs/booklet_final_ac82130bd1451c- Accessed on: 10/10/2024. - Edited by Author.

Figure 2: Etoile Square During Revolution, 2019. Source: Revolution in Lebanon 2018 v1, Nova Fisher, 2020. Available at: Revolution in Lebanon 2019 v1 - Accessed on 3.11.2024

D. Use of Spaces: Key Events - Saifi Village

1: Saifi Village. Source: Pin page - Accessed on: 3.11.2024.

Figure 2: Mental map of BCD according to protestors, BCD, Beirut. Source: Yasmina Ipek, Society for Cultural Anthropology, 2020. Available at: https://culanth.org/fieldsights/activists-in-becoming-lebanons-october-17-revolution-and-its-afterlives Accessed on: 1.11.2024.

Figure

Figure 3: Saifi Village Map. Source: Saifi Village..

Saiﬁ Village

Aerial View Revolution - 2019

IV. Conclusion

BCD is a Centre for all activities at all times.

Figure 1: Collage By Author