Martyrs' square competition 2004

THE SITE
A vacuity has been created with the disappearance of old Beirut giving rise to an uninteresting trenched zone:
A terreplein surrounded by roads with uneasy access for pedestrians (at the original square location).
A currently untreated sloping ground with historical ruins overlooking the first basin of the harbor.
Emerging projects south of Emir Bechir Street with buildings such as: Saifi 2, a bank headquarters, Debbas square, the City Center refurbishment, etc

THE PROJECT
One of the main decisions was to treat Martyrs' Square in an asymmetrical fashion.

The concept deals with the circulation as follows:
- On the west side the Bechara el Khoury road was left as it is.
- On the east side the circulation was diverted towards Georges Haddad rapid transit road to avoid traffic nuisance. Only a parking access was created.
On the other hand, Martyrs' Square was enlarged toward the east and rendered more human, friendly and accessible to pedestrians.
This was done by lowering the row of adjacent buildings to 12m with large entertainment sidewalks, as opposed to the crossing vehicular traffic on the west side.
A linear green gap was then developed to separate the buildings from the square itself creating distinct typological spaces. It runs on the same axis and at the place of the Damascus road. This green space is crossed by small pedestrian bridges flirting with the leaves of the trees planted below.
Martyr's Square has a past, whilst the new city extension has a future.
The new city and its corniche should play the role of an expansion tank, allowing pedestrians to drift towards the open air.
Our other main decision was to relate the old historical Beirut to the future city thus extending Martyrs' Square with a strong link to the new corniche.

THE CROSSING STRIP was thus created. It will give the users a breakthrough away from the clustered city towards the sea.
Due to its well-advanced development we have decided not to alter the zone south of Emir Bechir Street but to start our intervention at this point.
The very present Al-Amine mosque should not interfere with Martyrs' Square but have its own breathing space. For that purpose a reflecting pond was created acting as an extended platform. This pond is clearly separated from the enlarged Martyrs' Square by a pedestrian walkway leading to the Hadiqat as-Samah.
Martyrs' Square and its statue echoes great civil acts from the past. In order to perpetuate this important awareness, the statue is surrounded by a stepped amphitheatre allowing open-air public discussions.

From THE STRIP, gently sloping ramps (taking into account the handicapped conditions) will give access to the main streets and the lower floors.
Kiosks and refreshment stalls will be developed to serve the pedestrians, while lighted signage systems and billboards will inform them on the main cultural and entertainment activities.

THE STRIP is not flat but variably sloping enriching the kinetic experience and accentuating the element of surprise.
Large carved slots will allow light to penetrate, while trees will emerge from the natural soil. Trenches will also give natural vistas over the historical ruins.
Shaded seating areas will be planned
A widening and sloping garden was conceived on the theme of the Lebanese Diaspora. It was planned at the place where boats embarked emigrants towards their new destinations and eager parents awaited the return of their prodigy child.
The garden becomes more and more Mediterranean (using species that where scattered all over the world by emigrants) until it dives to the bottom of the sea covered with marine algae.
This landscaped garden will include:
Trees: Phytolaca, Callistemon, Laurus Nobilis, Phoenix Canariensis, Leptospermum, Acuba Japonica.
Shrubs: Calendula officinalis, Knipholia, Centaurea cineraria.
Algae: Bryopsis (green), Heterostigma, Vacuolaria (yellow), Porphyridial, Erythrpeltidal (red).
The Future Buildings of the new city extension will be spaced apart along THE STRIP axis allowing vistas over the sea at large and not only the first basin of the harbor.
It acts as a big sign catching the eye at aerial view.

THE STRIP, one and a half kilometer long starting at Emir Bechir Street and seeping through to its tip above sea level matches the scale of the emerging new Beirut and restores its role of a leading city in the region.

At the end of THE STRIP floats the virtual vanishing jetty:
A sculpture of light stretching to the future and foreseeing the emergence of new technologies.
As for the economical aspect of the project the subtracted meter squares, due to the extension of urban space, will be compensated by the built-up areas recovered under THE STRIP.
The space will provide for offices, commercial spaces, museums, movie theaters, restaurants, etc.

THE OUTLINE CONCEPT OF THE CROSSING STRIP

1) RELATE the old historical Beirut to the future new city to be built across, on the sea front.

2) EXTEND Martyrs' Square to create a strong link with the new corniche, giving the users an opening towards the sea.

3) CREATE a protected quiet urban space passing over all existing and projected roads.

4) SOLVE the traffic problems and give easy access to substantial parking facilities.

5) USE the space between the platform and the sloping land to insert activities such as:
The Main Parking, A tourist information center, Movie theaters, Office space, Museum, Commercial space, Restaurants (at sea level).

6) CREATE a gently sloping triangular green space breaking away form the clustered city toward the sea.

7) TAKE care of the historical ruins by framing them in a depressed green enclave.

8) REACH the marine activities through the floating deck cruise liner terminal.

9) CARVE the surface of the Platform to enrich the experience of the user (slopes, vistas, shaded areas and play full shapes).