Massaad Stairs
Overview
Due to the dense built environment in Beirut city, public open spaces became rare, and the creation of new ones is threatened by an aggressive real estate speculation. Interstitial urban space is thus seen as an opportunity to push forward the creation of quality green spaces wherever the urban fabric allows for it.
Location
Within the framework of the European project MEDNETA (EU-funded project), and the collaboration with Gaia-Heritage, an intervention on the Massaad public stairs in Mar Mikhael was proposed to benefit local residents, daily users and passers-by. We consider this green space as a way to foster the relationship between the resident and the site as well as that between all the citizen and the community.
Concept
The intervention can be considered minimal in the sense that it does not modify drastically the existing context, it rather intervenes in a very detailed manner by adding small urban furniture elements to the staircase as well as treating the borders between the residents, the pedestrians as green filters between private and public.
Diagrams
Eventually, such intervention will transform the existing dry urban hardscape area into an attractive green space showcasing interesting green space, with a strong pedagogical component. The space will be open to other actors such as local schools and could initiate a long term strategy for other areas in the city.
Team: Rani Boustani, Marwan Zouein, Maha Issa, Peter Najjar, Christophe Khabouth
Landscape Consultant: Atelier Hamra
