Turning a blind eye to the needs and wants
of the people that actually live there, Mar Mikhael has gone through great
changes over the past few years and these changes in turn affected its
demographics profoundly, turning it into another cold-hearted city we do not need. That is exactly what we wanted to
avoid. Our intervention focuses mainly on the people living in Mar Mikhael, and
on the people visiting it. What do the residents really need? What do the
visitors really enjoy? What will our proposal really give back to Mar Mikhael?
We proposed several programs, one that was strictly connected to the great
difference in percentage in the demographics. By introducing low rent housing,
we will ensure that the young will stay in Mar Mikhael close by to their parents.
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| qualitative diagrams: the existing theatricality within the city grid |
The second is related to Cinema Vendome, one of the landmarks of Beirut that
was torn to the ground due to political and personal “Profit” gain. Including
an amphitheatre, cinema, and a theatre in an effort to create what was a great
loss to the Lebanese people. And of course others programs such as daycare,
dance school, co-working, bars and restaurants that could benefit both the
residents and visitors during the day and night. Moreover, during our visit to
the site, we realized that there were a lot of abandoned lots, a result of the
edges of the surrounding buildings and even topography.
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| qualitative generic diagrams |
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| design process diagrams |
People took it into their
own hands and made those spaces their own “Public Garden” or even “Play Area”. We targeted those specific areas and came to a
conclusion: my partner and I (intruders) became part of that area as if we
belonged to that neighborhood. Walls that were once considered as a separation
between interior and exterior or between public and private have become
transparent to us. Theatricality overtook those areas, where the audience
became spectators and spectators became the audience. That kind of interaction
and communication has to prevail in our project specifically because we are
proposing diverse programs for everyone.
