THE CHRONICLE

13 While the develop- 10 Hospitality ventures 06 In preparation for 02 Focusing on real 98 All infrastructure 94 Comprehensive ment strategy fo- come to complement the development estate develop- works in the Tradi- urban planning cuses on revenue- and support real of the Waterfront ments that attract tional City Center stresses the topog- generating and added- estate development District – the reclaimed tenants and residents to are complete including raphy of Beirut city center value ventures to com- and enhance property expansion of the tradi- the city center, and fol- the expansion of the and ensures a connection plete the Traditional City value. Hotels, cafes, tional city center – Beirut lowing the positive Ring Road and the cre- between the project and Center, the future devel- and restaurants blossom is promoted as an inter- response to Saifi Village, ation of primary east– its surrounding areas, opment frontier is the alongside office and res- national corporate busi- the impetus to invest in west and north–south accommodating a broad, Waterfront District, with idential neighborhoods, ness center. Further other residential devel- avenues, which organize sustainable, flexible gateway projects set to promoting the city cen- detailed urban and traffic opments increases. This accessibility and con- land-use mix. bridge the transition from ter as a welcoming and studies are carried out, trend also underlines the serve air and view corri- historic to new. friendly, mixed-use space. resulting in amendments importance of full-time dors. 91 Beirut’s postwar to the Master Plan. property maintenance urban recovery is to 12 After Saifi, Wadi 09 Beirut Souks, a flag- and operations services, 97 Restoration is car- be directed through Abou Jamil is taking ship retail project, 05 The seafront Beirut which begin to be offered ried out based on concerted private sector shape as a new opens its doors. Marina is fully oper- to third-party developers. clear urban design, investment into a care- calm, urban, residential This signature shopping, ational, berthing a technical guidelines, and fully constructed institu- neighborhood, while the hospitality, entertain- large number of vessels 01 As businesses, architectural briefs, pre- tional framework, construction of several ment, and cultural meet- on annual and seasonal commercial outlets, serving facades and regulated by government high-rise and large-scale ing point boosts the bases. The planning and and landscaped adapting interiors to the decree. It is set to become developments are economic vitality and construction of several open spaces multiply, needs of contemporary one of the largest inner- launched in the Hotel social vibrancy of the city real estate projects rush a number of vacant lots life and business. Mean- city and waterfront District, Serail Corridor, center. The expansive site forward, especially in provide temporary park- while, following a fast- renewal projects in the and Saifi, all evolving to is a prime example of Wadi Abou Jamil, the ing spaces to accommo- track approach, the first world. complete the Traditional how layers of the city can Hotel District, and the date the mobility of the major new development City Center cityscape. be incorporated into a Serail Corridor. growing number of ten- reaches completion. contemporary design. ants and visitors, in 11 Zaitunay Bay inau- 04 An international anticiplation of the 96 Beirut city center gurates its quayside 08 With the Conserva- urban design com- completion of under- becomes a large restaurant strip and tion Area’s urban petition solicits new ground parking facilities archeological site, welcomes more than fabric almost com- visions for Martyrs’ Square prescribed in the city cen- with excavations uncov- 3,000 visitors per day in plete and the remaining and its surroundings. ter’s Master Plan. ering major discoveries the first six months. At parts of the Traditional The objective is to open dating back to several the other end of town, City Center more than the axis toward the sea 00 With archeological past civilizations. These the newly landscaped halfway developed, a cul- with respect to the urban documentation and excavations are carried Uruguay Street vitalizes tural strategy is imple- grid and reposition the evaluation in full out following a UNESCO nightlife activity in the mented to promote square as a national swing, and following protocol specifically Conservation Area, where culture, arts, and heritage meeting point. extensive findings related devised for the area in selected buildings are il- as tremendous resources to the Cardo Maximus, a coordination with a luminated in the for the local and interna- 03 In establishing large site between several number of agencies and nightscape through an tional communities. the city center as a places of worship is dedi- teams of experts from image projection system. culture and leisure cated to be a landscaped several different countries. 07 With the completion destination, a strategic public space as the of land reclamation approach is taken to Hadiqat As-Samah (Gar- 95 Informed by natu- and the visible integrate archeological den of Forgiveness). ral boundaries and demarcation of the new finds within the urban landforms, street Waterfront District, along fabric. Meanwhile, a 99 The city center is patterns, visual corri- with a continuous rise in Quartier des Arts evolves pulsing with life. dors, past neighborhood developers’ and investors’ against the backdrop Landmark buildings structures, and preserved interest in real estate of reconstructed and are being restored and fabrics, the city center is development, requests restored traditional cafes and restaurants are envisioned as a cluster of come in to emulate the buildings in Saifi Village. multiplying. Businesses sectors, each with its own success of Beirut city and institutions relocating detailed master plan. center’s regeneration to the area are drawn by enterprise in other parts the amenities and serv- of the world. ices such as the state-of- the-art communication network, security, and maintenance.

Solidere Annual Report 2012: an account of facts and events in the reconstruction 12 and development of beirut city center An account of facts and events in the reconstruction and development of Beirut city center

The Chronicle presents a linear sequence of facts and events spanning eighteen years of reconstruction and development in Beirut city center. Like a timeline, it moves chronologi- cally, without analysis or interpretation. Through the unique method of the chronicle, historiography extends through generations. Nasser Chammaa Dear Shareholders,

a word from the chairman The Lebanese economy has endured the devastating consequences of geopolitical upheaval and domestic tension. The uncertainty, com- pounded by ongoing regional turmoil, has exacted a marked and heavy toll on the real estate, tourism, and hospitality sectors.

Our Company was not spared, and the number of transacted sale deals in 2012 was drastically low as a result of the growing fallout. The downturn in economic activity at the national level with its pronounced effects on the commercial and hospitality sectors has afflicted the Company’s related businesses, too. Net operating rev- enues dropped sharply by 68 percent, and net income fell 90 percent year over year.

Still, Solidere’s fundamentals remain strong: our valuable assets include a land bank estimated at around US$8 billion, a real estate portfolio valued at US$1.3 billion, and a balance in cash and receiv- ables of about US$717 million.

We reevaluated and adapted our strategies to ensure the sustainabil- ity of resources. As we weather this tumultuous climate, we have streamlined operations and continue to decrease overhead expenses. Real estate activity proceeds, though at a much reduced pace. Certain real estate development projects have been postponed while the progress of others has slowed. These shifts will ensure cautious application of Company resources, and they will enable Solidere to maintain the track record of superior quality that the brand represents.

We will inaugurate the Souks’ Cinema and Entertainment Complex by end 2013 and will complete the Souks’ Department Store in 2015. Both projects generate revenue and will strengthen the vibrancy and value of the area, and more broadly of Beirut city center. In addition, other projects such as the Serviced Apartments and Wellness Center, due for delivery by end 2016, will increase the critical mass of the Souks area.

Land on the Waterfront District is ready for construction. The Eastern Marina and 80,000 sq m waterfront city park, now scheduled for a

03 later delivery date, will complement the other real estate projects in

— the area and serve as additional magnets. ! ! ! ! 02

Further afield, Solidere International, of which Solidere owns 39 percent, remains financially solid with high liquidity and zero debt. Solidere International pursues the relentless effort to increase business in the region through investments in exclusive and high-value land and real estate development projects with the potential to deliver attractive return on investment. Moving forward, the objective is to capitalize decisively on market trends in the region, primarily in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In 2012, Solidere International distributed a dividend of US$1.50 per share from 2011 profits. We trust that Solidere International’s progress will further catalyze potential value and revenue growth for Solidere and its shareholders.

Despite the dire circumstances, the Company stands fast as a market leader in the real estate and land development field. Indeed, Solidere is well positioned to meet its objectives by capitalizing on strong fun- damentals and core competencies.

We remain unflinching in our commitment to uphold and pursue Solidere’s interest. Our focus is on implementing strategies that sustain value creation and result in better returns for the Company’s stakeholders. At the same time, we will remain vigilant. A flexible Nasser Chammaa approach to business planning is the key to insulating the Company Chairman and General Manager to the greatest extent possible from the negative consequences of July 2013 local and regional instability. While the develop- After Saifi, Wadi Zaitunay Bay inau- Hospitality ven- Beirut Souks, a With the Conserva- With the comple- In preparation for The seafront Beirut An international In establishing the Focusing on real As businesses, With archeological The city center is All infrastructure Restoration is Beirut city center Informed by natural Comprehensive Beirut’s postwar ment strategy Abou Jamil is tak- gurates its quayside tures come to com- flagship retail proj- tion Area’s urban tion of land recla- the development Marina is fully urban design com- city center as a cul- estate develop- commercial outlets, documentation and pulsing with life. works in the Tradi- carried out based becomes a large boundaries and urban planning urban recovery is to focuses on revenue- ing shape as a new restaurant strip and plement and ect, opens its doors. fabric almost com- mation and the of the Waterfront operational, petition solicits new ture and leisure ments that attract and landscaped evaluation in full Landmark build- tional City Center on clear urban archeological site, landforms, street stresses the topog- be directed through generating and calm, urban, resi- welcomes more support real estate This signature plete and the re- visible demarcation District – the re- berthing a large visions for Martyrs’ destination, a tenants and resi- open spaces multi- swing, and follow- ings are being re- are complete in- design, technical with excavations patterns, visual cor- raphy of Beirut city concerted private added-value ven- dential neighbor- than 3,000 visitors development and shopping, hospital- maining parts of of the new Water- claimed expansion number of vessels Square and its sur- strategic approach dents to the city ply, a number of ing extensive find- stored and cafes cluding the expan- guidelines, and uncovering major ridors, past neigh- center and ensures sector investment tures to complete hood, while the per day in the first enhance property ity, entertainment, the Traditional City front District, along of the traditional on annual and sea- roundings. The ob- is taken to integrate center, and follow- vacant lots provide ings related to the and restaurants are sion of the Ring architectural briefs, discoveries dating borhood structures, a connection be- into a carefully con- the Traditional City construction of sev- six months. At the value. Hotels, cafes, and cultural meet- Center more than with a continuous city center – Beirut sonal bases. The jective is to open archeological finds ing the positive temporary parking Cardo Maximus, a multiplying. Busi- Road and the cre- preserving facades back to several past and preserved fab- tween the project structed institu- Center, the future eral high-rise and other end of town, and restaurants ing point boosts the halfway developed, rise in developers’ is promoted as an planning and con- the axis toward the within the urban response to Saifi spaces to accom- large site between nesses and institu- ation of primary and adapting inte- civilizations. These rics, the city center and its surrounding tional framework, development fron- large-scale devel- the newly land- blossom alongside economic vitality a cultural strategy and investors’ inter- international cor- struction of several sea with respect to fabric. Meanwhile, Village, the impetus modate the mobil- several places of tions relocating to east–west and riors to the needs excavations are car- is envisioned as a areas, accommo- regulated by gov- tier is the Water- opments are scaped Uruguay office and residen- and social vibrancy is implemented to est in real estate porate business real estate projects the urban grid and a Quartier des Arts to invest in other ity of the growing worship is dedicated the area are drawn north–south av- of contemporary ried out following a cluster of sectors, dating a broad, sus- ernment decree. front District, with launched in the Street vitalizes tial neighborhoods, of the city center. promote culture, development, re- center. Further rush forward, espe- reposition the evolves against the residential develop- number of tenants to be a landscaped by the amenities enues, which or- life and business. UNESCO protocol each with its own tainable, flexible It is set to become gateway projects set Hotel District, nightlife activity in promoting the city The expansive site arts, and heritage as quests come in to detailed urban and cially in Wadi Abou square as a national backdrop of recon- ments increases. and visitors, in an- public space as and services such as ganize accessibility Meanwhile, follow- specifically devised detailed master land-use mix. one of the largest to bridge the transi- Serail Corridor, and the Conservation center as a welcom- is a prime example tremendous re- emulate the success traffic studies are Jamil, the Hotel meeting point. structed and re- This trend also un- ticiplation of the the Hadiqat As- the state-of-the-art and conserve air ing a fast-track for the area in coor- plan. inner-city and wa- tion from historic Saifi, all evolving to Area, where selected ing and friendly, of how layers of the sources for the local of Beirut city cen- carried out, result- District, and the stored traditional derlines the impor- completion of un- Samah (Garden communication and view corridors. approach, the first dination with a terfront renewal to new. complete the Tradi- buildings are illu- mixed-use space. city can be incorpo- and international ter’s regeneration ing in amendments Serail Corridor. buildings in Saifi tance of full-time derground parking of Forgiveness). network, security, major new devel- number of agencies 94 projects in the tional City Center minated in the rated into a con- communities. enterprise in other to the Master Plan. 04 Village. property mainte- facilities prescribed and maintenance. opment reaches and teams of ex- 95 world. cityscape. nightscape through temporary design. parts of the world. nance and opera- in the city center’s 98 completion. perts from several 13 an image projection 10 05 tions services, Master Plan. 00 different countries. system. 08 06 03 which begin to be 99 91 12 09 07 offered to third- 97 party developers. 01 96 11 02 THE CHRONICLE

24 — 25 40 — 41 64 — 65 Rania Sassine Oussama Kabbani Ghaleb Mahmassani on Building the Solidere Brand on Planning the Urban Regeneration on Structuring the Legal and Learning across Generations of Beirut City Center Framework of Solidere Solidere Annual Report 2012: and development of Beirut city center city of Beirut development and an account of facts and events in the reconstruction in the reconstruction events and of facts an account

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT VITALITY HOSPITALITY RETAIL CULTURE ENTERPRISE EXPANSION SEAFRONT URBAN GRID RESTORATION MAINTENANCE MOBILITY PUBLIC SPACE COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE ARCHITECTURE ARCHEOLOGY PLANNING SUSTANABILITY FRAMEWORK

New real estate proj- As a result of detailed From the onset, tem- Hospitality venues A shopping destina- Archeological sites, With its convenient The new Waterfront Beirut Marina and its Most of the existing Buildings of heritage Facility management In addition to requir- The public domain Beirut city center is a The most important A rich variety of ar- Referred to by the in- A comprehensive The Beirut Central A group of strategic ects achieve a bal- urban planning for a porary activities were from hotels to restau- tion that builds on a art exhibits, and location, design flexi- District is an expan- surrounding board- street grids that radi- and architectural and its related opera- ing developers to in- will consist of no less 24-hour IT zone, pro- part of reconstruct- chitectural expres- ternational media as urban master plan, District Master Plan’s thinkers, urban de- anced mix of land number of distinct set up on vacant lots rants carry on the centuries-old legacy music festivals re- bility, efficient avail- sion of a landfill that walk and quayside ate from the historic value are accurately tions and mainte- corporate parking than 60 parks, gar- viding an array of ing and developing sions are present the largest archeolog- developed out of ex- mixed-use policies signers, planners, en- use according to de- residential neighbor- in the city center to Lebanese tradition of trade and com- main dynamic and able technology, and housed a dumpsite restaurant strip have core are preserved. restored with no al- nance in Beirut city spaces into building dens, squares, pedes- multimedia and the city center is the throughout the city, ical site in the world, tensive studies and are defined through gineers, architects, tailed sector plans. hoods and mixed-use attract the country’s of refined living as merce, Beirut Souks integral elements of modern services, for 16 years – an become a hub of out- View and air corri- terations or additions center are an essen- plots and provide ad- trian areas, and broadband commu- installation of high- such as French Man- Beirut’s finds and public debate, sector regulations, al- craftspeople, legal To control the pace, areas, diverse groups population, bringing part of the social and maintain the struc- everyday life in the Beirut city center is environmental scar door activities. A dors to the sea and while other retained tial component of equate parking to seafront prome- nication services. quality infrastruc- date, Venetian- and treasures suggest stresses the topogra- lowing land use to re- minds, and financial components, and of people now live life to an area that economic process ture of the pre-war city center. Further- a prime location for on the city center soon-to-open yacht mountains are main- buildings are allowed conserving property serve the uses of each nades, the most im- Tenants can surf the ture, both under and Genovese-inspired that the city became a phy of Beirut city main as flexible as specialists is en- quality of each proj- and work in the city was otherwise bar- that has renewed the grid while integrating more, one newly business and retail. seashore. Following club and a planned tained through wide some level of flexibil- and land value in project, the Master portant of which will internet at speeds un- above ground, in ac- triple arch windows, significant urban center, its surviving possible in order to trusted with the task ect, Development center, benefiting ren. Over the years, city center for quality open spaces and developed and 18 his- The new Waterfront extensive land treat- Eastern Marina will streets, major public ity, including limited the market and ulti- Plan includes a num- be the waterfront city available elsewhere cordance with inter- Ottoman arcades and center in the third buildings, townscape meet evolving devel- of rebuilding the Briefs provide stan- from the many con- new destinations living. archeological finds torical spaces of wor- District will also offer ment and reclama- further concretize the spaces, and low-rise facade alterations mately attracting ber of underground park. All of these in Lebanon and enjoy nationally approved cornices, Islamic millennium BC; views, neighborhood oper and end-user heart of Lebanon’s dardized documenta- veniences the area draw people to the into a contemporary ship around the city a wide range of com- tion, the Waterfront city’s historic link to building zones. and potential addi- tenants. public parking lots. contribute in creating an enhanced televi- standards to best friezes and inscrip- since then it has fabric, and the many needs. The renewal capital city into a re- tion of technical has to offer. city center and en- design adapted to center attest to the mercial and retail District is envisioned the Mediterranean tions. This approach The standards as- a pleasant and dis- sion experience. serve the interests of tions, and 1920s and been home to a large layers of historical of the city center has gional economic, so- guidelines and calcu- hance the restoration modern life. ongoing spiritual di- space in addition to as a natural exten- Sea. affirms that historical sume a gradual intro- tinctive urban real estate develop- 1930s neo-Oriental number of civiliza- memory that form come to exemplify a cial, and cultural lation of floor space. of its social fabric. versity and richness a special business sion of the city cen- structures can sur- duction of effective character. ment, public areas, designs, comple- tions. Archeological the city’s heritage. It sustainable model of destination. of the place. district. ter, with extensive vive and create value public transportation and city center ten- mented by contem- remains are uncov- conceives of the city inner-city regenera- green areas and dis- when adapted to the within the city. ants and visitors. porary new ered, preserved, and center as a cluster of tion. tinctive architecture. needs of contempo- developments. integrated into recon- city quarters, each rary life. struction efforts. with its own identity and character, to be developed over a pe- riod of time. The Chronicle Solidere Annual Report 2012

An account of facts and events in the reconstruction and development of Beirut city center Mosbah Assi During the Lebanese civil war, I was a photojournalist portraying the Once infrastructure works began and excavations started uncovering As reconstruction progressed, the Master Plan limits became less horrors and destruction of war in the hope of stopping it. I witnessed archeological remains, we photographed everything for our own visible from land and sea, so we started taking aerial pictures at six- on Photo-Documenting the how it damaged the country and its people. records and for the Directorate General of Antiquities (DGA). One month intervals to keep track of which land area was being developed Reconstruction and Development example is the cemetery between Murr Tower and the Phoenicia and which wasn’t. Those were taken not only from airplanes but also of Beirut City Center I started working for the would-be founders of Solidere in May 1993. Hotel, a burial for the rich in pre-Ottoman times. The graves were from the multitude of cranes at construction sites around town. I had to take a 180-degree turn, wear a new hat, to show how what filled with gold jewelry that have been transferred to the National Once a photojournalist covering the devastation is destroyed can be rebuilt, how there was still beauty around us, Museum. VI of the Lebanese civil war, Mosbah Assi has spent how a city can revive from its ashes. It was not an easy task at first, the past twenty years documenting the reconstruc- but I had faith in the project, and it drove me to want to capture the III The mere fact that we were recording everything on film meant that tion and development of Beirut city center on a reconstruction and development efforts. an archive was being kept. All our photographs are recorded by date, daily basis. The Normandy dumpsite was a dangerous area. It was like a jungle, place, and event. We never printed them all. Bear in mind that before I filled not with trees but with long grass growing out of the garbage. 2004 they were not digital. We archived them all, and some were There were bubbling gases and horrible smells. Water that was once used in corporate publications and in the media. At the end of the In 1993, there were no visible roads in what we call the city center part of the city center’s shoreline was barely visible, and it would day, images are more truthful than words, or rather an image is a today, no visible landmarks. I knew the city center well before the war, bubble as if boiling in some areas. There were unexploded bombs, credible support of words and efforts. but when I first came back, I had trouble pinpointing my whereabouts, carcasses, garbage, anything and everything you can and cannot and I kept on losing my bearings. Shrubs, even trees, were growing imagine. We had to be very careful moving around. When the deci- Twenty years down the line, I have the exact same faith and same out of nearly every wall left standing and in the middle of what used sion was taken to treat the area and reclaim land, we documented drive in the project but probably less energy. I can honestly say that to be streets. There were still many land mines in the area, and the the works. Everything was separated into recyclable or non-recyclable the city center looks better than my expectations were back then. Lebanese army was organizing special tours for photographers. material. The rubble and debris from the city center’s destruction When I saw the extent of destruction, I could not imagine something were moved to the landfill area, separated into usable and non-usable this beautiful could be constructed. The photographs gathered over We started by photographing squatters, the people who were living material, treated, and then used in the landfill. the years show the effort, depict the reconstruction, and document in the destroyed buildings. They knew how to move about, how to the result. avoid land mines, because they moved from building to building IV through the gaping holes, remnants of the war . Once infrastructure works were on their way and salvageable buildings The areas that were the worst off were Allenby and Weygand streets, marked, I started getting direction on what needed to be photographed Martyrs’ Square, Bab Idriss, Wadi Abou Jamil, and the old Souks. In from the urban planning management; which sites, views, and angles somewhat of a contrast, Maarad and Foch streets, Lazarieh Center, to capture. At first, I did not understand why I had to photograph a and the Riad El Solh Square area were better off. Actually, in 1993, large expanse of empty space or a straight line from the inner city cen- there were small ill-kempt cafés and even a men’s salon, open for ter toward the sea. It took me a while to realize that they were looking business near Riad El Solh Square. at the city center through its Master Plan. Once I understood, it all made sense. I felt I was in sync, that the way I was approaching my II photography was in line with how the planners envisioned the city center. I could finally capture the plan through my lens. By the end of 1994, all the land mines were cleared, roads or rather paths were opened, and rubble was removed. We needed to docu- V ment everything that was going on in the city center, particularly the condition of every street and building. We had to capture details, In the beginning, after having taken every single angle shot from

11 document every single streetscape, doorway, balcony, stonemasonry, within the city center, we were asked to take some from the sea.

— and window – in case it would be needed later on in the reconstruc- We would go out with fishermen and look back toward a cityscape ! ! ! ! 10 tion stage. The goal was to have a photographic record of the condi- that meant nothing, that showed nothing beyond a mountain made tion of the city center as a whole so that we could compare it to our of garbage, a few derelict hotels and buildings, Murr Tower still in reconstruction and development efforts in the future. cement, and Starco Center. Nothing else. Corporate Development Landscape

After having recorded a number The construction of a new project The Department Store (photo Peter Marino (US) is the winner The concept incorporates a large The building’s schematic design The first phase of development Located on the northern part of of land sale transactions in the begins on one of the few remain- next page), the final development of the design competition for the podium as a contemporary inter- is under review while current on the western lot comprises a the Foch-Allenby Conservation Waterfront District and finalized ing lots in the Conservation to round off the singular leisure mixed-use project on Hoyek pretation of the Middle Eastern market demand is assessed prior number of buildings at podium Area, Harbor Square, designed its infrastructure, the target is to Area, at the intersection of the experience of Beirut Souks is now Street in the Serail Corridor. The souk, with its porous urbanism, to launching the Construction height composed of residential, by Gustafson Porter (US/UK), is push forward with its develop- historic core and the new Water- under design by Zaha Hadid concept for the Furnished and unique character, and sheltered Document phase. office, and retail components. completed by Target. Covering ment. Supported by strong front District. Allenby Gate resi- Architects (UK). It will open its Serviced Apartments, Spa, passageways. In response to the The podiums include an active part of Beirut’s ancient harbor, fundamentals and proper man- dential building, designed by doors to a three-story retail de- and Wellness Center presents a global trend toward multiuse, The Zaitunay Bay yacht club, ground floor designed to be per- the design repositions part of the agement of resources, the district Nabil Gholam Architects, will velopment covering 26,370 sq m successful massing response to loosely defined working environ- with 14,000 sq m of floor space, meable and accessible to the old harbor wall within the square will rise to complete the devel- reinterpret the scale and propor- of mixed-use space. the local context, comprising two ments, a series of linked green takes shape, emerging naturally public; they also feature several and treats it as a sculpture. opment of an integrated and tions of the contiguous historical structures with a central court- spaces runs through the tower. out of the land and transcending multiuse levels and suspended Fountains and pavements shape sustainable urban environment, streetscape and strike a harmony Designed by Nabil Gholam Ar- yard. Marino teams up with Referred to as elements of verti- the boundary between city and rooftop gardens. the square’s reinterpretation as a accommodating financial, com- with the new, modern, reclaimed chitects, the 178 Saifi develop- IdepConsult–Mounir Saroufim cal urbanism, they connect the sea. It is set to accommodate a harbor. Also completed is the mercial, residential, cultural, and land area. ment is envisioned as a natural for the detailed design phase. work spaces to the surrounding club for up to 400 members with The retail frontages are adorned Bassel Fuleihan Memorial on tourist facilities. extension to the popular Saifi city and sea. a swimming pool, restaurant, with light, transparent canopies. the Corniche Road between The Cinema and Entertain- Village and comprises a cluster One building houses the serviced, bar, e-library, game room, and Trees play an essential role as Beirut Marina and the Phoenicia ment Complex (photo below) of one office and four residential furnished apartment wing, with With a double-skin facade, the spa center at ground level, along unifying elements that help unite Hotel, designed by Imad opens in the northern part of buildings. A courtyard landscaped a tranquil entrance from the building concept has been opti- with 53 serviced and furnished the traditional part of the city Gemayel Architects and con- Beirut Souks. Envisioned as a by Vladimir Djurovic Landscape southwest corner and a rooftop mized for Beirut’s mild winters state-of-the-art apartments on and the new district throughout structed by Araco. mega entertainment destination, Architecture runs through the garden and sun terrace with and hot summers. The outer the upper levels. The project re- the Pinwheel Project. The pres- the main building comprises 14 five units and serves as a relax- spectacular views and access to skin consists of a ceramic frit in vives the richness of the urban ence of water, another unifying Having realized more than half movie theaters including two VIP ation space for tenants. The the second structure. The second translucent and transparent shoreline. element, evokes the sea pene- of the gardens, squares, and halls with a private lounge area, courtyard design also integrates building houses the wellness glaze, which protects against trating into the city and provides outdoor spaces envisioned in as well as concession areas, a archeological finds unearthed center, which features top design, wind and solar radiation but As a transition zone between the a cooling effect in summer. the Beirut Central District Master food court, and a special chil- during the excavation works. state-of-the-art equipment, and still allows diffuse light to filter Traditional City Center and the Plan, Solidere has several more dren’s area. The volume of its professionals to cater to its clien- through. The inner skin is fully Waterfront District, Renzo Piano The suspended rooftop gardens, sites in the works. Others, includ- outer skin is composed of four The residential buildings are tele. Both components will be glazed and includes slits that Building Workshop’s (Italy/France) accessed via panoramic elevators, ing the 80,000 sq m waterfront metal ribbons that wrap around townhouse-like units character- operated by a well-known allow fresh air to reach the inte- proposal for the Pinwheel Project include both native and non- city park, will take shape further the four large theaters in a ized by space, light, calm, and international firm with experi- rior. Since the building is located creates a sense of continuity and native Mediterranean plants, down the road. north–south direction, generat- comfort. They incorporate a wide ence in this field. Residents and in a district mainly composed of urban unity. It establishes strong with a mixture of deciduous and ing a dynamic sculptural form. range of living options, including visitors enjoy easy access to an residences and hotels, a number pedestrian land use and build- evergreen species to maintain a Khan Antoun Bey Square is At Allenby street level, high-end large lofts, mini lofts with a com- inner courtyard, where independ- of amenities are offered on-site ing-scale links between the his- green cover throughout seasonal progressing according to PROAP’s boutiques form a continuation of bined living-working space, ent retail outlets, restaurants, to fulfill tenants’ daily needs. toric core and the waterfront, changes. Also at the rooftop level, (Portugal) design, adjacent to the the existing retail offerings. ground-floor maisonettes with and cafes maintain privacy and These include a canteen, rooftop accommodating retail, hotel, light constructions made of steel, newly inaugurated Entertainment private gardens, central hall intimacy. restaurant, convenience store, residential, and cultural use. It is glass, and fabric are used as cafes and Cinema Complex of Beirut An adjacent L-shaped building apartments, and a variety of and several other facilities that a key development that balances and restaurants. Light structural Souks. All Saints Square, an- to the north of the complex hosts penthouses with generous ter- Fumihiko Maki and Associates will make the building a one- four central dualistic concepts: walkways connect the different other Shoreline Walk open space several restaurants while an races. The office building offers (Japan) wins the design compe- stop destination. unity and diversity, permeability plots together to create a contin- designed by Gustafson Porter, is

13 annex facing Ajami Square local- serviced offices and distin- tition for the Triple-A Office and privacy, transparency and uous promenade. also in development. In Beirut

— izes the entertainment facilities. guishes itself from the living Building in the Hotel District, opacity, and construction and Souks, Martha Schwartz Partners ! ! ! ! 12 spaces through its outer appear- which is drawing the interest of vegetation. In the Waterfront District, (UK) is redesigning Imam Ouzai The movie theaters’ branding is ance: an inner Corten facade high-profile potential tenants. several plots of land have been Square and Marc Aurel Studio finalized to reflect two identities: covered in triangular fin louvers The proposal highlights the flex- sold to third parties and are in (France) is redesigning the street Beirut Souks and Cinema City. and urban windows, creating a ibility and efficiency of its inter- the planning phase of develop- furniture. Finally, a signage and Beirut Souks Cinema City will suspended garden. nal space and embodies the ment, such as Mika Land, a navigation strategy is being offer the next generation of inte- spirit of Beirut as a crossroads residential project designed by launched for the whole of Beirut rior design and circulation for Excavation works begin on a where international businesses Foster + Partners (UK) with city center in cooperation with cinemas around the world. It will new development at the south- establish their headquarters. R & K Consultants. Placemarque (UK). be managed and operated by eastern edge of Beirut city center Fouad Menem Consultants and BCD cinemas, a partnership be- in Saifi. Saifi Plaza is designed Partners is selected as the local tween Cinema City and Solidere. by Nabil Gholam Architects and architecture firm. comprises two buildings, one residential and another office, with surroundings that reflect the dual character of the site: the dynamic Ring Road movement to one side and the calm Saifi setting to the other.

Communication Design Awards The Solidere KidzMondo As part of a temporary usage strategy, 2010 Annual Report “City in Layers” receives the iF following the examples of BIEL and Beirut Exhibition Gold Communication Design Award, and the Solidere Center, space is leased on the spine leading from 2011 Annual Report “City in Scenes – City in Portraits” Allenby Street to the Waterfront District to Kidz- wins the Red Dot: Best of the Best Communication Mondo, an edutainment center for children opened Design Award. in June 2013. 13 Corporate Infrastructure Development

Due to regional and local tensions The new Information Center In its effort to improve preven- Laceco Architects & Engineers On the fifth floor of a building The Beirut Souks Core tenant Beirut Gardens, Plus Towers One and in the aftermath of the global in Beirut Souks is inaugurated. tive and corrective efficiency, submits a preliminary infra- near Riad El Solh Square, a mix grows stronger with the and Two, and Beb Beirut are tak- economic downturn, the devel- Strong Corp Electronic Products Solidere’s facility operation and structure design for the Water- 500 sq m space provides start- opening of new, world-famous ing form, gradually transforming opment program is partially Co. (UK) delivers the audiovisual maintenance team introduces front District, which it is then ups with a high-tech, relaxed, franchise outlets such as the Gap the long-deserted topography modified to focus on priorities design and installation, incorpo- an environmentally friendly, mo- asked to finalize. In the mean- efficient work environment. clothing store and the return of the Martyrs’ Square Axis. and limit negative impact on op- rating infrastructure to provide bile application that monitors time, temporary infrastructure is Cloud 5 can host up to 60 entre- of leading Lebanese bookstore Meanwhile, the five-star Man- erations, thus preserving liquidity. video and audio distribution as and scans barcodes on equip- provided – electricity, water, and preneurs in the information, Librairie Antoine to its roots in darin Oriental Hotel chain an- Precedence is given to completing well as system management ment and machinery to obtain drainage – for developers wish- communication, and technology the city center. On the food and nounces that it will open its first key developments in the Tradi- control. The center features a maintenance requirements ahead ing to begin construction on sold (ICT) sectors, each at an all-in- beverage side, the famed fruit property in Beirut by 2017. The tional City Center, such as the room with a scale model of the of time. The team also under- plots in the district. clusive low cost per month that cocktail maker Al Intabli cele- estate is a locally-based joint Entertainment and Cinema city center and a large video takes studies with energy-saving ensures around-the-clock secu- brates its return, accompanying venture between Lebanese and Complex and Department Store wall; a boardroom with a poly- objectives, carrying out energy The authorities approve the final rity and unlimited high-speed the opening of Brgr Co and Grid Saudi investors on the site of the in Beirut Souks, and infrastruc- com video conference system to audits (monitoring, measuring, design and layout for the East- internet through the city center’s coffee shop. City Center Building or Dome, ture in the Waterfront District. conduct global meetings at the and modeling electrical output ern Marina, and the Council for fiber-optic Broadband Network. which will be integrated into the highest professional level; and of all utilities) at two locations: Development and Reconstruc- BankMed and Solidere agree to hotel’s design. an auditorium and briefing room. the UN House and Beirut Souks. tion (CDR) selects Bureau Veritas Cloud 5 has already attracted undertake joint marketing and The audiovisual distribution and In addition, the team has imple- (France) as technical controller. a number of start-ups and ICT promotional efforts pertaining The Pinwheel Project, the anchor control of the 32 screens through- mented trial adiabatic systems In preparation for construction, companies, such as Wamda, to the bank’s MedMiles Program. that ties the Waterfront District out the center are fed from up to with positive results, saving en- activity progresses on marine Vinelab, and Procomix. Com- BankMed will offer cardholders and the Traditional City Center 32 sources, including Apple TV, ergy and money while protecting works related to the eastern pany management is in talks additional miles for each purchase together, is in the detailed design touch panels, and iPads based the environment through lower perimeter of the reclaimed land with Oasis500, an Amman- made at participating Beirut phase. With slight changes to the on Creston’s DigitalMedia (US). CO2 emissions. These system area, the northern revetment. based business accelerator, and Souks outlets. original plan, phase one of the The result is a flexible space for trials are collaborative efforts COWI (Denmark) has designed Flat6Labs, a Cairo-based acceler- project comprises a retail build- meetings and presentations. with the system suppliers. Ulti- the northern revetment to protect ator, for the companies to estab- In the Hotel District, Damac ing, a triple-A office building, and mately, all developments must the eastern limit of reclaimed lish operations in Cloud 5. Properties announces the an office building with a world- be “green” from the design stage land from wave action and to completion of substructure class fitness club at ground, mez- through to completion. demark the eastern edge of the and foundation works by MAN zanine, and first basement levels. area as per Master Plan require- Enterprises and launches the The buildings are of podium ments. It consists of a concrete construction of Damac Tower in height with bridges connecting crown wall founded on structural collaboration with Versace Home their suspended rooftop gardens. fill and protected by rocks and for interior design. accropodes. Dredging is required underneath the structural fill to Nearby, construction begins rule out the possibility of lique- on Beirut Terraces. Designed faction from seismic activity. The by Herzog and de Meuron northern revetment extends from (Switzerland) with Khatib & the end of the caisson line to the Alami and an interior by Vincent

15 root of the breakwater for the Van Duysen (Belgium), the

— marina. building’s multilayered approach ! ! ! ! 14 offers living spaces of lofty heights and diverse spatial configurations, orientations, and dimensions, creating a kind of vertical village.

Communication Design Awards The 2009 Annual Best Digital Media Installation At a trade-related Planet Discovery In collaboration with the French Report “Beirut City Center” receives the German De- exhibition in Amsterdam this year, Integrated Systems Institute of Lebanon and Universcience in Paris, sign Council Gold Award, and the 2010 Annual Report Europe, Strong Corp wins the award for Best Digital Planet Discovery inaugurates a new exhibition titled “City in Layers” receives the Red Dot Design Award: Media Installation 2012 in its category for the inte- “The Human Puzzle,” based on an exhibition at the Best of the Best. As a result, the 2010 report begins grated audiovisual system design and installation at Palais de la Découverte in Paris. touring world museums and exhibition centers. Solidere’s new Information Center. Beirut Chants EFA In its fifth season, Beirut Chants International Lighting Design Award Lighting Beirut Exhibition Center A series of youth work- becomes a proud member of the European Festivals Beirut Architecture is one of 15 winners of the Inter- shops for children between the ages of 7 and 12 to Association. The EFA is a prestigious association com- national Lighting Design Award and one of seven learn about art forms and styles and explore their prised of top international festivals. It is one of the who earn an Award of Excellence during the 29th An- own creativity. oldest cultural networks in Europe, founded in nual award ceremony from the International Associa- Geneva, Switzerland in 1952 as a joint initiative of the tion of Lighting Designers held in Las Vegas, USA. Portal 9 A journal of stories and critical writing about eminent conductor Igor Markevitch and the great urbanism and the city is launched in the effort to con- philosopher Denis de Rougemont. GeoSpatial World Excellence Award Solidere and tinually support cultural platforms and interact with Khatib & Alami win the GeoSpatial World Excellence the intellectual and academic communities. Portal 9, Fête de la Musique Award Launched 12 years ago Award in the category of Application of Geospatial a semiannual Arabic and English journal, blends cre- and organized in collaboration with the French Embassy Technology in Facilities Information Systems, for the ative writing, photography, and personal essays with and the Ministry of Culture, Fête de la Musique wins the design, development, and implementation of the academic scholarship, perceptive journalism, and cul- Best Music Festival Nightlife Awards 2012, Reader’s Beirut Souks Project. tural critique. Choice, TimeOut Beirut. 12 Corporate Infrastructure Development Restoration Archeology Landscape

Based on its accomplishments to International marine structure Beirut Souks celebrates the offi- Nearby, works on the Grand Zaitunay Bay inaugurates its The Maghen Abraham Syna- Proposals are solicited from On Uruguay Street, Imad date, Solidere consolidates its fi- consultancy firm COWI (Den- cial opening of the Jewelry Théâtre are delayed until the quayside restaurant strip. Serv- gogue joins 17 other places of museologists and exhibition Gemayel Architects designs a nancial and operational poten- mark) presents a preliminary de- Souks with its glittering shops. Landmark of Beirut project nears iced by valet parking and a park- worship – mosques, churches, designers for the 1,345 sq m U-shaped pedestrian area sur- tial and embarks on a new sign for the Eastern Marina, Planet Discovery, the children’s completion. ing facility underneath the and shrines – that have been re- Phoenico-Persian Quarter site rounding a restored building development program that which gains approval from the science museum (previously lo- Corniche Road, and also accessi- stored to exhibit their architec- museum in Beirut Souks. The adjacent to the Samir Kassir spans the coming five years. Council for Development and cated next to the Starco Center), International architectural design ble from seven pedestrian points tural beauty and historical museum houses the foundations Garden; the space takes its The program concentrates on Reconstruction on the condition reopens in Souk Ayass. The competitions are launched for the along the Corniche Road, Zaitu- significance. Together with the of a residential quarter from the inspiration from the keys of a the completion of infrastructure that it be tested in a 3D model to Venue, a multipurpose space, mixed-use development on Patri- nay Bay welcomes more than newly developed Mohamad Al late 6th century BC where mer- piano. Relatively narrow in works and the development of meet wave and stability criteria. begins to host exhibitions and arch Hoyek Street in the Serail 3,000 visitors per day in the first Amin Mosque, they attest to the chants resided and engaged in width, the plaza is dedicated to major components intended as special events. Corridor and the Triple-A office six months after opening. The spiritual value of central Beirut. maritime trade. Under the direc- open-air seating and pedestrian poles of attraction in the Water- The 400-space parking garage building in the Hotel District. development’s rich culinary tion and supervision of the Di- activity as extensions of the front District, such as the East- underneath the Corniche Road, In Wadi Abou Jamil, several scene consists of 17 restaurants rectorate General of Antiquities, ground-level commercial spaces ern Marina, as well as the land- undertaken on behalf of the developments reach completion and cafes, providing a new en- which has just completed the leased to pubs and restaurants. scaping of the Corniche prome- State, is open and serving the while others are in their finish- tertainment destination and cre- site’s preservation, the aim is to Uruguay Street and the plaza nade and the seaside city park. new, adjacent Zaitunay Bay ing stages. Together they give ating numerous employment highlight the archeology by cre- quickly become a hub of after- In terms of real estate develop- quayside restaurant strip. Two shape to the hillside sector that opportunities. Retail outlets, a ating a multisensory, interactive work activity and nightlife. ment, the program spans the other parking facilities are under will soon join Saifi as another water sport center, and an art experience. planning and design of several study in the Waterfront District: low-rise, residential neighbor- workshop complement the din- Two other spaces are inaugu- key projects of different land- a second lot beneath the Cor- hood based on the Lebanese ing experience and turn the rated around the same time: uses that complement existing niche Road and a lot beneath vernacular tradition, with narrow promenade into a family- Zeytouneh Square, designed ones, with particular focus on the planned waterfront city park. streets, tight sightlines, and cul- friendly space. by Gustafson Porter (US/UK) as enhancing the social and cultural de-sacs that encourage slow part of the Shoreline Walk, and dimensions in the city center. Following the expansion of the driving. the Gebran Tueni Memorial, Lebanese international internet designed by Vladimir Djurovic links, bandwidth capacity allot- Excavations for the Landmark of Landscape Architecture as a space ted by the Ministry of Telecom- Beirut project in the Ghalghoul for tranquility and reflection. munications is increased, sector, designed by Jean Nouvel offering city center tenants the (France), begin and on-site highest internet speeds available archeological finds are studied in the country. and documented before con- struction starts.

The multiuse development will include a 27-floor hotel and apartment tower overlooking Riad El Solh Square, two 10- and 12-floor buildings containing

17 furnished apartments, commer-

— cial space, a health club and spa, ! ! ! ! 16 and a cinema entertainment complex at basement levels. The design takes its inspiration from the daily social life of the city and includes pedestrian walk- ways to reflect a continuity of movement.

Lighting Beirut Architecture Lighting Beirut Architec- iF Communication Design Award Solidere’s 2009 ture is launched as a new architectural lighting concept Annual Report “Beirut City Center” is declared an iF using the principle of image projection. The aim is to il- Communication Design Award winner. luminate selected heritage and contemporary buildings in Beirut city center’s historic core and permanently illu- World Architecture Festival The Shoreline Walk minate the city center’s architectural nightscape. The design by Gustafson Porter (US/UK) is shortlisted at project is developed with Light Cibles (France), DIAP the World Architecture Festival in the category of Fu- (France), Mamari Frères, and Lampo (Italy). ture Landscape Projects. 11 Corporate Infrastructure Development Archeology Landscape

Solidere reiterates its develop- Solidere is invited to join a net- Moving toward developing the Following the commencement of The concept for Martyrs’ These afford a direct pedestrian Two site-specific archeological Limited design competitions ment strategy to focus on creat- work of urban operators includ- reclaimed land, an agreement is business for several food and Square Axis is further devel- link, beneath Cadmous Street, to museums reach completion. The are held for the redesign of the ing shareholder value by ing city mayors and public and signed with Laceco Architects & beverage outlets on the famed oped in a detailed urban design the planned City History Mu- first is the Crypto Portico Mu- Roman Baths Garden and Omar investing in its land bank, in- private urban development Engineers for the detailed design Ajami Square, as well as numer- study by Renzo Piano Building seum site, Ancient Canaanite seum beneath the Parliamentary Daouk Square, as well as the ini- creasing recurrent income, diver- agencies, which together repre- of underground infrastructure ous openings of world famous Workshop (Italy/France), sup- Tell, and the waterfront beyond. Office Building, featuring part of tial design for Khan Antoun Bey sifying into complementary sent a group of cities around the and road asphalting in the Wa- boutiques, Beirut Souks Core ported by transport planning the site of the Roman Forum. An Square in the northern part of business lines, and expanding its Mediterranean. Initiated by the terfront District. Wilmotte & celebrates its official inaugura- consultant Arup (UK). The pre- While studies are conducted on omphalos (a round granite block Beirut Souks and the 80,000 sq m presence outside Lebanon. The Med-Cities program in Mar- Associés (France) is selected to tion with four days of spectacu- liminary plans are submitted to the Martyrs’ Square area, a new representing the navel or exact waterfront city park. Gillespies objective is to shape the market seilles and funded by the Euro- design street furniture, while lar performances and events. The the Council for Development development rises at the north- center of the city from which all (UK) presents the winning de- and control the supply and qual- pean Investment Bank (EIB), the Chris Blandford Associates (UK) Souks Core reaches near maxi- and Reconstruction, which is western point of the axis. The distances were measured) stands sign for the first two locations, ity of new development in spe- World Bank, and Caisse des is asked to take charge of land- mum tenancy, and the newly preparing the build-operate- CMA-CGM Merit Corporation before a series of blind arches while PROAP (Portugal) wins the cific key sectors. This includes Dépots (France), the network scaped features, including side- opened Jewelry Souk is more transfer bid for the Martyrs’ headquarters, designed by Nabil that once lined the street, com- third. No winner is announced detailed planning and more di- aims to develop a set of shared walks, shared surface and than 50 percent occupied. Mar- Square underground parking fa- Gholam Architects, exemplifies a plete with its original checkered for the waterfront city park. rect control of temporary uses, guidelines for sustainable urban pedestrian streets, medians, and keting campaigns launch and a cility in cooperation with its con- response to location and func- black-and-white tiled pattern. which will likely encompass development in a period of cli- traffic islands. number of activities are organ- sultant, Khatib & Alami. tion; like a ship anchored at port, Due to its high-security location, With the Beirut Souks newly most activities in the Waterfront mate change. Within the net- ized to promote the Souks as an it reflects the maritime world. the museum is not yet open to opened, Ajami Square begins District for the next five to ten work, the Waterfront District is With increased investor interest international shopping, cultural, Renzo Piano’s proposal recog- the public. to bustle with activity, hosting a years, serving as testing ground presented as a model for sus- in land in the Waterfront District, and social venue. nizes the national value of this Within the Waterfront District number of restaurants, a weekly and incubators for new uses that tainable urban development and Ove Arup International (UK) public open space, noting its development program, a tempo- The second institution is the farmers’ market, and several hol- may emerge in time as perma- a test bed for environmentally undertakes a study on multi- The few land plots still available great importance in relation to rary usage strategy is initiated to Crypt Museum, now open to iday festivities. nent features of the city center. sound urban futures. modal transportation require- in Saifi undergo concept design. the surrounding built environ- focus on a pedestrian spine link- the public on the site of the for- ments for the district and One such area, located at Saifi’s ment. The proposal frames the ing the existing city center and mer Byzantine church beneath Beirut Hospitality Company A strategy is being developed to delivers an area-wide trans- northern end, welcomes the square as a natural space where Souks to the terraced waterfront St. George Greek-Orthodox Holding is established with the complement the proposed land portation strategy. The study launch of the District //S project. the city expresses its civic life Corniche promenades. This Cathedral on Nejmeh Square. goal of creating restaurants that uses and provide pedestrian takes into account environmen- Designed by Allies and Morrison and urbanity manifests the con- spine is now open for walking, The museum showcases eight complement and support real connectivity between key areas tal considerations and provides Architects (US) with R & K Con- junction of shared experience. It jogging, and cycling leading layers of archeological remains estate development and enhance in the Traditional City Center consultation on suitable infra- sultants, it is planned as a 16- also recognizes the role of Mar- north down to the waterfront including six churches from the property value, and therefore en- and Waterfront District. This will structural provisions. building, open-gated, pedestrian- tyrs’ Square in particular as a promenade. Hellenistic period to the present. hance vibrancy in the city center. be achieved by adding green cor- friendly community that draws meeting place where diversity ridors that run north to the Cor- The Council of Ministers re- people to its outdoor piazzas, becomes an opportunity rather Renzo Piano Building Workshop Near the Ring Road and the Ar- niche, east to the Beirut Port’s solves to tender the Martyrs’ terraces, and arcaded retail than a problem, where different is asked to study the “Pinwheel menian Catholic Church, exca- first basin and future Eastern Square parking facility as a stretch through meandering al- routes merge into the enduring Project,” a strategically located vations expose the remains of an Marina, and northeast toward build-operate-transfer project, leyways. The project will provide life and spirit of Beirut, bringing site in the Waterfront District enclosure wall and tower built in the view of the mountains. while Beirut Municipality de- a northern extension to Saifi Vil- a sense of belonging to the city. near the Beirut Port’s first basin, the early years of the Roman cides to cancel the planned lage, following the same design north of the historic Foch-Al- colony of Berytus. They are set to parking lot underneath Riad El guidelines but in a contemporary The scheme conceives of Mar- lenby area and its modern exten- become part of the landscaped Solh Square due to archeological architectural expression. tyrs’ Square as a sequence of sion. The site is defined by four surroundings of the residential

19 considerations. spaces that transition from the main arteries forming a pin- project currently under develop-

— The concept design for the city to the sea. It starts at the wheel and is intended to be a ment at the site. 18 A special software for Digital Grand Théâtre is reviewed with “gateway” beneath the Ring landmark gateway to the new Asset Management is introduced Roger Stirk Harbour + Partners Road, opening out at the south- district. to track, archive, and control the (UK) and submitted to the Di- ern end of the square and mov- use of graphic documents and rectorate General of Urban Plan- ing north past the famous photographs within the relevant ning. The design proposes the martyrs’ monument, then down, divisions of the Company. The theatre as a centerpiece of the at the northern end of the physical network continuously city for performances and public square to the Petit Serail and undertakes upgrades to supply use, including a ballroom. The Hellenistic remains. connectivity to new buildings, in- hotel proposal focuses on unit- stalling the latest switches to up- ing the site with its neighboring grade its core network functions. historic buildings (to the north and east) and contemporary ad- ditions (to the south and west). The historic arcaded street front remains occupied by retail units.

Beirut Exhibition Center With the aim of enhancing institutions. Exhibitions are drawn from artists’ proj- Information Center A new, state-of-the-art Infor- the city center as a cultural destination, a 1,200 sq m ects created on-site, collaborations among galleries, mation Center is under design. It will be located in the space is dedicated to promoting and developing traveling museum shows, and a full calendar of public office building in Beirut Souks. In the meantime, the greater recognition and appreciation of contemporary art programs. The structure’s design by L.E.FT (US) city center model is moved to a temporary location art throughout Beirut and the greater region. The non- embodies the building’s purpose as the mirror facade near the central square of the Jewelry Souk. profit space provides a collaborative environment for reflects the continuously changing landscape of the art museums, galleries, artist collectives, and cultural Waterfront District and turns the city into a work of art. 10 Corporate Infrastructure Development Archeology Landscape

The Waterfront District elicits A mandated low-carbon strategy Beirut Municipality reexamines Beirut Souks Core is in a soft Following initial attempts to The rehabilitation of Martyrs’ In the vicinity of Riad El Solh Vladimir Djurovic Landscape Ar- strong investor interest with is implemented throughout the ways to build the Martyrs’ opening phase with about 149 transform the 1930s Grand Square Axis is of strategic im- Square, burials spanning the chitecture delivers the first of the land sales totaling 198,735 sq m Waterfront District, which will be Square parking facility, either by (140 retail, 8 food and beverage, Théâtre des Mille et Une Nuits portance for the completion of Omayyad and Ottoman periods Shoreline Walk spaces, Mina El of built-up area (BUA) to date. planned, designed, and built as a funding it internally, negotiating and 1 food hall) of the 225 out- into a significant, modern-day the Traditional City Center. confirm that the site became a Hosn Square between Platinum The real estate development is model project of sustainable a build-operate-transfer (BOT) lets occupied or nearing comple- theatre, it is concluded that the Awaiting the construction of the cemetery after the city wall de- and Beirut towers, following planned to reach an aggregate urban development. The guide- contract with Solidere, or tender- tion. With the help of several endeavor will not be possible parking facility underneath the fined an open area just outside Gustafson Porter’s (US/UK) con- 1.7 million sq m. In-house urban lines, customized to suit Beirut’s ing it out on a BOT basis. It also professional advisors, a specific without partial demolition fol- square, the project is revived. A the Bab Dirke and Bab Yaqoub cept design for the corridor. studies are in progress on build- climate and environment, in- approves the Landmark of Beirut tenant-mix approach is devel- lowed by faithful reconstruction new urban design study is un- city gates. The corner of a large ing massing, land use, phasing, clude applying renewable energy project proposal to execute the oped to strategically place exclu- of the street facade. Several site dertaken with leading architec- temple platform is exposed The sloping Rafic Hariri Sculp- and land sales strategies for the technologies, recycling grey parking lot under Riad El Solh sive concept and stand-alone constraints hamper the possibil- tural firm Renzo Piano Building below the cemetery. Subject to tural Garden near the Grand district. Permanent development water, and adhering to other so- Square on a BOT basis. boutiques and restaurants ity of obtaining a quality per- Workshop (Italy/France) to in- agreement with the Directorate Serail, redesigned by Vladimir is set to start around the periph- phisticated environmental regu- among flagship and other traf- formance space: the small size corporate detailed guidelines for General of Antiquities, some of Djurovic Landscape Architecture, ery of the street grid for the lations. These efforts are All four underground levels in fic-generating stores. of the auditorium and stage, the building massing and land use these vestiges will be incorpo- is executed by Target. A sculpture planned Eastern Marina. The intended to deliver a combina- the southern part of the Beirut shape and volume of the audito- around the square. A more rated into the various construc- by Meguerditch Mazmanian de- central blocks will be developed tion of low-carbon output and Souks parking facility are opera- Storefront design specifications rium shell, the lack of backstage human-scale vision emerges to tion projects. picts the late prime minister gradually, replacing temporary substantial reductions in energy tional with about 2,100 spaces and guidelines are introduced to facilities, poor sight-lines, and soften the square’s memorial walking along the water feature. uses to house a convention cen- demand. for public use; the northern part provide tenants with clear direc- poor acoustics. and ceremonial character and, ter, offices, hotels, serviced is reserved for companies work- tion for interior construction with its new green corridor open apartments, and mixed-use sup- ing in the city center. Solidere works, leading to harmony and While the structure may never to the sea, help recover its role as port facilities for the special awards the works for a 400- consistency. Site supervisory vis- serve as a successful modern Beirut’s most important public business district. space parking lot underneath its are conducted on a regular theatre, Solidere is determined space and the center of city life. the Corniche to Geneco, and basis for quality control. Shop to restore it in order to preserve construction begins. fitting takes place in coordina- and honor the memory of the Meanwhile, Bab El Saray devel- tion with architectural consult- Grand Théâtre. Following a lim- opment is inaugurated in the ant Samir Khairallah & Partners. ited design competition among square’s northwestern section four international architecture as the Le Gray Hotel, exuding Even as it follows the ancient firms – Rogers Stirk Harbour + contemporary style while blend- Roman street grid, the modern Partners (UK), Anouska Hempel ing seamlessly with its historic Beirut Souks is suitable to a con- Design (UK), Moatti et Rivière surroundings. temporary lifestyle. The land- (France), and Architecture Stu- scaping integrates a number of dio (France) – Roger Stirk Har- The proposed Formula One archeological features and his- bour + Partners emerges as inner-city circuit is abandoned torical squares and monuments, winner and will collaborate with for security reasons, freeing both including the sunken courtyard runner-up Anouska Hempel De- the waterfront city park and the of the medieval wall and moat sign on space planning and inte- street network of the Water- below Souk Al Jamil, the un- rior design. front District from many oner- earthed late Phoenico-Persian ous constraints.

21 harborside settlement under The alignment of new develop-

— Souk Ayyas, the Zawiyat Ibn ments is almost complete on the After a fast-track approach ac- ! ! ! ! 20 Arraq Shrine, and the restored Serail Corridor’s main avenue, celerates construction of the mosaics from Byzantine shops in Francois El Hajj Street, with de- yacht club’s underground struc- Souk Al Franj. These are further velopments like the Palladium ture, works are completed in the enhanced by commissioned mixed-use building, designed by development around Beirut Ma- contemporary public artwork Dash Architects (UK) and R & K rina. Hourie–Profond continues such as the “Visitor” on Sayyour Consultants; 45 Park Avenue, the dewatering process until the Square by Arne Quinze (Bel- designed by Laceco; Luna One, beginning of superstructure con- gium) and sculptures by Xavier designed by Diyar Consultants; struction, negotiated with the Corbero (Spain) on Bab Idriss and Park Palace, designed by firm to commence midyear, Square representing Roman fig- Fouad Meneem. while enabling and ground sta- ures on the way to the Hippo- bilization works on the quayside drome. strip reach completion. The de- velopment is marketed and branded as Zaitunay Bay, and landscape concept and design is awarded to Vladimir Djurovic Landscape Architecture with de- tailing and supervision by CBA Group.

Beirut World Book Capital Lebanon’s capital city Capital Issues Award Solidere received the Capital was designated UNESCO World Book Capital 2009. In Issues Award in the category of Architectural Excel- that regard, several events celebrating books were held lence for Beirut Souks. around the city center. 09 Infrastructure Development

In addition to the internet and New developments inspired by The Ministry of Culture an- In developing the lot adjacent to VPN services, Broadband Net- the surrounding architectural nounces its intention to develop the Souks in the Serail Corridor work launches its IPTV service styles complete the urban fabric a House of Arts and Culture, a on Patriarch Hoyek Street, the for Beirut city center residents. of the Conservation Area, space devoted to education, per- initial vision of creating a fifth This project offers greater value which is predominantly home to formance, fine arts, culture, and retail anchor has evolved in to customers by providing seam- restored buildings. Among them interactive and multidisciplinary favor of combining hospitality, less delivery of high-quality are projects such as Fochville exchange. Located near the Ring retail, and entertainment, thus video, the most promising av- residential development, de- Road, the site will become State complementing rather than enue for value-added services. signed by R & K Consultants, property as part of a land swap competing with Beirut Souks. and the Municipality Annex, de- with Solidere. The ministry com- The program envisages a bou- Mores (Lebanon) is appointed signed by Nabil Azar. The Con- missions Gaia-Heritage to de- tique hotel, an exclusive spa, and environmental consultant for re- servation Area represents the velop a brief for the House, along adjoining retail. International ar- mediation and treatment and epitome of urban rejuvenation. with cultural and educational ob- chitects are preselected to partic- tasked with monitoring the gen- jectives, an architectural program, ipate in a design competition. A eration of landfill gas from back- and a communications strategy. retail strategy study is conducted filled materials through Following an open international by MXD Consultants (Canada) boreholes in the park area. Land architectural design competition, to guide configuration concepts treatment and reclamation are the project design is awarded to related to the boutique hotel, the complete, and the Waterfront Alberto Catalano (Italy). The street, and Beirut Souks. Talks District is ready for infrastructure project receives funding from a with international boutique works to prepare the land for fu- grant by the Sultanate of Oman hotel operators begin. ture development. to the Ministry of Culture. In the nearby Hotel District, a Triple-A, multi-tenancy office building is in the planning stage. The office of Jones Lang LaSalle (US) undertakes a market re- search and development advi- sory study. 23 — ! ! ! ! 22

Starch Rabih Kayrouz and Tala Hajjar in collaboration Beirut City Center Larry McPherson’s photographic Beirut 1991 (2003) A photography book by Gabriele with Solidere found Starch, a non-profit organization documentary of the downtown reconstruction docu- Basilico is published as part of a project dedicated to that helps launch emerging Lebanese fashion design- ments the transition from war-torn capital to refined the memory of the Beirut war. The internationally ers. Four to six young designers are selected each year city center. The book showcases archeological sites renowned, award-winning Italian urban photographer and guided through the process of developing and transformed into public areas, meticulously restored reflects upon the destruction of a city and the blue- then promoting their collections (communication, Ottoman and French architecture, gardens, and seam- print of its future. marketing, branding, and press). These collections are lessly integrated new construction, conveying both the then displayed for one year at the Starch boutique in practical and symbolic importance of building again. Saifi Village. Throughout the year, the designers also have the chance to participate in design-related work- shops, seminars, and collaborations. 08 Rania Sassine In 2007, Solidere established Solidere International to respond to How can cross-generational learning benefit urban planning and the demand from governments, municipalities, landowners, and design? What does each generation bring to the project? on Building the Solidere Brand investors seeking to emulate the accomplishments of the Com- and Learning across Generations pany in Beirut city center in their own cities. What elements of Cross-generational learning is quite important. It ensures that expe- the project elicited the greatest interest and demand? rience and ideas are transmitted between the generations just as it Rania Sassine holds a Master's in Urbanism from lessens the negative repercussions of competition between peers. La Sapienza, Università di Roma, Italy, and a Mas- In undertaking the reconstruction and development of the city center, One cannot invent the wheel every time. Learning is a process that ters in Architecture from the Academie Libanaise Solidere has had the responsibility of understanding the area’s history accumulates through the generations. des Beaux-Arts. She joined Solidere International and geography and establishing its future position in the region – The best mentors I’ve ever had are those who taught me in 2008 soon after its inception and is currently the understanding its surroundings and integrating it within them. That not how to draw but to open my eyes to what is around me, who head of the Urban Design and Master Plan Unit. is what the company has gained a large amount of experience in – this changed the way I perceive space, challenged me to conceive of mas- is the expertise that Solidere is exporting outside the city center today. ter planning not as a job but as a vocation that you carry with you Solidere International is leveraging Solidere’s experience in every time you step outside and walk through the city. creating“Places for Life.”These are urban environments, primarily Architectural and planning careers involve a long process mixed-use in nature, that are viable and sustainable over time. The of learning and practice. Although more in terms of experience than success of any urban development depends on how it prioritizes knowhow is transmitted from the older generations to the younger basic human and social needs as core principles and adapts planning ones, the latter always brings in fresh ideas and new outlooks, which and architectural design to a particular context. when intertwined with experience generate amazing results in the built environment. How do you as a planner conceive of the relationship that com- munities create with urban space?

An urban environment, in the words of Yona Friedman, a famous French architect of the 1950s and 1960s, is about living, working, recreation, education, and culture. Before you begin designing the details, you have to plan the greater scheme. You have to study the urban site’s location and accessibility. Then, a development strategy is set: the type of development and who it caters to. So there is the question of lifestyle as well as the social and physical aspects of the urban environment. In that regard, urban planning must integrate daily, monthly, and yearly activities in its land use strategy. Solidere has an extensive multidisciplinary team and consults with experts when needed, and is thus able to cater to these complexities, to the layers of human interaction with the space.

Can you give us a personal example of how a relationship grows with an urban environment? How did your relationship with Beirut city center evolve?

25 I belong to the generation that was born at the start of the Lebanese

— war. I basically had no direct relationship with the city center before ! ! ! ! 24 the mid 1990s other than knowing that it was destroyed and hearing the stories that my parents told about it. With the many chapters of the war behind me, I began building my own story with the place, forging new ties, first while I was pursuing my studies in architecture and later on when I started working. The way the city center was planned helped the familiarity grow. The variety of uses incorporated into its planning attracted me to the area.

How has Solidere translated the expertise it has gained in city center rejuvenation to the development of other real estate proj- ects around the region?

There are certain principles that are implemented in all our projects, but they are not physically the same. For example, in all urban envi- ronments there must be a main street where you have certain activi- ties, including an open space and cafes. In one environment, it could be made up of heritage buildings and arcaded frontages; in another, its materials are glass and steel. In an urban project in Saudi Arabia, there must be a large retail component, but it cannot look and feel like Beirut Souks in Lebanon. Another example would be the interpretation of gathering places. In western societies, it usually is a large axial, open square be- cause they have such wet winters, and the minute the sun comes out the people tend to go outside. In warmer climates, such as in the Gulf countries, people gather in inner courtyards with shaded gal- leries because the sun is harsh almost all year around. So climate, culture, and architecture are all interrelated. Corporate Infrastructure Development Landscape

Following its success in Beirut, The Beirut Municipality starts to Construction begins on develop- Olivier Vidal (France) is commis- Solidere receives requests from subcontract the operation and ments in the Foch-Allenby re- sioned to design the Bab Idriss governments, municipalities, maintenance of works handed gion of the Conservation Area, Square and incorporate sculp- landowners, and investors over by Solidere, which contin- including Foch 126, designed by tures by Xavier Corbero (Spain) around the world to help them ues to supervise and control the Nabil Gholam Architects; Foch evoking figures on their way to emulate the Company’s accom- quality of work done by the con- residence, by Batimat Architects; the Hippodrome. The site stands plishments in Beirut city center. tractors and subcontractors. Fochville, by R & K Consultants; on the street that leads to the re- After amending its bylaws, the and Starway, by Nachaat mains of the Roman racecourse Company establishes Solidere Implementation of the Broad- Owaida. gates. International (SI) as a limited band Network (BBN) is com- company in shares under the plete. The pilot project begins More projects launch in Saifi, law of Dubai International Fi- upon receipt of the bandwidth including both restoration and nancial Center (DIFC), with a from the Ministry of Telecommu- new developments. Among paid capital of US$700 million; nications for testing. them are Saifi Khan, restored in Solidere owns 39 percent of SI. accordance with Elias Issa’s de- The company begins to identify Under a unified communication sign; Saifi Village Two, designed projects in the Middle East, network, data (internet) and by Nabil Gholam Architects; the Africa, and around the Mediter- video (TV) is now provided, op- Selwan building, designed by ranean Basin where it can create erated, and monitored through Nabil Azar; and Al Mashrek urban destinations and real es- the Network Operation Center Insurance Company, also by tate developments that form vi- (NOC), which hosts a data cen- Nabil Azar. able communities. ter, call center (IPCC), and other equipment and servers for the Berytus Parks, designed by Pierre various services. Beirut city cen- El Khoury Architects, is inaugu- ter thus transforms into an rated in the Serail Corridor on around-the-clock IT zone capa- Francois El Hajj Street, along ble of attracting multinational with Two Park Avenue, designed companies and other residents by Samir Khairallah & Partners, who will benefit from the avail- and other new developments. ability of multimedia and broad- band communication services.

All land reclamation, including excavations, processing of the materials, and backfilling, reaches completion. The sorted plastic stockpile is successfully

27 relocated to an abandoned

— quarry site outside Beirut in ac- ! ! ! ! 26 cordance with permits issued by the relevant public authorities and following specifications from the Ministry of the Envi- ronment, which fully supervises and monitors the backfilling of sorted plastics into the quarry.

Beirut Chants A festival of sacred music that com- Beirut Jazz Festival After its 2004 inauguration fol- GIS Award To acknowledge its outstanding use of bines spirituality, culture, and history is launched as an lowed by a three-year intermission, the Beirut Jazz GIS technology, Solidere receives the Special Achieve- annual end-of-year event. The music performed draws Festival makes its comeback in the public open space ment in GIS Award from ESRI, world leader in GIS primarily on spiritual and ethnic musical traditions, of Ajami Square in Beirut Souks, which is still under software and applications. mainly addressing the Nativity. The festival’s concerts construction. The Jazz Festival is planned as an annual are held in the churches of Beirut city center, presenting three-day concert event hosting local and interna- Aga Khan Award Samir Kassir Square, designed by a communal activity in spaces of history and beauty. tional artists. Vladimir Djurovic Landscape Architecture, wins the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. 07 Corporate Infrastructure Development Archeology

Solidere Management Serv- As part of property manage- An agreement is signed with Or- Several amendments to the In Wadi Abou Jamil, the own- The land use strategy is under- Excavations in the Wadi Abou ices (SMS), a 100 percent owned ment, a high level of control is ange, a member of the France Master Plan are approved by de- ers of a 1911 neo-gothic palace, taken in-house, with Gaia-Her- Jamil area yield vestiges of the subsidiary, is established to pro- maintained over the implemen- Telecom Group, to build and op- cree in response to more de- originally built as the home of a itage consulting on cultural ancient Roman Hippodrome, vide construction management tation of safety rules and regula- erate a full IP network. The new tailed urban and traffic studies, Lebanese politician and art col- strategy. It envisages a cultural a large club building used by and a broad scope of services as- tions as well as the approval of system will use advanced tele- new archeological discoveries, lector, restore the building into axis running through Martyrs’ participants in the chariot races. sociated with real estate develop- signage and storefront designs. com technology based on a necessities related to the distri- the Robert Mouawad Private Square and linking Saifi Village’s Archeologists uncover two parts ment: program definition, Solidere continues to offer its fiber-optic backbone with dual bution of public and private do- Museum. The new institution Quartier des Arts with the Dome of the racetrack’s median, or marketing, design control, client knowhow and services to third- connections to each building in main, and other reasons related houses valuable objects from and the planned Rafic Hariri Li- spina. Subject to agreement with representation, financial manage- party owners, entering into Beirut city center. to specific developments and to oriental and occidental cultures, brary, City History Museum, the Directorate General of An- ment, sales, and post-construction agreements through its sub- land swaps between the State as well as a collection of rare Hariri Conference Center, and tiquities, these artifacts will be operation and maintenance. sidiary Solidere Management To expedite completion of the and Solidere. books. other cultural facilities. incorporated into Wadi Abou Services for the marketing, man- land treatment and reclama- Jamil Square. In preparation for the future agement, and maintenance of tion, Hornagold & Hills Interna- Amendments to the detailed Bernard Khoury is commis- Steven Holl Architects (US) development of the Waterfront their properties. tional–H2i (UK) is appointed as master plan for the Ghalghoul sioned to prepare an alternative teams up with Nabil Gholam Ar- District as a comprehensive construction manager, and the Sector are ratified by the Council concept design to Jerde’s scheme chitects to complete the detailed mixed-use area, Beirut city cen- project is split into operations of Ministers. They include the for the mixed-use development design of development around ter is marketed and promoted as packages awarded to three transposition of a tower south of on Patriarch Hoyek Street in the Beirut Marina, while Dada & a corporate international busi- separate Lebanese contractors: Amir Amin Square to the site of Serail Corridor. The architect Associates is commissioned to ness center, based on the city’s Société Contemporaine de a new development north of the adopts a radically different ap- undertake the interior design. lifestyle assets and skilled human Développement, Assaf & Coex, garden, called the Landmark of proach, creating a landmark Beirut Waterfront Development resources. Indeed, Beirut’s com- and Alfarah Co. Beirut. The decree approves the building in pyramid form that also launches a design-and- petitive edge lies in the qualities development concept designed spans across a central courtyard. build tender for the yacht club’s of its people and services. by Jean Nouvel (France), grant- underground structural work ing it specific exemptions from The Greek team prepares the and the construction of three Beirut city center and Lebanese concept design for the under- basement floors. The commis- construction regulations. These ground parking facility planned sioned contractor, the joint ven- exemptions involve canceling beneath Martyrs’ Square. The de- ture Hourié–Profond, begins street-wall controls, building sign will be used to relaunch the enabling works for the structure height limits, modifying pedes- project on a build-operate-trans- based on a design endorsed by trian passages, bypassing certain fer basis. Meanwhile, amend- Solétanche Bachy (France). technical issues, and ignoring ments to the master plan for the the requirement to provide land- Martyrs’ Square Axis are pre- scaping on 50 percent of unbuilt pared. A cultural strategy is also areas. initiated in coordination with Gaia-Heritage to culminate in the identification of a series of cultural sites in the city center,

29 including the Beirut City History

— Museum. ! ! ! ! 28

Habitat II Istanbul Selected as one of the 100 Souk El Barghout In its seventh edition, the flea Global Best Practices displayed at the United Na- market held on Martyrs’ Square featured a well-re- tions Conference on Human Settlements, the Beirut ceived public auction of contemporary Lebanese city center resonstruction project was on exhibition paintings. throughout the conference and became the focus of international media. 06 Corporate Infrastructure Development Landscape

After an extraordinary Company In addition to the operation A decree is ratified to regulate Beirut Marina is fully opera- All lots for which designs were The Directorate General of On May 6, Martyrs’ Day, the Two projects reach completion General Assembly meeting in and maintenance of infrastruc- the use of the municipal public tional in time for the start of its commissioned in Wadi Abou Urban Planning approves the winning concept for the Mar- in Wadi Abou Jamil: the open 1998 approved an amendment ture and public spaces until their domain for commercial pur- fourth season. Pending comple- Jamil are sold to third parties Grand Théâtre’s concept design tyrs’ Square Grand Axis is an- space near St. Elie Church with to Article 4 of the Articles of In- delivery to the State, the Com- poses in accordance with a plan tion of the buildings surround- along with their respective resi- by Architecture Studio (France). nounced. It comes from a team a sculpture of Pope Jean-Paul II, corporation to extend Solidere’s pany continually updates its site prepared by Solidere. Areas ad- ing the marina, temporary cabins dential concept designs. Solidere The architect’s concept envisions of four Greek associates: Ago- designed by Thibaud Urbanisme duration from 25 years to 75 logistics services. In a program to joining Parliament and the are used for harbormaster and Management Services retains a boutique hotel with a rooftop rastidou, Babalou-Noukaki, et Paysage (France), and the years, the Council of Ministers improve the city center’s image, deputies’ office building are kept public authorities’ activities (cus- the development management swimming pool, restaurants, and Ioannidou, and Noukakis, whose Wadi Abou Jamil Garden, de- now ratifies a decision to cap the undertaken in collaboration with free of possible obstacles for se- toms, immigration, police, and of two properties: Noor Gar- bars with artistic performances. vision treats the Axis as a se- signed by Rafic El Khoury and extension at 35 years starting participating property owners curity reasons. Elsewhere in the army intelligence). The works as- dens, designed by Porphyrios Shops are located at street level quence of four differentiated Partners. Among several land- from the date of inception. and users, a number of services Conservation Area, restaurants signed to Groupe Camille Rayon Associates (UK), and Beirut below the arcades, as was the sections. An exhibition in the scaped areas now open to the are implemented to supplement and cafes are allowed to use the (France) are complete, with all Square, designed by Giancarlo case before the building’s de- Dome showcases the 137 de- public is Samir Kassir Square, Seeing a trend of increased seis- those provided by the Munici- adjacent sidewalk or pedestrian utilities – water, electricity, fire De Carlo (Italy). The remaining struction. signs submitted for competition designed by Vladimir Djurovic mic activity around the globe, pality: surveillance security; areas provided the seating line, telecom/internet, and cable projects are Phoenix Develop- and includes a public forum to Landscape Architecture, with a Solidere raises its benchmark door-to-door waste collection; arrangements do not block TV – connected and functional. ment and Stow Wadi, designed In the Hotel District, work discuss the top three designs life-sized sculpture of its name- and establishes a criterion of 0.3 cleaning of the streets, side- building entrances. A four-meter by Porphyrios Associates (UK); commences on two new luxury with the public. sake journalist, writer, and g acceleration for all new devel- walks, and street furniture; pest wide pedestrian passage will Wadi Grand Residence, designed residential developments, two teacher by Louis Debré (France). opments, especially those built control; subterranean utilities; remain clear of outdoor furniture by Dar Al Omran–Bassem Bad- international hotels, and a New, residential developments on reclaimed land. This up- maintenance of open spaces, along the center of each street. ran (Jordan); Wadi Hills, de- mixed-use building: Capital are initiated in the sector, includ- graded standard is incorporated trees, and planters; and street Outdoor furniture used in the signed by Agence d’Architecture Plaza, designed by Machado and ing Beirut Gardens, designed by into the Development Briefs. decoration during holidays. public domain must conform to Anthony Béchu (France); and Silvetti Associates (US); Garden Arata Isozaki (Japan) and Erga Solidere’s specifications. the Courtyard, designed by View, designed by Nabil Gholam Group; Tower Plus One and Two, Maha Nasrallah. Architects; the Grand Hyatt designed by Arquitectonica (US), The Foch-Allenby Street private Hotel, designed by Michael also with Erga Group; and Beb parking, a joint undertaking of All of these residential designs Graves (US) and Dar Al Han- Beirut, designed by Arquitecton- common works initiated by call for aligned, cohesive facades dasah; the Rotana Hotel, de- ica (US) with Atelier des Archi- Solidere and owners of other along the streets of the sector, signed by Architecture Studio tectes Anonymes. lots nearby, is now operational. and most have central court- (France), selected among four yards or gardens to offer a more competition entries; and Bemo The 2001 sector plan for the Wa- With the implementation of intimate residential ambience. House, designed by Lo Mauro & terfront District receives official broadband multimedia The traditional Lebanese house Reggiani Associati (Italy) and approval through a decree by the telecommunications infrastruc- finds its expression in some of Raed Abillamah. Council of Ministers. ture, the city center now has the the tripartite arched windows, potential to become a media and loggias, and pitched roofs. Beirut Waterfront Development communications hub, stimulat- s.a.l. commissions a market ing Beirut’s rapid adaptation to Solidere initiates a development study from the restaurant con- the new economy and globalized of its own (lot 800 Mina El sultation firm Ulysses (France) world of the Information Age. Hosn), designed by Ayman San- in order to achieve an optimal

31 ioura, combining the restoration mixture of restaurant types

— of two twin Levantine houses and sizes, as well as to create ! ! ! ! 30 with an infill building in a simi- a typical rental agreement for lar style. the development around Beirut Marina’s quayside establishments.

Memorial The nearly complete Mohamad Al Amin Middle Eastern City of the Future Beirut wins the Mosque takes on a much deeper significance for the award for Best Human Resources, as one of the fDi Lebanese people when Prime Minister Rafic Hariri is (Financial Times) Middle Eastern Cities of the Future laid to rest there following his assassination. 2005/2006.

Skygate Under the authority of the civil aviation au- Garden of Forgiveness Designed by Gustafson thorities, the Skygate helium balloon carries passen- Porter, Hadiqat As Samah is one of 23 projects dis- gers to a height of 150 and 300 m for a 360-degree played at “Groundswell: Constructing the Contempo- view of the city center and surroundings. rary Landscape,” an exhibition presented by the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York. 05 Infrastructure Development Landscape

After the handover of street Groupe Camille Rayon (France) The Conservation Area is al- Through the International Union At the southeastern edge of the Recent landscaping works lighting, sewage, and storm completes the design of the most complete with a few devel- of Architects, Solidere organizes Axis, the City Center building include adding trees in Weygand water networks to the State, the Beirut Marina equipment: pon- opments still underway. These the Martyrs’ Square Grand Axis or Dome, previously planned to and Allenby streets with Foch Municipality takes charge of toons, utilities (water, power, include the Bank of Kuwait and of Beirut international urban de- house the Ministry of the Inte- Street to follow, upgrading trees their operation and mainte- and telecom), ducting networks, the Arab World designed by ARC sign ideas competition to solicit rior as part of a property swap in the Hotel District and in Wadi nance. However, Solidere still re- mooring bollards, and service Group in association with a new vision for this prime pub- with the Company, must be Abou Jamil, and upgrading the tains control of the tunnels and bollards. An additional quay pro- Abdel-Wahed El Wakil (Egypt) lic space and its surrounding de- reconceived. Bernard Khoury open space next to Starco’s the sewage pumping station, viding boaters with extra com- and the Radium office building, velopment, now open to the sea is commissioned to restore the northwestern corner. carrying out damage repairs to fort in the case of strong winds is designed by R & K Consultants. in its extention from the Damas- building and its surrounding street furniture and sending doc- ready for use. To avoid the accu- cus Road gateway to the Beirut spaces as a temporary center umentation and claims to the mulation of odor in the marina, The underground, 2,500-space Port’s first basin. for the arts and culture, pending Municipality. Groupe Camille Rayon has de- Beirut Souks parking lot is fully the site’s final development and vised a flushing system to en- operational, and the detailed de- The competition brief requires land use. Twenty-one vacant lots now hance the current by injecting sign for the Souks Core is com- candidates to integrate impor- provide 3,100 parking spaces, fresh water and air. Finally, an plete. After obtaining a building tant archeological sites to the In the Waterfront District, servicing an average of 10,000 intelligent system will cover the permit for the whole develop- north of the square into the de- Solidere enters a joint venture customers per day, and the oper- functional aspects of the harbor- ment, the tendering is finalized sign, including the Ancient Tell agreement with Stow Waterfront ational Beirut Souks under- master’s building, linking to all and Societe d’Entreprises A. R. area and the Beirut City History Development s.a.l. (Stow) to ground parking facility activities to allow for automatic Hourie receives the construction Museum, for which the French develop the area around Beirut contributes an additional 2,500 billing. contract for the South Souks. architect Michel Macary has al- Marina. Beirut Waterfront Devel- spaces. Temporary car parks are ready undertaken a preliminary opment s.a.l. (BWD) is incorpo- offered on empty lots in the Connections are installed for all In the Serail Corridor, the con- feasibility study. The competition rated in April, with 50 percent eastern section of the Waterfront utilities: water, electricity, fire cept design for a new mixed-use incorporates urban design, shareholding for each of the two District with free shuttle service line, telecom/internet, and cable project is commissioned to Jerde transport planning, and land- partners: Solidere contributes in to the Traditional City Center. TV. Medium-voltage power re- Partnership (US) with MXD scape design components. kind 22,351 sq m of land with quested from the Electricité du (Canada) as land use consult- about 20,000 sq m of built-up Liban is distributed throughout ants. Located on Patriarch Hoyek At the intersection of the Axis area, and Stow contributes the marina via five transformers, Street facing Beirut Souks, the and Weygand Street (Conserva- US$31.6 million. The design with a 3,500 KVA generator pro- project is envisaged as an addi- tion Area) a new development is submitted by Steven Holl (US) is viding 100 percent backup tional magnet to the area, offer- under construction, aptly named gradually amended to reflect the power. ing pedestrian-accessible retail Bab El Saray after the medieval requirements of BWD and Solid- and leisure uses on the lower city gate that once stood nearby. ere. High-Point Rendel (UK) is levels and a selection of restau- The building is designed by Dash appointed construction manager. rants, with a boutique hotel and Architects (UK) and Hani Murad. nightclub on upper floors.

Martyrs’ Square, also known as

33 the Bourj (tower) or Place des

— Canons (Cannon Square), has ! ! ! ! 32 existed at this location for cen- turies, evolving with the passage of civilizations, trauma of war, and impact of city growth and social change.

Beirut Jazz Festival The first Beirut Jazz Festival, Beirut City Center Recovery Solidere publishes Beirut scheduled over four nights as the musical highlight of City Center Recovery: The Foch-Allenby and Etoile Conser- the year, is organized by Solidere in collaboration with vation Area by Robert Saliba. Saliba’s volume highlights Radio One. Two stages flank the quayside of Beirut the importance of the Conservation Area, which epito- Marina, surrounded by food and beverage kiosks in- mizes the civic and business identity of Beirut city cen- stalled for the occasion. ter as both a national capital and a port. 04 Infrastructure Development Archeology Landscape

The design proposal for two The Embassy Complex has The Grand Théâtre undergoes In the Hotel District, Koetter, A strategic approach is devel- Gustafson Porter (US/UK) is major road improvements re- now reached full occupancy. a technical study to evaluate the Kim and Associates (US) is com- oped to integrate archeological commissioned to design the ceives approval from the Council Joining the Japanese and the best approach to restoration. missioned to undertake a further finds into the urban fabric and landscaping of the Hotel District of Reconstruction and Develop- British embassies are the Aus- A distinctive feature of the urban design study to allow ad- landscaped spaces. These her- and Old Shoreline open spaces. ment. Their finalization requires tralian, Norwegian, and Danish building is the carving on each ditional height to some towers. itage city layers are a significant These include a series of inter- a Master Plan amendment to be embassies. At the same time, an column capital depicting a fruit, On completion and approval of cultural asset; their display and connected pedestrian areas and issued in a decree by the Council agreement is signed with the vegetable, or grain native to a sector plan amendment, de- celebration are an important gardens along the city’s old of Ministers. The first improve- Council for Development and Lebanon. The Grand Théâtre is sign and building permit proce- visitor attraction and an oppor- shoreline including the Old ment is a detailed design for the Reconstruction for the entire of historical importance to the dures are registered for a number tunity to project the uniqueness Shoreline Walk: Mina El Hosn road junction linking the north- floor space of the office building, city of Beirut. Originally a small of large projects, among them of Beirut in comparison with Square, Zeytouneh Square, San- ern edge of Martyrs’ Square to while the nine-apartment resi- hotel with retail shops along its four high-rise, luxury develop- competing cities in the region. tiyeh Garden, All Saints Square, Trieste Street while fully integrat- dential complex, decorated by arcaded street-front facade, its ments overlooking the Beirut and the Ottoman Wall Walk. ing important archeological sites Halim Harmouch, is completely main component was a theatre Marina. Residential Platinum Scientific journals around the in the Ancient Tell area. The sec- leased or sold. Designed by FM that hosted performances and Tower, designed by Nabil Gho- world publish several articles on Meanwhile, in-house design ond is a conceptual design aimed Consultants with Dada & Asso- events. The block is being devel- lam Architects in association Beirut’s historical trade relations, work starts on the Heritage at substantially improving the ciates as internal decorator, the oped as an integrated project with Ricardo Bofill (Spain), written by archeologists from the Trail pedestrian circuit, which George Haddad–Fouad Chehab health club opens under the that brings together the historic will add a serene silhouette to fourteen teams that have worked links archeological sites, historic junction, implementing grade operation of Nautilus (US). building and an adjacent build- Beirut’s skyline, alongside the in Beirut city center. The articles public spaces, and heritage separation at the intersection. ing and vacant lot. Works are Beirut Tower, designed by Samir provide general maps of Beirut’s buildings over a 3.5 km walking At the heart of Saifi Village undertaken to strengthen the Khairallah & Partners in associa- urban layout during various pe- trail that encircles Beirut’s his- Sidewalks in the Traditional City evolves the Quartier des Arts. structure of the existing build- tion with Wimberly Allison Tong riods of its history, including for- toric core. Information panels Center are progressively upgraded Designers and art galleries, ings and carry out repairs to & Goo (US), Marina Towers tifications spanning more than are in preparation, together with from concrete to durable granite antique and artisan shops, and some of the stone facades. complex, designed by Kohn 3,000 years and the major axes a tourist map of archeological in all areas where new develop- beauty specialist boutiques are Pedersen Fox Associates (US), of the Roman City. sites and historic buildings. ment is complete. attracted by a favorable rental and the Four Seasons Hotel, policy and proactive promotional designed by Dar Al Handasah The project to build and operate campaign. They are also drawn to with Pierre Yves Rochon (France) teleport/broadband distribution the backdrop of reconstructed for interior design. Nearby, still and cable TV networks receives and restored traditional build- in the planning stage, is the support from the International ings, winding cobblestone streets, Dana of C.C.C., a medium-rise Telecommunications Vision fol- and landscaped courtyards that residential building designed by lowing a presentation at the all contribute to the ambiance Dash Architects (UK) and Al World Summit on Information of an artisanal village. Solidere Salam. Society in Geneva. inaugurates its own gallery in the sector, Pièce Unique, to provide a platform to local Lebanese artists for solo exhibitions. 35 — ! ! ! ! 34

Beirut International Marathon Lebanon’s capital hosts the first Beirut International Marathon. Founded by May El Khalil, the event represents the first major successful running event in the region, with Solidere among the event’s official sponsors. 03 Corporate Infrastructure Development Archeology

Extending its services to other As designs and development Following the Japanese Em- A highly positive response to Third-party interest in these Prime Minister Rafic Hariri Following the launch of a limited Core drilling in a Foch-Allenby property owners, Solidere signs controls for the public domain bassy, the British Embassy Saifi Village provides the impetus “special residential sectors” rises. launches the construction of a design competition for the site reveals the location of the several agreements to market are generated, plaques with moves into its new quarters in to further invest in residential Developers set in motion several grand mosque at the intersection development around Beirut ancient harbor. The developers third-party properties prior to newly assigned postal codes are the Embassy Complex. More developments and reinforce new projects in Wadi Abou Jamil, of Martyrs’ Square Axis and Marina as a premier waterfront decide to incorporate a land- undertaking their full-time mounted on building facades. stringent security arrangements urban integration. Solidere com- for example an exclusive resi- Amir Bachir Street. Inspired by destination, an agreement is scaped area into the develop- operation and maintenance Solidere creates a signage man- are imposed following the Sep- missions the design and imple- dential development designed the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the signed with Steven Holl Archi- ment to feature the reconstituted management. ual and submits it to Beirut Mu- tember 11, 2001 events, causing mentation of clusters of various by Ziad Akl, combining modern Mohamad Al Amin Mosque is tects, a leading American firm. remains under the name Harbor nicipality. delays in the completion dates sizes for land plots in Wadi luxury and traditional architec- designed by Azmi Fakhuri with The architect’s concept involves Square. for the remaining space, for Abou Jamil, involving both ture. An adjacent boutique hotel decorative painting and orna- a town quay with waterside Among the underground park- which other embassies have restoration and infill. groups together a new infill mentation (gilding, calligraphy, restaurants on the curved south- ing facilities planned for the Wa- signed letters of intent. building with restored and patina, stone, and wood imita- eastern boardwalk of Beirut terfront District is a garage The architects are carefully reconstructed buildings. In Saifi, tion) by the artist Harout Basta- Marina; a yacht club, summer beneath the Corniche Road near The two other buildings previ- selected for design approaches new projects include Al Mashrek jian. apartments, and leisure and ma- Beirut Marina. An agreement is ously planned as administrative that are particularly responsive Insurance Company, designed rina-related shopping facilities signed with Dar Al Handasah for office buildings in the Conser- to local context, culture, and cli- by Nabil Azar, and Safi Village The higher council for Urban on the eastern edge of the ma- its design, to coordinate with the vation Area are redesigned by mate. The international firms Two, designed by Nabil Gholam Planning and Beirut Municipal- rina; and a harbormaster, cus- marina and its surrounding de- Fouad Menem Consultants as a include Porphyrios Associates Architects. ity approves the Waterfront toms, and immigration building. velopment. The 400-space park- multiuse complex comprising an (UK), Giancarlo De Carlo (Italy), District’s detailed sector plan. ing is subject to a 50-year office building, three residential Dar Al Omran–Rassem Badran However, the issuance of a operation agreement with the buildings, and a health club. (Jordan), Abdel-Wahed El Wakil Council of Ministers’ decree to State, according to which Solid- (Egypt), and Oktay Nayman officially ratify the sector plan is ere may build and operate the A decision is taken to first (Turkey). Maha Nasrallah, a local a precondition for initiating the parking facility and retain a develop the southern part of architect, wins the design com- detailed infrastructure and land- share of the revenue. Beirut Souks – the Souks Core petition for one of the lots. scaping design in the district. and the Jewelry Souk – on its own, without recourse to In Saifi, Nabil Gholam Architects investors. This should allow is commissioned to design two Solidere to maintain control new extension projects to Saifi of commercial areas and their Village. The land for one of the management and secure good projects, lot 146, is sold with its rental revenues. design concept. The other, 178 Saifi, remains in Solidere’s port- folio and is planned as five new buildings organized around an internal courtyard and a restored, three-story building from the 1940s. 37 — ! ! ! ! 36

Charter Award The Skidmore Owings & Merrill the city center’s master plan, the concept design by (US) Waterfront District sector plan wins a Charter Gustafson Porter for the Garden of Forgiveness, and Award from the Congress for the New Urbanism. Nadim Karam’s Archaic Procession sculptures.

Van Alen Institute in New York An exhibition ti- Solidere online A new website for the Company, tled “Renewing, Rebuilding, Remembering” features developed for the company by Invivia Inc (US), is seven cities, including Beirut, that have been rebuilt online with fully animated features. in the wake of disasters. The section on Beirut features 02 Infrastructure Development Landscape

Control of the power substation The number of temporary park- The peaceful residential ambi- Skidmore Owings & Merrill Green open spaces are multiply- Across the street, near the Na- is transferred to its ultimate op- ing facilities increases to provide ence in Saifi Village derives (US) finalizes detailed plans ing across the city center. An tional Evangelical Church, a new erator, Electricité du Liban. The 3,000 spaces servicing about from a quiet environment and for sectors A and D of the Wa- area above the Weygand street garden opens featuring a curvi- water supply and disposal net- 6,000 customers per day. Solid- carefully designed and land- terfront District, adapted to underground parking lot now linear path and stone benches. works; the Ring Road with its ere pursues its requests to the scaped public realm. Brick Formula One safety and other boasts a large water fountain Hundred-year-old olive trees, bridges, tunnels, and under- CDR and the Municipality to paving and fountains, seasonal requirements. They receive pre- and a variety of greenery, includ- along with cypress and palm passes; the primary and second- proceed with the two parking shrubs and flowers, wooden liminary technical approval from ing vines, olive trees, and palm trees, dominate the upper canopy ary roads; and the utilities in the lots underneath public property benches, and children’s play- the FIA. The sectors plan accom- trees, providing a visual link to while star jasmine, pink roses, Traditional City Center are deliv- (Riad El Solh and Martyrs’ grounds provide the narrow modating the listed requirements the Municipality building and the and blue lilies of the Nile cover ered to the Council for Develop- Square), which the CDR has al- tree-lined streets, public squares, includes a 4.8 km track that runs restored Al Omari and Amir Assaf the ground. A 15 m wall of ran- ment and Reconstruction (CDR). ready tendered out as build-op- and gardens with an appealing clockwise and starts at the coastal mosques. Another 2,000 sq m dom natural stone separates Solidere continues to operate erate-transfer projects. communal character. The success Corniche. The total area of land public space opens near the the garden from the restored and maintain the infrastructure of the development is apparent for development in the district Grand Serail entrance. Triangular National Music Conservatory. pending Beirut Municipality ten- On the private side, Beirut Souks’ as it is completely sold or leased. remains unchanged. in shape with an elevation range Embedded fossils dating back to dering out the provision of oper- parking garage is partially open, of about 10 m, its landscape de- the cretaceous period blend in ation and maintenance services. providing 750 parking spaces in Among other new developments In the Waterfront District, leisure, sign incorporates five dominant to the rustic wall as if they had its fourth basement. The four- in the Serail Corridor are 24 sporting, and tourist activities are stone terraces that help retain always been part of it. At the level, 108-space underground Avenue du Parc and Park View, dominant in Sector A, while Sec- the soil. An S-shaped, dark green southeast corner of the city cen- public parking lot on Weygand two low-rise residential develop- tor D, planned as an exemplary lawn covers about half of the ter, in Saifi Village, residential Street is now open as well. ments that offer ground-level, modern development, is a mixed- space, the rest dotted with low- clusters and internal courtyards high-end retail, prominently use area with a wide range of growing flowering shrubs such adorn a main square designed located at the border to the new commercial and retail services; as yellow day lilies, rosemary, by Iliya Stevenson Consultants, Waterfront District. office, tourist and hotel space; lavender verbenas, and purple meshing together into a pleasant convention centers; exhibition and red salvias. living environment. In the Martyrs’ Square Axis, and cultural facilities; and exten- the first Virgin Megastore in the sive residential development. Middle East opens in a restored heritage building, the former Opera House, adjacent to an- other building under restoration, which will house the Union Franco Arabe d’Assurances et de Réassurances (UFA) regional headquarters. 39 — ! ! ! ! 38

Best Practices to Improve the Living Environ- Fête de la Musique Collaborating with the French BIEL The eastern part of the new Waterfront District ment The landfill treatment project in the Waterfront Embassy and the Ministry of Culture, Fête de la that does not require land treatment is leveled and District receives Beirut Municipality’s nomination for Musique is launched on the summer solstice. Span- equipped with temporary roads and two surface park- the Dubai International Award for Best Practices to ning a number of locations across the city center, the ing facilities. The land is leased to Beirut International Improve the Living Environment, established by the festival brings together professional and amateur, local Exhibition and Leisure Center (BIEL) to host activities Second United Nations Conference on Human Settle- and international musicians for a long evening of per- in temporary structures, including a 15,000 sq m cen- ments (Habitat II). formances. tral exhibition hall and a 600 sq m exhibition room with a restaurant and a conference room. 01 Oussama Kabbani Twenty years ago, while still in Boston, you were invited to a Given that the capital had been scourged by civil war and that believe the master plan became more humane without them. conference about the reconstruction of Beirut in Oxford, England. the society was severely fragmented, what then did you see as the How did you sequence real estate development after the major in- on Planning the Urban The war in Lebanon had come to an end, and the city center was “fundamentals” of the Beirut city center reconstruction plan? frastructure works were completed in the city center? What were Regeneration of Beirut in ruins. How and why did you return to Lebanon, your country of the priorities, and how were these priorities determined? City Center provenance, and end up at the helm of the urban planning effort? I had the passion to help rebuild the city, but the passion was strength- ened by the leadership, because there was a “Vision,” with a capital V. The sequence of real estate development indeed had to do with the historical spirit of the city center. One of the master plan’s funda- Oussama Kabbani holds a Master's in Urban Design In 1992, many intellectuals – urban planners, sociologists, and so on There was a destroyed country and a destroyed capital city center and mental features was to preserve the memory of the city to the extent degree from the Graduate School of Design at – were looking at alternative ways to reconstruct Beirut’s city center. no resources whatsoever. It wasn’t a matter of rehabilitating utilities possible. Beirut Souks and the Conservation Area as a whole were Harvard University, USA. He is currently a mem- Two main groups emerged: one was a group led by the new Prime and roads. All governmental institutions needed rehabilitation. The city therefore a priority. In the Conservation Area, our main task was the ber of the Board of Directors of Solidere and the Minister Rafic Hariri, preparing a master plan for reconstruction with center in particular was important because of its social context. At the restoration of the preserved heritage buildings, to turn them into of- Chairman and partner of Millennium Develop- Dar Al Handasah, and the other was made up of the likes of econo- heart of the city, it was an amalgamation of the different communities fices with modern amenities, at least on the interior. The exterior was ment International Holdings. Previously he held mist and historian Georges Corm, architect Assem Salam, and sociol- that made up the Lebanese people. The end result, the completely re- to be faithfully restored. We had no experience in the matter, so we numerous positions in the development and plan- ogist Nabil Beyhum. constructed and developed city center, is still our objective in the long had to seek advice from different authorities on the subject, such as ning fields most notably as Executive Director of I was invited to the conference in Oxford by the second run. But the pieces of the puzzle take time to integrate. the Museum of London. We learned on the job and realized that Saraya Development Group, head of the Town group, who then invited me to another conference in Beirut, where this In developing a plan for reconstruction, it is the fundamen- those who had the most experience with preservation were Syrian Planning and Urban Management Division of time I was asked to make a presentation about the master plan for the tals that matter, not the actual physical plan. The fundamentals were masons, who were really artists and understood stone. Solidere, and Senior Planner with the Boston city center being prepared by Dar Al Handasah. I accepted on the con- simple. One, whatever was deemed of historical value was to be pre- Beirut Souks were important as the heart of trade. Bring Redevelopment Authority. dition that I would merely comment on the technical aspects of the served, for instance the sector known as the Conservation Area plan. Following my presentation, in which I pointed out technical today. Two, with the upcoming land reclamation for the new Water- commerce back to the city center, and you bring back life. But the problems with the plan, I was approached by the would-be founders front District, the Traditional City Center had to be linked to the sea. Old Souks were completely destroyed, and we decided to run an of Solidere to join their team in their effort to regenerate the Beirut city Three, the plan had to include as much public open space as possi- open international competition. Out of 350 or so entries, the jury center. The opportunity was so vast that many were compelled to join, ble. Four, the city center had to be a pedestrian-friendly area. Five, it shortlisted three schemes. Unable to take a consensual decision, to especially those who wanted to do something on a historical scale. had to have an identity. Six, public transportation had to be im- address decisively the difficult moral and intellectual question of how After 16 years of war, Beirut city center was a mess. I was proved. Seven, mass densities had to be concentrated together to to rebuild a place of such memory, it left the final decision up to young, I had studied urban planning, and my city was destroyed. I maintain a certain character across the area. Solidere, the custodian of Beirut city center. had an aspiration to do something about it. I was going to do what I Planning begins at the city level. The fundamentals are the Another priority was to develop residential nodes, the first had prepared myself to do. DNA of a new city. Architecture, the physical aspect, is developed at of which were to be Saifi and then Wadi Abou Jamil. All these com- a later stage, and it tends to change with time as trends change. ponents would bring life back to the city center as it would then ex- How did your memories of the city center influence your perspec- pand to other areas. This is in a way what happened. After we began tive on the reconstruction effort? Are you suggesting that the fundamentals of a city remain rela- restoration, third-party developers came along and wanted to create tively constant but that architecture, the physical manifestation projects in other sectors. We allowed them great leeway in where and I was born and raised in Beirut, but my relationship with the city cen- of so-called “urban DNA,” varies with time? Why is architectural what they wanted to develop as long as they followed the prescribed ter is not the same as that of someone born in the 1950s or earlier. form not a so-called fundamental in and of itself? technical guidelines. My generation, the 1960s generation, had just started to get to know the city center when the war started; we were around 12 years old. Because planning, over time, gets liberated from the past. At the be- Demographics in Beirut have shifted over the decades, and there We had not experienced the city center as the older generations had. ginning, we are somewhat apologetic, yet sensitive, really sensitive, is a growing young population looking for apartments they can Our relationship with the memory of the place is different. The ques- to the past, our history. Over time, as trends and lifestyle demands afford. Can the city center accommodate this type of demand? tion of memory is fundamental in an undertaking such as the recon- change, we are liberated and the vision takes on new wings. Yet, the struction of the city center. fundamentals will never change. That is why the small square in Saifi Beirut city center’s real estate properties, like in most downtown

41 The older generations, who had a more emotional rela- will never disappear. The square near Starco will never disappear. urban areas in the world, are the most expensive in the city. They

— tionship to the place, considered us harsh in our outlook. We be- These are the fundamentals of the Beirut Central District Master tend to be exclusive, accommodating only the people who can afford ! ! ! ! 40 lieved the city center needed more than plastic surgery; it required Plan: the streets, views, corridors. They will always be a part of the them. This is the nature of any open market. So, the city center can- major surgery to be resuscitated. We realized that times had city center. They will always be a part of the city center; they have not solve the problem, which is a national issue. Furthermore, the changed and that we had to let go of certain nostalgic emotions. The become cast in stone. company has investors, shareholders, who it answers to and to nature of youth is to have a margin of maneuverability between the whom it promises returns on their investment. What it does give to old and the new without sacrificing the integrity of either. We had Before you joined Solidere, you gave a presentation at two con- the community are quality and well designed public spaces that will the ability to move forward, to make what others considered harsh ferences in Beirut and Oxford in which you noted technical prob- last forever. These will culminate in the coming years with the water- decisions, yet we maintained the relationship with the memory of lems with the master plan under preparation at the time. What front city park, the largest park in the city. the place without being hostage to it. We were also the link between were those problems, and were you able to implement any If you look at the greater scheme, you realize that Solidere the older generations and the younger ones, who had no memory of changes? has raised construction standards in Lebanon, introduced a cultural the place at all. dimension to Beirut with restoration and the planned archeological Firstly, the initial master plan incorporated a sunken highway around gardens and museums, and garnered international recognition for When you started working on this project, what models and his- the city center, like the Paris Périphérique, a beltway around the city urbanism and design “made in Lebanon.” torical precedents did you consider? but below ground level. It would have turned the city center into an independent entity. It was agreed that the city center had to be a con- Looking back in retrospect on 18 years of development and recon- There was no real prototype. Of course, postwar reconstruction of tinuation of its surroundings, and the sunken highway was removed. struction, if you had had the benefit of impeccable foresight, what European cities after World War II is well documented. Most Euro- Secondly, the reclaimed land area on the waterfront was would you as an urban planner have done differently? pean cities had been rebuilt exactly as they were, but some were planned as an island. From an urban design point of view, it was bril- completely demolished and rebuilt from scratch. In our research, we liant. It would have provided more waterfront areas. However, from a I look back, and I don’t see any major disasters in terms of develop- studied all modern cities around the world because, disregarding cul- social point of view, it undermined the cohesiveness of the social fabric. ment progress and architecture. The only thing I regret is not having tural differences, they share certain values. Most practitioners in the Thirdly, the master plan conceived an icon for the city cen- somehow been able to introduce a subway transit system, not only to urban planning field agree that it is the fundamentals that make a ter in the form of twin towers. They were planned on the Waterfront the city center but to the city as a whole. It would not have made good city, wherever it is located in the world. For example, a city that and were quite tall. Beirut did not need such iconography. In away, sense to have one on such a small scale as the city center, and we you can walk in is a good city. A city that has certain continuity in its the voices of the likes of Corm, Salam, and Beyhum were heard could not find a partner at the national level to support the idea. layers of memory is a good city. A city with fundamentals in color, through these two conferences, and some of their criticisms were Beirut is growing vertically and is suffocating and con- texture, views, and public spaces is a good city. And so on. But you taken into account. These are fundamentals that were removed, and I gested at the street level. Public transportation on the existing road cannot apply all the fundamentals of one city onto another as there network cannot solve the problem. The city needs a subway system: are some that are contextual. there is no other alternative. Corporate Infrastructure Development Archeology Landscape

Solidere’s development strat- With approval from the Council Civil works for a secondary Originally designed by Youssef Marketing launches for the resi- The Fédération Internationale The documentation, digitization, Rudy Rahme’s bust of the writer egy focuses on real estate proj- for Development and Recon- telecommunication network Aftimos in Egyptian-influenced, dential development now called d’Automobile (FIA) approaches and evaluation of the archeolog- and poet turns the landscaped ects that elicit end users’ interest struction, hardscaping, street in the Foch-Allenby, Nejmeh- neo-Mamluk style, the Beirut Saifi Village. The apartments Solidere with a proposal to build ical finds near their completion. area across from the UN House either as a place of residence or furniture, and landscaping are Maarad, and Saifi areas are im- Municipality landmark building elicit serious interest, and grad- a Formula One race track in These sites include a corner and into the Gibran Khalil Gibran as a headquarters for their activi- being upgraded beyond the plemented. The network design in the Foch-Allenby area has ual deliveries begin. Beirut city center. The Formula tower of the Hellenistic City, the Garden. Around the Roman ties. At this time, the Company scope of the agreement with the is under way for Wadi Abou been restored by Walid Takied- One track would utilize the Roman Baths, a number of pub- Baths, the northern terraced decides to delay the implemen- State, adding further value to Jamil, Ghalghoul, the Serail dine. The bustle of official busi- Meanwhile, the development of coastal Corniche Road bordering lic and religious buildings and garden is complemented by tation of new projects in favor city center properties. The policy Corridor, and the Hotel District, ness fills its offices once again. a small residential cluster in the the new Waterfront District, in monuments, and the Cardo the newly complete southern of pursuing existing ones, pend- of building high-standard and its realization will soon fol- Other completed restorations Zokak El Blatt area of Wadi addition to several internal Maximus. Following the exten- garden. ing an improvement of market streetscapes and public space low, street after street. and new developments in the Abou Jamil reaches completion, streets in that district and the sive findings related to the latter, conditions. is amply rewarded. The quality Conservation Area also convey a serene collection of low-rise northern corner of the Tradi- the development rights on a Meanwhile, the tree nursery of the pedestrianized public Bouygues (France) completes the importance of Beirut city 1960s buildings adjacent to a tional City Center. Meetings 2.3 ha site between Nejmeh is producing 25,000 flowering Site logistics services are pro- realm and the integrated street and delivers the Beirut city cen- center as a hub of business large communal garden with are held to explore this possibil- Square and Martyrs’ Square plants per month. An increasing vided, including cleaning, safety, furniture design in Beirut’s his- ter marine works: Beirut Marina activity. club facilities. The apartments ity, and the FIA requests some are relinquished to create the number of streets are lined with security, the operation and toric core are tangible and along with a breakwater and a are all leased. amendments to the road net- Hadiqat As-Samah (Garden trees, fitted with planters, or maintenance of electromechan- widely recognized assets of sub- two-line defense structure pro- The development previously work to meet Formula One of Forgiveness), located between reorganized to accommodate ical systems, traffic management, stantial value. tecting the marina and the new planned as an administrative The first third-party complexes technical specifications. several places of worship. wide medians covered in trees, and temporary surface parking Waterfront District. Beirut Ma- office building for government to be restored in the Ghalghoul shrubs, and colorful annual while the permanent parking Ten temporary surface parking rina is able to berth boats (though institutions in the Conservation sector are the landmark Lazarieh The Council of Ministers in- The British-American landscape plantings. facilities remain under construc- facilities on vacant lots provide not at full capacity), and, under its Area on Serail Hill has been Center on Amir Bachir Street structs the Council for Develop- architects Gustafson Porter tion. Management and operation 1,600 spaces servicing about 1997 agreement with the State, redesigned by IdepConsult– and the Markazia building, now ment and Reconstruction to (US/UK) win the international services are also available to 3,000 city center customers Solidere operates the facilities. Mounir Saroufim and executed the Monroe Suites Hotel. They commission a study and accord- landscape design competition infrastructure, marinas, public per day. Meanwhile, the public by Samir Mokbel and Partners as join the area’s most recent de- ingly propose an amendment to for the garden. British archeolo- utilities, parking facilities, and administration decides to delay the Embassy Complex. Initially velopment, the UN House. the Waterfront District sectors gists Henry Hurst and Steve landscaped open areas even the Martyrs’ Square parking lot, delivered as empty shells, the plan. A decree will be issued by Roskams provide a consultancy after these spaces have been citing several considerations. development now includes the Council of Ministers to this report to the Directorate General handed over to the authorities. Solidere files a claim for com- electromechanical and other extent, based on a study to be of Antiquities in order to find an pensation due to the ensuing specifications geared to suit the submitted by Dar Al Handasah. appropriate approach to inte- major delays in the Martyrs’ requirements of the embassies The physical implementation of grate the archeological remains. Square Axis sector development. that will occupy it. The Japanese the changes depends on whether A conservation plan includes the Embassy is the first to move in to the FIA approves the amendment long-term burial of exposed its new, leased premises within and commits itself to organizing archeology at the northern end the complex. Negotiations con- the event. of the site, along with on-site tinue with three other embassies conservation and integration of that have shown interest and/or features from different periods. signed letters of intent. These include the Roman Cardo Maximus and its rediscovered

43 junction with the Decumanus

— Maximus; earlier Hellenistic ! ! ! ! 42 remains; Roman houses and workshops; evidence of overlap- ping Hellenistic, Roman, and Phoenician urban grids; walls associated with the 17th-century Fakhreddine palace; and later Ottoman foundation arches and walls.

Peace-building Seminar Solidere attends the semi- Expo2000 Hannover Medal A gold medal is nar in Cartagena, Colombia, which was organized by awarded for a model role in urban reconstruction. the US Embassy. The conference presented private sector initiatives in Central and South America as well as in other parts of the world. 00 Corporate Infrastructure Restoration Development Archeology Landscape

The flexibility of Solidere’s Sidewalks are laid across the city Restoration work is taking shape. Following the design phase and The construction of the Saifi Designed by Dash Architects Excavations of the Cardo Sculptures by Salwa Rawda marketing policy is reflected in center as developments come to Behind elaborately restored ex- after construction begins on the residential development’s (UK), the project includes three Maximus (Roman thoroughfare) Choucair now adorn the garden a healthy mix of sales and rental completion. Foch-Allenby fea- ternal facades, the buildings’ developments near Serail Hill to parking facility is completed, and contemporary buildings con- continue, along with prepara- across from the UN House, and operations, geared toward meet- tures sidewalks of granite tile, interiors are completely modern. house agencies affiliated with its electromechanical equipment nected by a top-lit planted tions to expand the site east- sculpted modular benches are ing existing demand at any given while sidewalks in the rest of the In residential neighborhoods, the Prime Minister’s office in the is installed. The internal parti- atrium together with a restored ward. Additional excavations installed in the adjoining Amir time. Both strategies aim not city center are made of concrete restoration goes hand in hand Conservation Area, the Council tioning of the apartments fol- historic building adjoined by a covering other portions of the Amin Square. The cascading only to generate revenue but tile. All are specifically tailored to with great sensitivity to the of Ministers decides to cancel its lows an interior design by public garden court. Roman-Byzantine city begin, green open space under the also to infuse dynamism into meet everyone’s needs, including Mediterranean typology. In of- agreement with the Company. Michel and Halim Harmouch. following approval by the Direc- Serail preserves the collective the city center. To that end, and the disabled. Throughout the city fice environments, all restored The project comes to a halt, and The buildings will be equipped The Waterfront District is a torate General of Antiquities and urban memory of the area by in light of a general economic center, sidewalks are fitted with buildings are fitted with high- ensuing claims from the contrac- with modern amenities and pro- privileged site with panoramic the Maronite Church Council as planting new cypress trees, slowdown that has had a nega- tree grates featuring decorative tech equipment for functionality, tors are settled while Solidere fessionally managed to reflect views of the Mediterranean and the custodian of the St. George weeping willows, conifers, and tive impact on sales operations, motifs. comfort, and efficiency, and seeks compensation from the international service standards, a picturesque landscape of hills Orthodox Cathedral near Nejmeh erythrina alongside old ficus the Company decides to focus open floor plans allow for opti- government for damages and including security and fire safety and mountains across the bay. Square. trees and a wall built in the on pursuing major works and Street furniture designs sub- mal, flexible use of the area. The losses. networks, accesses for the dis- The proposal for its seaward face 1950s to frame an ancient frieze projects that ensure occupancy. mitted by Wilmotte & Associés final product is quality space abled, garbage collection, and will introduce an uninterrupted, discovered on the site. At its own (France) for the areas beyond with a special sense of character. Options are studied to modify central air conditioning for each 2.2 km extension of the Beirut expense, Solidere maintains the Monitoring the progress of its Foch-Allenby gain approval. The rejuvenation process has the use of the developments. The unit. In Wadi Abou Jamil, the shoreline. Planned as a prime trees and landscaped open own as well as third-party Additionally, the Dutch joint shaped public awareness of her- building to the west of the Serail established Besançon and Ahlieh district, the new land will ac- spaces and operates and main- restoration projects, Solidere venture Reklaspits/BRS Premsela itage buildings while creating a is marketed to foreign embassies. schools have been rehabilitated. commodate modern financial, tains the irrigation station and coordinates with Beirut Munici- Vonk delivers a way-finding sys- demand for restored space. After prospective occupants sign business, and residential facilities. network until their transfer to pality to implement a quin- tem for cars and pedestrians, as letters of intent, the internal After standing alone for so long It will also include two marinas, the relevant public authorities. quennial regulation requiring well as location maps. layout is altered to reflect their in the Hotel District, the Starco a waterside park, a seaside drive buildings to be maintained on requests. The other two build- Center, restored by Addor & Jul- and promenade, and cultural, a regular basis through general The second phase of land ings take different paths: having liard (Switzerland), is now wit- tourist, and entertainment facili- cleaning and facade mainte- treatment begins, involving completed civil works on one as nessing the construction of ties. The district will offer unpar- nance every five years. the excavation, sorting, process- an office building, Solidere looks several surrounding residential alleled investment opportunities. ing, and treatment of five million for interested parties; the third, it and hotel buildings. Major hotel cubic meters of construction adapts into a residential building. chains such as The Four Seasons, The waterfront development debris and domestic solid waste. Ramada, and Hilton are estab- densities are higher than those Radian International (US), a After the Ministry of Finance an- lishing a presence here, increas- in the Traditional City Center, member of the Dames & Moore nounces its intention to cancel its ing the international profile of with envelope controls ensuring Group, is awarded the contract; lease, works are placed on hold the district. Residential and a carefully planned distribution Fairhurst International (UK) on the two buildings pre-leased tourist developments are in- of floor space and the clustering takes on the role of construction to the ministries of finance and creasingly drawn to the quality of high-rise development. The manager with Bureau Veritas the interior within the afore- of the Beirut city center, evident majority of development on park (France) as controller. mentioned agreement with the in the completion of infrastruc- and sea frontages is of medium State. A settlement is reached ture and public space. density, limited to 40 m in height.

45 With the completion of most civil with the contractor. Frontages on the Mount Sannine

— works for the Beirut Marina on Right below Serail Hill at the be- view corridor reach 52 m in ! ! ! ! 44 the St. George Bay, including the ginning of the Serail Corridor height. In total, 16 high-rise sites quays and breakwater, Beirut Ma- leading straight to the sea, a have been planned at distinct rina basin is now clearly demar- major private-sector develop- locations. Streetwall controls are cated. Following a development ment reaches completion: Bank applied to main street and strategy study, the US companies Audi’s new headquarters and boulevard frontages, and man- Hallmuth, Obata and Kassabaum branch offices. dated view corridors are created (HOK), EDAW, and Sasaki are to preserve sea and mountain invited to bid for the marina de- views. sign. The contract is awarded to Sasaki in a joint venture with the Lebanese firm Idea. The design involves mooring pontoons, a clubhouse, and a public quay to accommodate a diversity of shopping and food kiosks, along with several other components.

Planet Discovery In collaboration with the French Nejmeh Square The pedestrianized Nejmeh Square Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie de la Villette, the with its restored clock tower and radial cobblestone Planet Discovery children’s science museum opens. streets gradually fills with cafes and restaurants and is It offers hands-on learning and edutainment opportu- beginning to attract crowds to the city center in search nities to youth in an innovative, dynamic space. of outdoor spaces for family outings. While temporarily located adjacent to Starco Center, the museum will later become a permanent feature in Beirut Souks. 99 Corporate Infrastructure Development

With the delivery of the UN Marking a major milestone in its The water supply system is also Solidere is granted a build-and- While the sea defense structure The recovery of the Conserva- The design-and-build tender for A planning study is underway House, along with restored contract with the State, Solidere delivered, comprising 30 km operate license for a broadband, is essential to the development tion Area enhances its four the Beirut Trade Center leads for the new Waterfront District, buildings through sales and re- completes infrastructure works – for drinking water and 38 km fiber-optic network destined to of the reclaimed area, the above- original character areas, each to negotiations with the most which includes the reclaimed cuperation, attention is turned power and water supply, for landscaping and irrigation, ensure high-speed transmission water component consists of presenting a unique sense of competitive contractor, the joint land and the extension of the toward ensuring the occupation sewage and rainwater drainage, including a concrete water tank of audio, image, data, and video, three levels of promenades, place. With its largely pedestri- venture Binladin/Al Mabani, to Corniche along the northern and proper property manage- and roads – throughout the built under the Ring Road bridge. including a cable TV network. extending over 1.5 km between anized streets, the area is recog- reduce construction costs and edge of Beirut city center (Sec- ment. All Beirut city center Traditional City Center as well This goes hand in hand with a This multimedia platform en- the Hotel District and the Beirut nized as a substantial feat of completion time. Construction tors A and D). The study is property owners are entitled to as in part of the original landfill water disposal system, consisting ables any building in Beirut city Port. It provides a natural exten- heritage restoration on a global manager Turner/Steiner (US) awarded to American firms first-class facility management area. Apart from the Ring Road of 26 km of stormwater drainage center to connect directly to high- sion to the existing Beirut Cor- scale. Restored buildings line the teams up with the joint venture, Skidmore Owings & Merrill services consisting of competi- and the George Haddad Street and 28 km of sewage pipes. capacity broadband services. niche and encourages public streets with beautiful facades contributing its expertise in high- for urban design, Sasaki for tive sales and rental support, underpass, large avenues now recreation and leisure activities. while also complying to interna- rise buildings. Meanwhile, the landscaping, and Parsons high-quality technical mainte- cut east–west and north–south. Public lighting with low-voltage In marine works, construction Upon completion of the Beirut tional safety standards and fea- legal and financial structure for Brinckerhoff for traffic. Destined nance services, cleaning, safety, Park Avenue (Francois Al Haj cables and fixtures is complete, of the sea defense structure Marina town quays, Corniche turing modern amenities. The the project is under development, to evolve into a detailed sector security, and lease management. Street) constitutes an important together with feeder pillars in the makes h eadway. With “accrop- promenade, Eastern Marina relocation of all Solidere offices and a shareholding company is plan, the study aims to ensure To that effect, negotiations are axis linking Wadi Abou Jamil to streets, a transformer substation odes” (man-made concrete quayside, and Beirut Port’s first to seven of the buildings in the formed. The project is then placed the acquisition of target devel- conducted with potential cus- the reclaimed land. Weygand, with standby generators, and blocks) gradually cast on-site basin promenade, the city center Foch-Allenby area heralds the on hold for a number of reasons opment rights on the new land tomers, all of whom express Zeitouneh, and Port streets have closed-circuit TV in the tunnels. and placed among rocks along will provide an uninterrupted, return of activity to this sector. including the withdrawal of an- through proper urban design. It interest in expanding an already been widened and now extend the western breakwater, more 3.5 km extension to the Beirut Riad El Solh Street comes back chor tenants. will provide a conceptual design successful business relationship. toward Trieste Street by the port. The selection of street furniture than 70 percent of the breakwa- shoreline, more than four times to life with six major banks oper- as well as design and landscap- They form major boulevards designs in the Traditional City ter is finished. The completion the area of public seafront space ating again and others under In the Hotel District, the finished ing guidelines for the new seg- cutting east–west across the city Center is based on the character of the landfill dredging works currently available on the entire restoration. With seven of the 10,000 sq m Army Officers’ ment of the Corniche, completing center, leading to the Souks, the of each sector. A contract is makes way for the construction Beirut peninsula. religious buildings restored and Club building, designed by its connection to the planned Conservation Area, and the Mar- awarded to the French company of the first defense line, the sub- drawing an increasing number Samir Khairallah & Partners, marinas at both ends. tyrs’ Square Axis. In order to fa- Générale d’Hydraulique et de merged reef. of worshippers, the city center is opens as the Monroe Hotel. cilitate access from the Ring Road, Mécanique for cast-iron orna- reaffirming its role as a meeting streets are widened in Ghalghoul mental street lights in the Con- Works for the second defense place for all Lebanese people. Martyrs’ Square Axis, ravaged and the northern part of Wadi servation Area. The moulds are structure require a massive by the effects of the war and its Abou Jamil, where new roads cast from the original designs assembly line. A prefabrication The Grand Serail, originally built aftermath, is planned as a have been added. prepared for Beirut in the 1920s. yard is built on-site for the pro- in the mid 19th century as an mixed-use sector with the highly In other parts of the city center, duction of the caissons, working army barrack atop a hill during symbolic civic space at its heart, the option goes to modern street in parallel to the installation of the Ottoman period, and the now open to the sea. It aims to lighting designed by Wilmotte the concrete reinforcement. A Council for Development and reconnect and reactivate the city (France) and manufactured by launching platform is installed Reconstruction, previously an center and enhance and inten- Hess (Germany) and Eclatec to slide the caissons into the sea. army hospital, are restored to sify the city’s link to the water- (France). Traffic lights and road The caissons are thus cast suc- their original grandeur. As the front. In the blocks forming the signs, the latter based on a study cessively on land and then low- Council of Ministers relocates to immediate eastern edge of Mar- by Dutch consultants Reklaspits/ ered via the launching platform the Grand Serail, works advance tyrs’ Square, the plan envisions a

47 BRS Premsela Vonk, are installed to float on the water. Once towed on the three Serail Hill adminis- continuous colonnade facing the

— within the city center, as well as to position, they are lowered to trative office buildings. Several square. Its objective is to create ! ! ! ! 46 directional signage along the the sea floor in a controlled hospitality initiatives in the sector a strong urban statement as a peripheral roads. manner and filled with sand. are transforming Beirut city cen- 21st-century expression of the Once the western breakwater is ter into a nighttime destination. 1920s Maarad Street colonnade, The Council for Development complete, the construction of the the signature feature of Beirut’s and Reconstruction awards the Beirut Marina and its mooring In response to increasing market historic core. construction of the Martyrs’ quays progresses rapidly. interest, further sector planning is Square parking lot to Al-Kharafi carried out for Wadi Abou Jamil & Sons on a build-operate- with consultant Nabil Gholam transfer basis. The contract for Architects. For the sloping, Lev- the Serail Hill parking lot has not antine part of town below Serail yet been awarded. Meanwhile, Hill, the plan is to develop a res- construction begins on the Foch- idential neighborhood with a Allenby and the Weygand Street mix of preserved and new town- parking lots. houses, low-rise apartment buildings, schools, community- related shops, and open spaces. Height controls are imposed on new developments to preserve view corridors. 98 Archeology Landscape

Throughout the city center, Michel Macary (France) is com- The first open space in the Other projects are set into mo- archeology plays a key role in missioned to undertake a design Conservation Area is completed tion this year, among them a highlighting the area’s value and feasibility study initially for a Tell around the restored archeological 6,000 sq m garden facing the creating a cultural destination. site museum. Since the present- site of the Roman Baths, land- UN House, marking the central The Canaanite Tell and the day city center encompasses the scaped by InterScene (France) gateway into the downtown, Roman Cardo Maximus, re- whole of urbanized Beirut from and Maurice Bonfils to feature designed by Mohamad Halawi. tained in situ, will form part of ancient times to the 1830s, the two gardens, a cascading foun- The garden features two circular the public open space design project evolves into a “City His- tain, and a small amphitheater spaces, a water fountain sur- that includes the Beirut City tory Museum” that can accom- designed to host musical con- rounded by trees, and a viewing History Museum and the Her- modate finds not only from the certs. To recreate the sights and platform. The same landscape itage Trail linking archeological Canaanite Tell but also from sites scents of an ancient Roman gar- architect has also designed Omar and historical sites. throughout the downtown area. den, the architects have planted Daouk Square and a cascading The museum will also be a key Mediterranean trees and installed garden below the Grand Serail. site within the Beirut Heritage large clay pots filled with medic- Trail, now in the research and inal aromatic herbs used in Meanwhile, close to 1,500 trees design phase by an in-house Roman times, including oregano, are planted around different team, planned to link archeolog- basil, and thyme, and fragrant parts of the city center, ranging ical sites and heritage buildings flowers such as violet, jasmine, from the traditional olive, pine, on a 3.5 km walking tour within and lavender. The northern part and palm trees to revived local the historic core. of the garden is open to the species such as magnolias and public, as is Riad El Solh Square, bougainvilleas, chosen for their now landscaped and housing efflorescence in the spring and the restored statue of its name- summer. sake, the first prime minister of independent Lebanon. To further enhance public space and instill culture in the city cen- ter, discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Culture to com- mission sculptors to create pieces to adorn public areas. The Com- pany provides space and logis- tics for the artwork and, in some cases, takes on a portion of the sponsorship. 49 — ! ! ! ! 48

UN House Inauguration United Nations Secretary- General Kofi Annan inaugurates the UN House. The Secretary-General describes the building as“setting an example for other United Nations offices around the world.” 98 Corporate Infrastructure Restoration Development

The General Assembly approves In the sale and rental of its The Council for Development After awarding the contract for Concerning marine works, In the most innovative restora- An agreement is concluded with Designed by Malek Mahmassani a stock split to facilitate trading property, the Company targets and Reconstruction (CDR) ten- power supply to the consortium Maunsell (UK) is replaced by the tion concepts, preserved build- the government, approved by Architectural Practice, the com- operations and to align the value three main categories of cus- ders out as build-operate-trans- of the Matelec-Melec and GE- British company Rendel, Palmer ings are combined with new the Council of Ministers, which plex includes a new office build- of the share to national and in- tomers: local and foreign corpo- fer projects the Martyrs’ Square Hitachi, construction of a power & Tritton as engineering consult- construction, often incorporating includes a land swap, the financ- ing and integrates the surviving ternational trading standards. rate, individual, and institutional and Serail Hill underground substation is initiated to feed ant, while the CDR retains So- an inner landscaped courtyard ing of the Grand Serail, and the adjacent “Dome” structure, to be The par value becomes US$10 clients. It sells “as is” some of the parking lots, located under gov- electricity in the city center. In cotec as technical controller. as communal open space. These provision of 70,000 sq m of office restored as a 550-seat confer- after each old share is divided retained built lots whose owner- ernment and municipal prop- the meantime, a temporary 20 Christiani & Nielsen–COWI solutions strive to maintain the space to affiliate agencies of the ence center. A bit further west, into ten new shares. The Council ship devolved to it; others it re- erty. Meanwhile, the parking lot MW substation provides power (UK/Denmark) continues to accurate restoration of preserved Council of Ministers, Ministry Conceptua (France) and Syrcon- of Ministers approves the Solid- stores and sells, keeps for office near Riad El Solh Square awaits to buildings and operations cur- serve as construction manager. buildings to their original designs of Finance, and Ministry of the sult provide a concept design for ere stock split. use, or rents out. Previous prop- the conclusion of on-site arche- rently functioning in the area. To Following positive detailed hy- while providing modern, infill Interior in the Conservation the Ministry of the Interior. erty owners and tenants are ological excavations. link the Beirut city center with draulic model tests on the ma- development controlled by design Area. The deal stipulates the Solidere’s capital decreases from attracted back to the city center, the national transmission net- rine works design model, guidelines that respond sensi- delivery of two buildings on the Following an initial master plan US$1.8 billion to US$1.65 billion including both Lebanese expa- Other projects are under way to work, a 5.5 km 66 KV cable is conducted at Delft Hydraulics tively to the historic context. lower part of Serail Hill on France prepared by Jad Tabet in collabo- through the retirement of 17 mil- triates and foreign companies. meet the demand for parking installed through a major culvert in the Netherlands, mobilization Street for use by the CDR, the ration with Benjamin Thompson lion A shares that reverted to spaces by occupants of the re- running from Port Street, north- of the plant and manpower on Damaged by the war, the Mar- Investment Development Au- Architects (US), it is decided that Company possession after some stored properties. One is a joint east of the city center, to the site begins. tyrs’ Square Monument under- thority of Lebanon (IDAL), and the Beirut Souks project will be original Beirut city center rights undertaking of common works Fakhreddine Street to the south- goes restoration at the University the Central Administration for designed through five separate holders decided to recuperate for a 280-space parking lot in west, while a 4.5 km 220 KV An agreement with the State of the Holy Ghost in Kaslik Statistics. Both are designed by commissions to Lebanese and their properties. At the same the Foch-Allenby area, initiated cable connecting the substation provides the rights to administer under the supervision of Dr. Fouad Menem Consultants based international architects. The time, an amendment to Article 9 in conjunction with owners of to the main Electricité du Liban the planned Beirut (Western) Issam Khairallah, director of the on a concept by IdepConsult– 146,000 sq m floor space will be of the Articles of Incorporation other lots nearby; another facility grid in Horch Substation remains Marina water surface and the Restoration Center. British expert Mounir Saroufim. A third build- interspersed with 60,000 sq m provides international investors is in development on Weygand under construction. Corniche underground parking Rupert Harris joins the project ing, west of the Serail on Army of landscaped pedestrian areas. with the right to own shares, Street. lot outlined in the Beirut Central as a consultant. The repair works Street, also designed by Idep- Following the ancient, pre- which was previously restricted Meanwhile, the landfill alters District Master Plan for a 50- include restructuring the statue’s Consult, will house several other Roman street grid and integrat- to Lebanese and Arab nationals. One of the most important road the shape of the shoreline and year period. At its own expense support base, welding its parts, governmental agencies. All of ing archeological features and works in the city center, the ex- the topography of Beirut city and with official approval, Solid- treating rust and corrosion, and these buildings are at different gardens, Beirut Souks consecrate pansion of the Fouad Chehab center. Heavy engineering works ere will construct the installa- restoring its original color. Al- stages of preparation works. the historic value of the place Avenue Bridge, opens to traffic are actively under way: sea de- tions needed for the marina though the statue is reinforced while relying on the state-of- nine months ahead of schedule. fense structures to seal and pro- operation that fall within the to prevent further deterioration, Conceptual designs are approved the-art technology of modern The 3.6 km Ring Road, as it is tect the district’s outer limits as State’s private domain. The bullet holes are retained as a re- for some of the office space for commercial centers. called, connects to the western well as processes to deliver clean works include access and circu- minder of the damage inflicted the Ministry of Finance, Ministry end of Fakhreddine Street by development sites. Once cleared lation, breakwater surface park- by war. The monument is the of the Interior, and other gov- The team includes Rafael Moneo tunnel and links through a and protected, the reclaimed ing, an underground parking lot, work of Italian sculptor Marino ernment agencies. Construction (Spain) with Samir Khairallah longer tunnel to the Corniche land should offer unparalleled marina boardwalk and pontoons, Mascarati, first unveiled on Mar- begins in accordance with a new & Partners for the southern part’s Road near the Phoenicia Hotel. development opportunities, a harbormaster’s building, and tyrs’ Day, May 6, 1960. contract providing timetables Souks Core, Dash Architects planned to accommodate a all essential boat utilities. and broad building specifica- (UK) with Rafic El Khoury and modern financial and business tions. The Ministry of Finance Partners for the southern part’s

51 district, retail and commercial Marina by-laws must be estab- project involves the reconstruc- Jewelry Souk and the office block,

— services, tourist and hotel space, lished and receive official ap- tion of the former City Center Valode and Pistre (France) with 50 and an extensive residential proval in order to address issues building southwest of Martyrs’ Annabel Karim Kassar for the area, enhanced by an 8 ha public such as administration and oper- Square into administrative of- northern part’s Cinema and park, 7.5 ha of waterside terraces ation of the marina general serv- fices (part of a property swap Entertainment complex, and and public promenades, and ices, boat traffic, public safety, with the government). Nabil Tabbarah for the Depart- recreational facilities. environmental protection, and ment Store. Olivier Vidal (France) vehicular and pedestrian circula- is responsible for designing the tion. Groupe Camille Rayon Souks’ public spaces. Dimitri (France) is appointed consultant Alatzas Asociados (Spain) carries for the Beirut Marina, and con- out the sub-basement parking struction of the Eastern Marina design and management systems. facing the first basin of the Beirut Port is deferred to a later phase.

Information Center The Information Center moves Beirut Reborn Award Published by Academy Edi- Global Best Practises As one of the 100 projects with the Company offices to Building 149 in the Foch- tions/John Wiley & Sons, Beirut Reborn wins the inter- acknowledged as Global Best Practices, the Beirut city Allenby area. It continues to welcome visitors inter- nationally prestigious Donside Design and Print Gold center reconstruction and development project was ested in examining the Beirut city center model and Award. The authors embark on a European and North included in the United Nations Habitat II conference the sea defense system designed to withstand centen- American lecture tour, which, combined with the publi- in Istanbul in 1995. As a result of this exposure, a UN- nial storms, currently under construction on the cation’s global distribution, establishes worldwide commissioned film highlighting the project is broad- seafront of the reclaimed area. recognition for the Solidere project as a model of high- cast worldwide in six languages. quality urban development and inner-city regeneration. 97 Landscape

The detailed design for the entire After a record fast-track con- Recognizing the importance The tree nursery welcomes the project is complete. It takes into struction period of 14 months, of the sectors in the extension first new trees of various species, account the needs of identified the handover of the UN House of Beirut city center toward the selected for their Mediterranean users as well as the results of reaffirms the goal of delivering new seafront, the study lays out origin and historical association marketing studies on the Souks’ made-to-measure new construc- the principal planning objective with Beirut. Trees that have retail and entertainment poten- tion. The complex reflects mod- of providing mixed-use develop- never grown in the city center tial. Approval is obtained from ern technical specifications. ment of primarily residential, before are tested for adaptability the Directorate General of Urban Designed as a rectangle with a office, hotel, and commercial to the environment. Planning. Following shoring and landscaped open atrium, the buildings with special emphasis excavation works in the south building represents a “gateway” on retail use on the ground floor. parking lot, an agreement is fi- into the city center. The study also focuses on the nalized with the Arabian Con- relationship of parcels and their struction Company, and works Following a tender involving five development to surrounding get underway. regional and international con- streets and public spaces, the tractors for the Beirut Trade formation of open spaces, and The findings of a marketing sur- Center, negotiations are ongo- the general identity of develop- vey to assess housing demand ing to optimize construction ment within the sectors. and identify requirements help technology and completion time. finalize the preliminary designs At the same time, surrounding The first area to be developed in of the Saifi residential devel- land is identified to be integrated the Serail Corridor is adjacent to opment. Excavation and shoring into the project, and subdivision, Beirut Souks, with projects such works are complete, and after a regrouping, and building permit as the restored Sabbagha and successful launch of the tender files receive approval from the Fotiades building by Joseph during the summer, the building relevant authorities. Ingea and Ahli Bank by Simone contract is awarded to Société Kosremelli, as well as new con- Mouawad-Eddé. Koetter, Kim and Associates (US) struction such as the Semiramis is commissioned to conduct mixed-use development by urban design studies, and City Adam Architecture (UK), Fouad Formation International (Canada) Hanna, and Fadlallah Dagher is hired as advisor for develop- and the Medgulf building by ment to study and prepare de- Nachaat Owaida. tailed sector plans for the Hotel District and Serail Corridor. The Serail Corridor will comprise two rows of towers, stepping down in height from the water- front southward and built around

53 a shared green linear park. — ! ! ! ! 52

Archaic Procession Solidere backs Lebanese artist Mediterranean waterfront. The figures stand on demo- Nadim Karam’s Archaic Procession, an ambitious lition debris, dance along streets, and pass through urban art installation of metal statues. The proces- residential districts. The exhibition slogan, according sion’s movement across Beirut symbolizes the cycle to the artist, is “Believe in beauty and the future,” em- of destruction and renewal: 20 monumental figures bodying the spirit of Beirut in the face of the many of man and beast advance across the city to the tribulations it has overcome throughout history. 97 Corporate Infrastructure Restoration Development Archeology

Solidere shares begin trading These include earthquake-proof As priority is placed on the The contract for marine works, Among 40 buildings designated In the Conservation Area, a In Ghalghoul, construction is Archeological finds and treasures on the Beirut Stock Exchange. foundations for all new buildings delivery of infrastructure in the the sea defense structure and the as architecturally significant in the large number of the buildings advancing rapidly on the major in Beirut city center suggest that The number of shares listed to- and bridges and, when feasible, historic core and its surround- Western Marina, is awarded on a Riad El Solh and Foch-Allenby designated as architecturally office development near Riad El Beirut became a significant urban tals 100,000,000 in Class A and for restored buildings. ings, all utility works comprised design-and-build basis to the areas, well-known landmarks significant are under restoration. Solh Square. The complex, now center in the third millennium 65,000,000 in Class B. of water supply, storm water, French company Bouygues in such as the Capitole, Arab Bank, Other new, third-party develop- named UN House, will house BC; since then, it has been home At the early stages of reconstruc- and sewage networks are com- joint venture with its subsidiary, and Lazarieh Center have started ments begin to take shape, such several regional and local UN to a large number of civilizations. A Global Depositary Receipts tion, property management pleted in the Conservation Area, Bouygues Offshore. The design to regain their former distinction as the An Nahar building at the agencies, in particular the Eco- (GDRs) offering is initiated to had been initiated to cover the Saifi, Ghalghoul, and Wadi Abou offers a simplified engineering as the restoration of their facades intersection with Martyrs’ Square, nomic and Social Commission As excavations in the Souks un- broaden the investor base by management, leasing, and serv- Jamil. Works are also underway solution to that of Sogreah, which nears completion. designed by Pierre El Khoury for Western Asia (ESCWA), cover a city wall and moat and a allowing non-Lebanese entities icing of the properties owned by in other parts of the city, where a appears in the master plan with Architects, and the Atrium across whose relocation to Beirut is Phoenico-Persian quarter, work to buy into the Company stocks. the Company. An effective prop- temporary water supply network its offshore, submerged caissons from Al Omari Mosque, designed scheduled for next year. The around Martyrs’ Square reveals The GDRs, issued against A erty management program is facilitates reconstruction efforts. and narrow lagoon. The Bouygues by Nabil Azar. 16-story development has a total Hellenistic and Roman remains. Shares, were purchased by inter- now consolidated to better de- scheme extends the reclamation floor space of 43,000 sq m. Nine The latter are found within the national investors, principally in fine aspects of the rental policy, In road works, the underpass out to the caisson line, thereby Several major public institutions floors above ground comprise preserved foundation arches of the United States and the United including technical maintenance below George Haddad Street providing additional public space including the Council of Minis- offices, a library, and language the Petit Serail. Photogrammetry Kingdom. Merrill Lynch Interna- procedures. This has immediate leading to Port Street reaches to the new Waterfront District. ters and the Beirut Municipality labs, with a lobby and retail serv- and numbering are used to ac- tional is the lead manager of the relevance for the developments completion, as does the Riad El announce their planned reloca- ices at ground level. Conceived curately record and concisely offering. The bank syndicate in- about to reach completion, be- Solh underpass leading to Selim The sea defense structure will tion to the city center, which, by Pierre El Khoury Architects, archive discoveries recommended volved in underwriting the deal ginning with the UN House, the Salam Boulevard and connecting consist of an underwater plat- added to the presence of Parlia- the structure makes use of natu- for dismantling and subsequent includes Robert Fleming & Co. future headquarters for UN Beirut city center to the capital’s form (submerged reef) as a first ment, deputies’ offices, and the ral light and shade. It is an “in- reassembly. All findings are reg- Limited, ING Barings, Banque agencies in Lebanon. international airport. defense, approximately 100–140 Council for Development and telligent building” with advanced istered to enable future studies Paribas Capital Markets, and m wide with an upper surface at Reconstruction, reestablishes technology including a comput- and to reconstruct historical UBS Limited. The funds raised Plans are in the works to offer Beyond the scope of Solidere’s about 6 m below sea level. The and consecrates Beirut city cen- erized building management continuity for the public. are used to finance part of the property management services agreement with the State to in- structure will break the waves ter as the administrative center system that controls lighting, infrastructure and real estate to the owners of recuperated stall communication infrastruc- and absorb part of their energy. of Lebanon. elevators, air handling units, and Based on master plan objectives development program during buildings while they undergo ture, a decision is taken to provide The second line of defense con- data cabling for voice and audio- and the archeological conclusions the initial phase of operations. restoration. The Company is ne- value-added services. A strategic sists of a curved line of 80 cais- The planned Saifi residential visual relay. reached by the Directorate Gen- gotiating co-ownership regula- study is commissioned from sons prefabricated on shore and development comprises 16 eral of Antiquities in accordance Following extensive land surveys tions on recuperated properties Coopers and Lybrand (US) to each weighing about 2,000 tons. buildings distributed into four Meanwhile, plans are in progress with UNESCO protocols, sev- and earthquake vulnerability as- where it is one of the rights determine the special infrastruc- These will be floated to their clusters. The buildings have a for the rehabilitation of the Murr eral major discoveries will be re- sessments, strict development holders. ture services necessary to meet final positions before being maximum of seven floors, and Tower as the Beirut Trade Cen- tained in situ and integrated into guidelines regarding seismic and accommodate future demand submerged and stabilized with the apartments vary in size to ter, and various preparatory the design of public open space, safety measures are formulated. The recuperation process al- in the city center. These include a sand. The width of each caisson achieve the most efficient use of studies for the project are under- including the Roman Cardo lowing former property rights fiber-optic network for broad- (approximately 22 m) as well as space. The development includes way, including the completion of Maximus and adjacent discover- holders to reacquire their real band telecommunications serv- perforations on its seaward face commercial space at street level preliminary and detailed designs ies, the Phoenician wall encir- estate comes to a close. A total ices used to promote and will further help to dissipate and underground facilities pro- that take into account new mar- cling the Canaanite Tell, and the of 146 lots are recuperated, and facilitate high-speed data trans- wave energy. viding 420 parking spaces as ket research on office demand. nearby remains of Beirut’s Cru-

55 1,180 tenants apply to return to mission of text, image, audio, well as storage units for the Negotiations are proceeding to sader castle. These sites will form

— these buildings. Most of the re- and video. apartments. prelease the center in prepara- part of an archeological Heritage 54 cuperating parties obtain per- tion for construction. Trail to attract both local and for- mits to restore their properties. The first phase of land treatment The detailed design reinterprets eign visitors. Other vestiges, such In addition, 114 buildings de- in the reclaimed area includes traditional architectural features. as the ancient mosaics, coins, and volve to Solidere’s ownership several major works. While waste Colorful facades with triple pottery fragments, are removed when their rights holders elect extraction and its subsequent arches, decorative cornices and and will be displayed at the Na- not to recover them, opting in- bio-composting progress, land balconies, red-tiled pitched roofs, tional Museum and other suit- stead to receive Class A shares. reclamation continues with courtyards, paths, and walkways able places. backfilling into the sea on the stay faithful to the character of northeast side of the landfill. Saifi and add to the charm of the This requires approximately two neighborhood. Bouygues (France) million cubic meters of debris, and Soltravo oversee the execu- recycled through a process that tion of site preparation works clears the concrete rubble of steel and construction of permanent and iron and crushes it before use. diaphragm walls.

Cadastral Maps A final survey of all plots in the Tra- Beirut Reborn Angus Gavin and Ramez Maluf cele- Hamidieh Clock Tower Standing tall in the gardens ditional City Center, approved by the cadastral author- brate the publication of their book Beirut Reborn about of the Grand Serail after being rehabilitated and fitted ities, is the first to convert hand-drawn cadastral maps the renewal of Beirut’s city center. The book analyzes with new mechanical parts, the Hamidieh Clock Tower into a fully digital format to facilitate land registration, the Beirut Central District Master Plan and the early is the first historical monument to be fully restored in subdivision, and property transfer. progress of city center restoration and reconstruction. Beirut city center. The clock tower was named after Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the 19th-century Ottoman emperor, and was originally inaugurated during cere- monies marking the 21st anniversary of his reign. 96 Infrastructure 1995 Priority is placed on the delivery of infrastructure in the historic core and its surroundings. Corporate Infrastructure Restoration Development

The Company establishes an in- Sales comprising a variety of land As an example of transforming Solidere undertakes building The Conservation Area con- In Beirut Souks, architect Jad For the city center gateway sec- Planned to preserve an unob- ternal organizational structure, uses have started one year earlier disaster into opportunity, the damage assessment surveys, sists of four character precincts Tabet is commissioned as lead tor of Ghalghoul and Murr structed view from the Grand with each division staffed by a than planned in response to the new Waterfront District is an development program prepara- and is planned as the political, master planner for the Tawile, Tower, Koetter, Kim and Associ- Serail plaza over the city center, professional team of experts. The strong demand for Beirut city expansion of an original landfill tions, and conceptual design financial, and cultural heart of Ayass, and Al Jamil Souks, to ates (US) and City Formation the waterfront city park, and the changes aim to maximize effi- center property, reflecting the enclosing the Normandy dump- studies of the structures to be the city. The Foch-Allenby dis- work in collaboration with Ben- International (Canada) are com- Mediterranean Sea, the Serail ciency and goal fulfillment public’s confidence in the entire site that has environmentally preserved in accordance with the trict presents a rich variety of ar- jamin Thompson, an American missioned to prepare a detailed Corridor will be a mixed-use through coordination and coop- project. These sales ensure a scarred the city center foreshore master plan. As part of the strat- chitectural expressions such as firm of architects and planners master plan. The sector is con- sector of medium density that eration among the various units. quick revitalization of the Tradi- since the Lebanese war. The egy to revitalize Beirut’s historic French Mandate, Venetian- and with recognized skills in retail ceived as high-density, mixed- bridges the city’s Conservation tional City Center. The policy is Beirut Central District Master core, restoration and rehabilita- Genovese-inspired triple arch and urban marketplace projects use area to include south and Area and the Hotel District. The The strategy pursued in land to offer buyers the possibility Plan envisions the district cover- tion works begin on several of windows, Ottoman arcades and in the United States and around southwest gateway towers that latter is planned as a high-den- sales, as in all other activities, of deferring part of the payment ing more than 60 ha of reclaimed the buildings that have not yet cornices, and Islamic friezes and the world. Samir Khairallah & mark two of the city center’s key sity sector. stems from basic principles of of the sale price, thus enabling land with spectacular views of been recuperated in the Foch- inscriptions. Lebanese architects Partners take charge of the struc- entry points. the master plan and the Com- them to better plan their invest- the sea and mountains. In fulfill- Allenby area. As the recupera- of the 1920s and 1930s also cre- tural and mechanical aspects of The second new construction pany’s stated policy and targets. ment financing. ing its agreement with the State, tion process nears completion, ated buildings in a variety of the project. The Paris office of The conceptual design for the project, the Army Officers’ Club, Within this framework, Solidere Solidere commissions Dames & Restoration Briefs are issued to neo-Oriental styles to express a Larry Smith (US) acts as the former Murr Tower by the is part of a swap agreement with retains enough flexibility in its In addition, the Company plans Moore (US) to conduct a study recuperating parties, paving the regional identity in contrast to Souks’ first economic consultant. Canadian Webb Zerafa Menkes the Lebanese Ministry of De- strategic planning to allow for to lease space it owns in reno- and a geotechnical investigation way for renovation works to the classical architecture of the Meanwhile, a detailed design is Housden Partnership transforms fense. The Company undertakes adjustment and revision accord- vated or new properties to create of the landfill. Based on its rec- begin on a major scale. French Mandate. prepared and excavation works the tower into the Beirut Trade the design and construction at ing to market developments and a rental market. Along with space ommendations and specifications begin for the parking structure Center. Technical and financial its own expense, and the min- other changes. available in recuperated proper- for landfill treatment, Dames & Monitoring of the restoration The Maarad-Nejmeh district, below the souks. feasibility studies are carried out istry relinquishes its rights to ties and new third-party projects, Moore is retained as supervising process takes place regularly to site of the Parliament and several to complete the design, which another lot in the Hotel District the rental market is fueled by the engineer. avoid any delays in the work’s key religious structures, revolves An urban village in Saifi is in includes architectural, electro- with a structure formerly used as unique infrastructural advantages progress. The projects advance around a central axis, Maarad planning with French architect mechanical, and structural plans. the Army Officers’ Club. The that will be available in the city Three of the eight shortlisted through successive phases of pre- Street, a colonnaded boulevard François Spoerry and the archi- Socotec becomes technical con- ministry will then acquire the center, as well as the opportunity international contractors submit liminary design approval, restora- in the French Mandate style. tectural engineering firm Erga troller. developed property in accor- it affords to first-time, short-term, bids for marine works involving tion permit issuance, mobilization Serail Hill, overlooking the city Group. The project comprises 16 dance with specifications de- and/or small-scale users for the design and construction of of site works, facade sample ap- center, houses the Ottoman- separate infill projects in similar Construction launches on a fined at the time. maximum flexibility in selecting seafront protection and the con- proval, site inspections, design period Prime Minister’s offices scale to the existing preserved 19,900 sq m major new office places of residence or business. struction of two marinas. Follow- adjustments, and, finally, occu- and the CDR, originally an buildings that date from the 1880s development near Riad El Solh ing close evaluation and further pancy permit procedures. Build- Ottoman military hospital. Riad to the 1950s. Each is designed as Square comprising offices, large To protect properties and the negotiations, the British com- ing facades determined fit for El Solh Street, in contrast, is a unique, individual building in conference facilities, and support public realm, a series of codes pany Maunsell Consultancy is restoration to their original state home to preserved early modern the vernacular tradition of the services equipped with state-of- and regulations for safety and appointed as engineering con- are preserved by using surviving buildings that have served as late 19th century. Located at the the-art building technologies, security in Beirut city center is sultant, Sogreah (France) as proj- elements (old stone, wood, and headquarters for financial and southeastern corner of the city communication facilities, and authored and implemented in ect advisor, the British-Danish iron) and augmenting them government institutions since center, the Saifi residential audiovisual systems. conjunction with public authori- joint venture Christiani & wherever needed with new the mid 20th century. project falls within the objective ties and other official agencies. Nielsen–COWI as construction elements shaped to blend in to restore and maintain continu-

59 Manuals detailing site security manager, and Winston & Strawn seamlessly. The result is authen- ous life and activity in Beirut city

— and safety procedures are pre- (Switzerland) as legal advisor. tic restoration based on high- center. By providing 150 apart- 58 pared. These include a fire code quality craftsmanship, especially ments for rent and sale, the proj- in collaboration with the Direc- in stonemasonry. ect contributes to the creation of torate General of Urban Planning, a new rental market. the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), and Libnor (The Lebanese Standards Institution); a manual concerning facilities for the disabled, co- authored by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA); and a standard developer’s kit as general refer- ence for sales, construction, de- sign, development, and other related tasks.

Temporary Activities With the addition of a Ra- Surface Parking Lots Pending the construction of madan tent and Christmas fair, activities continue the underground public parking lots mandated in the on Martyrs’ Square, attracting an increasing number master plan, temporary surface parking is provided on of visitors. vacant lots throughout the city center. 95 Corporate Infrastructure Restoration

The Lebanese Company for the Solidere is incorporated on May Solidere’s activities are manifold. In reconstructing and developing An agreement is signed with the Regulations prepared for the city Based on studies carried out in Approved by the Directorate Development and Reconstruc- 5 with capital in the amount of They include acquiring real estate Beirut city center, the develop- Council for Development and center require developers to in- 1993 by Dar Al Handasah for the General of Urban Planning, the tion of Beirut Central District US$1,820,001,290, following a properties and rights within ment strategy is to start by fo- Reconstruction (CDR) to finance corporate parking spaces into subsequently approved master specifications vary according to s.a.l. (La Societé Libanaise pour statutory general meeting of Beirut city center, financing and cusing on the historic core or and execute infrastructure works building plots and provide ade- plan, the number of salvageable the sector involved and the his- le Development et la Recon- shareholders. The assembled executing infrastructure works Conservation Area, then move to in Beirut city center in accordance quate parking to serve the uses commercial and residential torical or architectural impor- struction du centre ville de Bey- body ratifies the Articles of In- on behalf of and at the expense the mixed-use Hotel District and with the approved Master Plan, of each project. The standards buildings in Beirut city center tance of the building. They are routh, or Solidere) is created for corporation and all pre-forma- of the State, developing and re- residential Saifi to test the mar- ratified by the Council of Minis- assume the gradual introduction amount to 292, including 27 described and illustrated in the the purpose of reconstructing tion actions undertaken by the constructing Beirut city center by ket. While the Company plans to ters. The infrastructure works in- of effective public transportation public and religious buildings. Restoration Briefs prepared the Beirut Central District (Beirut Board of Founders, including the restoring existing structures and develop some of the project floor clude a vast array of construction within the city. In addition to Public buildings include the for every building set for preser- city center) in accordance with share issue and pre-formation building new ones in accordance area itself, it hopes to achieve a projects: primary and secondary these designated parking facili- Grand Serail, seat of the Council vation. Law 117 of 1991. The Company expenses. It then elects the first with the approved master plan, balanced mix of projects by other roads; bridges and tunnels; a ties, the master plan envisages of Ministers, the Lebanese Par- comprises a shareholder major- Board of Directors for a three- and selling, leasing, utilizing, developers for the remaining seaside boulevard; public squares three major underground public liament, the Beirut Municipality, A recuperation policy is adopted ity of former owners and tenants year period and appoints Com- managing, and maintaining these space. As supervisory body and and gardens; water distribution, parking lots in the Traditional the Central Post Office, and sev- to salvage material such as cob- in city center property, as well as pany auditors. properties. Furthermore, the lead developer, it plans to con- sewage, and rainwater disposal City Center, under Martyrs’ eral ministries. Religious build- blestones and granite curb- some new shareholders. All for- Company will work to reclaim trol the pace, components, and networks; a power substation and Square and Riad El Solh Square ings comprise 17 churches, stones, structural and decorative mer stakeholders are required by The Company’s share capital land from the sea according to quality of each development from high-voltage line to the Horch and near the Grand Serail, with mosques, and a synagogue rep- wooden and cast iron elements, government decree to relinquish consists of the following cate- its agreement with the State; this inception to completion. In that Substation; civil engineering more to come in the reclaimed resenting all religious denomi- terrazzo and decorative ceramic their property rights in exchange gories: entails land preparation, financing, regard, it initiates Development works for electricity and tele- land area. nations in Lebanon. tiles, and wooden doors and for shares in the company. and infrastructure development Briefs for new projects, providing communications networks; road windows with traditional value “A” shares: Contributions in kind on the reclaimed land, and in standardized documentation of lighting and traffic signals; land- Within the reconstruction and The objective is to set a high from buildings that are not pre- By virtue of Law 117/1991, the to the Company capital are val- consideration thereof, being al- technical guidelines for the de- fill treatment and backfilling on development of the Beirut city benchmark for the renovation of served. These salvaged materials Company capital will consist of ued at US$1,170,001,290. A located a share in the reclaimed velopment and calculation of the reclaimed area; marine center, marine works include these properties. Solidere insists will be used in the restoration real estate properties in Beirut maximum of 11,700,012 Class A area in the form of private land floor space for each parcel in works and two new marinas; the design and construction of upon prequalifying local and in- of preserved buildings and the city center and the rights therein shares valued at US$100 each for development, the construction Beirut city center. and urban and street furniture. seafront protection at the water- ternational consultants and con- pedestrian streets. (contributions in kind), as well will be issued at par to the prop- of buildings there, and the sale, The agreement stipulates that front marking the area to be tractors with special expertise in as cash subscriptions. The Com- erty rights holders against their leasing, usage, management, and Solidere will undertake the reclaimed from the sea, as well the restoration of old buildings. pany’s duration is set at 25 years contributions in kind following maintenance of these properties. works above on behalf and on as the construction of two mari- It establishes clear and strict starting from the date of incor- the appraisal and distribution account of the State; in return, nas, one to the west and one to urban design and technical poration. resolution by the Appraisal the Company is granted owner- the east of this reclaimed land. guidelines for restoration work Committee, appointed by the ship of 291,800 sq m of re- From the outset, the CDR com- in all preserved buildings, whether Ministry of Justice. The Class A claimed land. missions Sogreah (France) to conducted internally or by out- shares are issued upon receipt of design the seafront protection side parties who have recuper- the final distribution decisions In a joint venture with the structure. Sogreah’s preliminary ated or purchased the properties. by the Distribution Committees Italian Consorzio Cooperative design consists of a double de- Regulations include retaining or for the relevant property lots. Costruzioni, the Lebanese con- fense line made up of an outer reinstating the original external tracting firm Klat and Maouad set of large, submerged concrete fabric and applying detailed “B” shares: Following an offering receives the contract to execute blocks (caissons), a lagoon, and a specifications for all materials

61 by the Board of Founders for a infrastructure works in the Tradi- series of promenades adjacent to and workmanship. They also re-

— cash subscription of US$650 mil- tional City Center. The French the inner set of small box caissons. quire that renovations adhere to 60 lion, 6.5 million Class B shares company Méthodes et Pilotage Following hydraulic model test- fire and safety regulations and of US$100 each are issued at par is selected as construction man- ing of the design in Sogreah’s provide access for the disabled. upon the Company’s establish- ager, while Dar Al Handasah will laboratories in France, as well as ment. handle detailed design and act several studies including a geo- as supervising engineer. The technical investigation of the sea CDR hires Socotec to oversee bed, tendering documents are technical control on its behalf. prepared for a design-and-build scheme. Solidere asks eight shortlisted companies to submit offers based on the Sogreah de- sign and allows them to propose their own alternative designs.

Temporary Activities To introduce a new social des- Information Centers Beirut city center is a must-see Fairuz Concert Solidere launches its activities in the tination to the city’s residents (and later to visitors) for Lebanese and international visitors who want to city center with a concert for Lebanese singer Fairuz. and to give life to Beirut city center prior to the avail- witness the extent of destruction and observe devel- Held in Martyrs’ Square, the concert attracts over ability of habitable buildings, Solidere decides to use opment efforts. To provide these visitors with a vision 40,000 fans and rates highly on television stations in empty lots for exhibitions and other purposes. An of the master plan, Solidere sets up two information the Arab world, with over 125 million viewers. agreement is signed with the Municipality to use centers. One is located in the Company’s temporary 11,000 sq m in the Martyrs’ Square area for social pro- offices on Riad El Solh Street and houses a 25 sq m grams and cultural activities, including a monthly flea model of the project, directed primarily at rights hold- market (Souk El Barghout) and an exhibition of chil- ers, under a banner reading “Beirut is yours, ask about dren’s drawings from a competition organized by the it.” The second information center is in Martyrs’ Company on the reconstruction of the city center. Square to welcome visitors to the city center and ex- plain the Company’s vision. 94 Development Archeology Landscape

Early in the year, the Council In terms of urban planning, the In preparation for future con- Saifi and Wadi Abou Jamil are Like many other ancient cities, Beirut city center turns into the Landscaping is a key part of the Providing an extensive framework of Ministers ratifies a decree master plan stresses the topog- struction and land sales, parcel- planned as “special residential Beirut is built on the remains of largest urban archeology site in Beirut Central District Master of landscaped public spaces and approving the Beirut Central raphy of Beirut city center, as well lation and massing studies are policy” districts. Consultant Habib earlier settlements. In an effort the world, with Lebanese and Plan, destined to contribute pedestrian areas is foreseen as a District Master Plan prepared as the surviving and heritage undertaken for all new develop- Debs undertakes the detailed to shed light on Beirut’s rich past foreign teams of experts from significantly to creating a quality magnet to attract citizens and by Dar Al Handasah, which has buildings, townscape views, ment areas inside the Traditional sector plan and guidelines for and integrate this past into the many different countries leading environment in the Lebanese visitors to the downtown, mak- developed out of extensive stud- neighborhood fabric, and the City Center. The work entails Saifi, while Francis Tibbalds (UK) city’s reconstruction, Solidere field operations. Contributors to capital. Beirut as a whole has a ing it Beirut’s main meeting ies and public debate involving many layers of historical mem- transforming the master plan into develops a similar urban village works with the Hariri Founda- the project include the Lebanese poor pedestrian environment and point. Quality public spaces are local and foreign specialists. ory forming the city’s heritage. development parcels, building plan and guidelines for Wadi tion and UNDP to help coordi- University, the American Univer- a very limited supply of green, also perceived as having a major Solidere begins to chart out the Furthermore, it ensures an effec- footprints, and three-dimensional Abou Jamil. The aim is to produce nate and finance archeological sity of Beirut, the Institut Français public spaces. positive impact on land sales. implementation of the master tive connection between the massing, with proposals for land- the framework for high-quality surveys and excavations in the d’Archéologie du Proche-Orient, With green public spaces and plan. Traditional City Center and the use mix based on the planning city housing areas where compa- Old City. The Lebanese Direc- the City of Paris, the Museum of pedestrian promenades covering Waterfront District (the reclaimed objectives for each sector. rably scaled infill development torate General of Antiquities London, Amsterdam University, 39 ha of land, the city center, The extent of destruction of Beirut land) and between the whole carefully complements a large appoints site archeologists for Leiden University, and the Lev- representing 10 percent of mu- city center produces a need and project and its surrounding areas. Beirut Souks, named after the number of preserved buildings each excavation. erhulme Foundation. nicipal Beirut, will contain half opportunity for comprehensive The project includes the recon- Ottoman bazaar that once occu- and an attractive pedestrian en- of the capital’s green areas. urban planning based on a care- struction and development of a pied its site, is perceived as the vironment of courts and squares, All archeological excavations Extensive work takes place in fully drawn, detailed, phased, and maximum 4.69 million sq m of focal point of future retail and with special measures to calm are to be carried out under a the area of the Old Souks, in These outdoor escapes play an coordinated plan of action. On floor space, accommodating a commerce. The total destruction traffic. The sector plans also UNESCO protocol specifically Martyrs’ Square, at the St George integral role in the full experi- the one hand, Solidere’s primary broad, sustainable, and flexible of the Old Souks paves the way introduce a detailed set of urban devised for Beirut city center Maronite Cathedral, and behind ence of the city center and are role is to restore the city’s his- land use mix. for their reconstruction. New design and landscaping guide- and approved by the Govern- the former Rivoli building, intertwined with a greater urban toric buildings and preserve its sections include the Ayass, Tawile, lines to ensure architectural ment. The protocol establishes where remains are found of vision. As an essential aspect of townscape features; on the other The city center is conceived of Al Jamil, and other former souks, quality and harmony in scale, a delicate balance between pre- what experts believe to be a urban regeneration, each will hand, it must prepare the land not as a single, homogeneous whose names refer to specialty massing, and facade detail, ma- serving high-value heritage and Canaanite-Phoenician Tell. enhance the beauty and envi- and infrastructure needed to central district but as a cluster of goods, an anchor retailer, or terials, and color. permitting the city to recover ronmental quality of the area attract and enable new property city quarters or sectors. Informed well-known family names in and develop. and forge a special relationship developments of its own or by by natural boundaries and land- business. Following an interna- After its design in the early 1970s with the growing community of third parties. A main goal is to forms, street patterns and visual tional design competition with as the tallest building in Beirut, residents, workers, and visitors. enhance the city’s intrinsic quali- corridors, past neighborhood 357 entries from 42 countries, a construction on the Murr Tower, Following a consultancy tender, ties in order to attract investors, structure, and preserved fabrics, detailed master plan for the Souks a landmark at the western edge the InterScene (France) and visitors, and residents. it comprises ten sectors, each develops, synthesizing the tradi- of Wadi Abou Jamil, came to a Maurice Bonfils consortium be- with its own detailed plan and tional features of the old areas halt with the advent of war. Con- gins work on a landscape master regulations, as well as its own with the requirements of mod- cepts are developed for the plan to include street and av- unique character. The Traditional ern commercial activity. tower’s rehabilitation with Fos- enue tree planting, promenades, City Center includes eight sec- ters & Partners (UK) following a public squares, open spaces, and tors: Conservation Area, Beirut limited design competition. The gardens. Souks, Wadi Abou Jamil, Saifi, structural engineers request de- Hotel District, Serail Corridor, tailed testing of the existing

63 Ghalghoul and Murr Tower, and building’s belowground structure.

— Martyrs’ Square Axis. The Water- ! ! ! ! 62 front District is divided into sec- tors A and D.

94 Ghaleb Mahmassani In 1991, a 16-year war had just ended. What can you tell us about land and property values and evaluate the percentages that would be If archeology remains are uncovered, two possible scenarios follow. If the reality back then? appropriated to the different rights holders. The results of these studies the findings are not deemed of high importance and can be re- on Structuring the Legal determined the current market value of land and properties at the moved, they are either sent to the National Museum or temporarily Framework of Solidere At the end of the Lebanese war , the state of destruction in many time, to be transformed into shares in the private company that would removed and then reinstated within the landscape of the develop- areas of Lebanon, but particularly in Beirut’s city center , needed to be established to reconstruct and develop the city center. The capital of ment. If the remains are considered of high importance, the Govern- Dr. Ghaleb Mahmassani gained his Doctorate in be addressed. There were several problems that needed to be re- the company would consist of the value of land translated into shares ment may place them on the national archeology inventory list. It Law from the University of Lyon, France. He estab- solved, and it was necessary to develop a framework to implement a for the rights holders (contributions in kind) and cash money raised then has to be decided whether to stop development on the plot of lished his law firm in Beirut in 1962 and currently comprehensive solution. In the city center, the problems were mainly through an initial public offering of shares (cash contributions), the lat- land in question. If development is stopped, the Government must holds a number of prominent positions including related to town planning and architecture, to identifying sources to ter part being the cash required for the company to begin operations. repossess this land at current market value. General Legal Counsel of Solidere since 1998, Vice- finance rehabilitation and reconstruction, to clarifying ownership of President and acting President of the Beirut Stock property and land and relationships between owners and tenants, This gave rise to controversies. There were many who questioned Who took the initial decision to reclaim land along the city cen- Exchange, and International Arbitrator and member and to attending to the displaced as well as environmental hazards the legalities of such a valuation and challenged the whole idea, ter’s Mediterranean shoreline, and who is responsible for the en- of the Permanent Arbitration Court in The Hague. and challenges related to culture and heritage. which they perceived as the takeover of the city center by one vironmental viability of the area that has become known as the company. Can you explain? Waterfront District? Why was the reconstruction of the city center of prime importance? There were some people who questioned the idea of one company Under normal circumstances, it would have been up to the Govern- Beirut city center was considered of prime importance in reposition- taking control of the reconstruction and development of the city cen- ment to carry out a general impact study for land reclamation. In the ing Lebanon on the world map. The city center represented the eco- ter. In particular, owners in the city center who had the necessary fi- case of the Beirut city center, the Government gave Solidere full nomic heart of the country and the focus of coexistence and nances to manage the restoration of their own properties were rights over researching, studying, and commandeering such a proj- interaction between the various religious communities of the coun- among the objectors. Others questioned the valuation results. In ect. The issue was not about reclaiming land; it was about turning an try. Lebanon and its people needed to move beyond warfare and its their opinion, properties were undervalued. We questioned this issue environmental hazard into an opportunity. The site in question was inter-communal strife, and the city center was the best place to have ourselves, but our consultants informed us that land and property that of a 16-year-old dump, containing everything from carcasses to that happen. The city center was, before the war, home to at least 17 had to be valued at prevailing market value in their current condi- unexploded bombs. It was a costly venture, and the Company did an places of worship, serving various religious communities. It has dili- tion, as in other cities around the world. Valuation experts could not accomplished job of clearing all the waste, recycling what was usable gently regained that distinction. predict what would happen to land and property in the long term. At and destroying what was not in an orderly manner. Thereafter, it re- the same time, it was normal for rights holders to be skeptical. claimed the land area under the guidance of and in collaboration It was that same year, 1991, that the Lebanese government with the best international expertise available. passed Law 117 to lay the legal framework for the creation of How could Solidere assuage the rights holders’ fears? Solidere. What was the reasoning behind such a law? Eighteen years of reconstruction and development have passed. Once the Company was formed and the shares distributed among Eighteen years from the Company’s 35-year lifespan have passed. If the reconstruction of Beirut city center was to be left up to the right rights holders and cash subscribers , the shares were immediately What happens after the 35 years are over? holders, it would most likely have been disorganized. At the end of placed on the Beirut Stock Exchange, which is not usually the case. the war, the majority of land and property owners and tenants in the Under normal circumstances, shares can only be floated three years Initially, the vision was for a rapid reconstruction and development of city center did not have the finances to rebuild. Furthermore, without after a company is established. In our case, it was to acknowledge our Beirut city center, and 25 years seemed like a good limit to set. As a proper plan and guidance, any reconstruction effort would have responsibilities to our shareholders. They could at any time pull out or work progressed, we asked for a 50-year extension and received ten. been haphazard. Were it not for such a comprehensive solution, the buy into the Company as they followed its daily share activities. Experience has demonstrated that unforeseen circumstances beyond historic core would have remained half rebuilt to this day, and proba- the Company’s control may emerge, and that the project could take bly with fewer retained heritage buildings. What is the meaning of recuperation and how was it imple- longer to be completed. If the need arises in the future, we will ask for Bearing this in mind, the Lebanese authorities adopted mented? Furthermore, there was a general consensus that recuper- a further extension to complete our objective, which is the complete

65 Law 117 to provide the legal framework for the formation of real es- ation was costly to rights holders. How do you explain that? development of the city center into a viable, sustainable area.

— tate companies with the objective of reconstructing damaged areas in However, in legal form, at the end of the Solidere’s life, a liq- ! ! ! ! 64 accordance with a master plan approved by the Government. Recuperation was the act of taking back ownership of a property in the uidator is appointed to sell off the land and properties that the Com- Regarding Beirut city center, this solution satisfied several objectives. city center by an owner, tenant, or other rights holder. It was foreseen pany owns. Once everything has been liquidated, the profits will be Primarily, it would ensure that the area would be developed in an that some owners or tenants could recuperate properties if they had the distributed among shareholders based on their percentage ownership. orderly fashion. It would also ensure that the city center would regain necessary funds to rehabilitate them. However, they had to take into its past role as a lively melting pot with mixed land uses, that the account the other beneficiaries, according to the rental law still enacted state would not have to contribute to the financing of reconstruction, at the time. So the owner, tenant, or associate who wanted to recuper- and that issues pertaining to the rights of landowners and other right ate a property had to offer the other benificiaries the right to come back holders would be addressed. against a participation in the recuperation costs, which amount to the In retrospect, the framework for the reconstruction of value of the property as evaluated by the judicial committees plus a 10 Beirut city center has introduced and familiarized the people of percent premium. Additionally, recuperation was conditional upon Lebanon with serious and extensive urban planning and has given restoration based on Solidere’s guidelines, which were put in place to birth to an effective system of construction and rehabilitation. ensure a harmoniously preserved and regenerated city center.

You mentioned landowners and rights holders. What is the differ- The issue of archeology is one that keeps recurring. Layers of civi- ence between the two, and how do they relate to one another? lizations continue to be uncovered in the city center. Though im- What is the relationship between both groups and the Company? portant, it is also hindering the development process. What are Who are the rights holders in the city center? the related legalities and responsibilities?

Rights holders are primarily the land or property owners. However, The archeological issue is complex. The law that prevails today per- under the old Lebanese rental law, tenants are also rights holders, taining to archeological findings in Lebanon dates back to 1933. In and they have the right to a certain percentage of a property that that regard, the Beirut Central District Master Plan development they occupy. In the wake of the war, questions of inheritance also guidelines stipulate that every developer must inform the Directorate emerged as, in some cases, there were also the owners’ heirs and General of Antiquities and Ministry of Culture before beginning exca- other beneficiaries. It was not an easy process to evaluate and divide vations on a plot of land. Both authorities send an emissary to over- these rights. The idea was to place all rights holders — owners, ten- see excavations and then give clearance for construction, usually ants, and other public rights — into one large company. Judicial com- within a six-month period. mittees of reputable international experts were appointed to estimate Corporate

Beirut city center bears the brunt The metropolitan plan for Greater The Lebanese Government of destruction from the Lebanese Beirut, completed in 1986 during passes Law 117, providing the war, with the entire infrastruc- the war, recognized the vital im- legal framework to create real ture and two-thirds of the urban portance of restoring and rede- estate companies with the main fabric assessed in postwar sur- veloping the city center, both objective of reconstructing areas veys as being beyond salvage. to symbolize postwar national damaged during the hostilities. In addition, the Normandy dump renewal and to help recover Reconstruction can only take site occupies a vast area of the Beirut’s lost regional preemi- place in accordance with a mas- city center shoreline and creates nence. It is clear that this cannot ter plan, which must receive pre- a major environmental hazard to be achieved through small-scale, vious approval from the Beirut as a whole. Displaced per- piecemeal redevelopment. What Government. The Government sons illegally populate unsafe Beirut needs is a grand vision. commissions Dar Al Handasah structures. (Shair and Partners) to prepare a Mindful of these factors and master plan for the Beirut Cen- Fifteen years of war have left an stepping up to the challenge, tral District. institutional vacuum; no public the country’s first postwar Gov- sector agency is capable of taking ernment under Prime Minister on such complex, large-scale Rafic Hariri is determined to urban restructuring. The Gov- turn Beirut’s downtown disaster ernment’s resources are already into a rising phoenix through a stretched to their limit in an unique form of public–private ambitious, nationwide postwar partnership. Lebanon’s modern recovery program of physical economy has always been heav- and social infrastructure and ily service oriented and private institutional investment. sector driven. Beirut’s postwar urban recovery is therefore best directed through neither con- ventional public sector invest- ment and management nor a reliance on funding from aid agencies, but rather through concerted and rapid private sector investment in a carefully constructed institutional frame- work, regulated by government decree. 67 — ! ! ! ! 66

Beirut City Center Photographic Mission Six record visual traces of the city center after the end of photographers – Gabriele Basilico (Italy), Raymond the war and before reconstruction efforts. The collec- Depardon (France), Fouad El Khoury (Lebanon), tive project is financed by the Hariri Foundation and René Burri (Switzerland), Josef Koudelka (Czech Re- a book Beyrouth centre-ville is published with Edition public), and Robert Frank (Switzerland) – are invited du Cyprès (1992). to Beirut for a special photographic mission to 91