MED-PACT EL_BLKA. ARCHIMEDES - Beirut Pilot Project Study (Presentation) زقاق البالط

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1 MED-PACT ZO K EL_BLKA AT ARCHIMEDES - Beirut Pilot Project Study (Presentation) زقاق البالط

2 Beirut Pilot Project Study Presentation Beirut Municipality European Union

3 MedPact Program Partners The project involves three European Union (EU) cities: Venice - project leader, (Italy) Bordeaux, (France) Genoa, (Italy) And four MEDA* cities: Istanbul - project co-leader, (Turkey) Beirut, (Lebanon) El Mina, (Lebanon) Oran, (Algeria) MED-PACT Local Authorities Partnership Program in the Mediterranean is an inter-city co-operation program which was decided by the European Commission (EC) in 2005 in the framework of the MEDA program**. It relates to the third strand of the Barcelona Partnership, which is aimed to encourage dialogue and co-operation between civil societies from both sides of the Mediterranean, with a view to improving mutual understanding and promoting cultural and social rapprochement. The main objectives of MedPact program are to: Establish lasting partnerships between EU (European Union) and Mediterranean cities and their civil societies. Contribute to promoting more balanced and more sustainable local development patterns in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. * The partner states of the EU in the Mediterranean (MEDA countries) are: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Israel, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey. ** The MEDA (Mediterranean Economic Development Area) program was the principal financial instrument of the European Union (EU) for the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. General context of Archimedes project The MED-PACT Program - Archimedes project consists in Actions to Regenerate Cities and Help Innovative Mediterranean Economic Development Enhancing Sustainability. It aims to define institutional settings, instruments, and tools based on the best practices of EU cities partners in order to: Promote public-private partnerships, Mobilize civil society, Plan urban regeneration, Promote sustainable tourism and Valorize under-utilized cultural heritage in the MEDA cities partners. MEDA cities involved in the project are challenged to regenerate some important districts of the cities, mainly in the historical centre, and need intervention for the rehabilitation of the historical buildings, economic animation, and the exploitation of a potential exploitation. For each MEDA city, an area was chosen to experiment the development of an urban regeneration Pilot Project that will include a feasibility study along with implementation and financial plan. It started on January1st 2007, and will last until December 31st

4 General Context of Beirut Project The overall objectives set by the local working group are the following: Enhance the quality of life in a selected area. Create the conditions to increase local economic development. To this end, specific measures are to be taken: Improve the conservation and management of the selected area s built cultural heritage. Enhance the infrastructure, network and urban design. The expected results are: The creation of cultural path and definition of a detailed Master plan. The organization of events within the scope of Beirut as World Capital Book in The BCD belt was first identified as the large-scale area study. Then, a particular district located within the BCD belt, Zokak el Blat, was selected to experiment a Pilot Project study. The methodological framework used for the Pilot Project study might be duplicated to the other districts of the BCD belt in long-term projects. Local Partners of Beirut Municipality: CGLU/ BTVL (Bureau de Cités et Gouvernements Locaux Unis/ Bureau Technique des Villes Libanaises) as assistant coordinator, MAJAL (Academic Observatory for Construction and Reconstruction in Lebanon/ ALBA University) as technical assistant. Beirut Areas study The whole BCD belt The whole BCD (Beirut Central District) belt was chosen as a large scale area study due to its high architectural, historical and cultural heritage, threatened by real estate pressure. Located in immediate periphery of the Central Business District, from Gemmayzé at east, to Ain el-mraisseh at west, the area presents several challenges, which led to attempt to put in place a complex and diversified approach in order to give the project a real chance of success. The BCD belt was not seriously damaged by the war, and did not go through a heavy reconstruction process. As a consequence, the old urban fabric with its old architecture and topology that goes back to the Ottoman and French mandate periods was maintained. In fact, it still reflects the image of Beirut as it was before the beginning of the war in There is a large mixture of small scale manufacturing, specialized souks, Map 1: Area Study: the BCD belt (in yellow) Source: Majal cultural and religious spaces. However, real estate highly speculative market is threatening the scattered remains of the patrimonial architecture. On the other hand, the internal social and communitarian divisions that existed during the civil war have generated spaces and secluded places that need to reconnect and interact in a better synergy. 3 4

5 Zokak el-blat district was selected as Pilot Area because it meets best the following criteria: the BCD belt and high level of connectivity with BCD itself. Communitarian and social diversity. An expert comprehensive study on the whole area was carried out aiming at identifying key elements of each district included in the BCD belt. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of the whole zone was also made. The whole BCD belt being too stretched, a specific area had to be selected according to particular criteria, to develop first Pilot Project study. These actions must encourage an urban regeneration in a selected area, serving as model to be later reproduced in each district of the BCD belt. Map 2: Zokak el-blat District, Pilot Project Area Map 3: Location of Zokak el-blat within BCD belt Source: MAJAL Specific Area: Zokak el-blat Educational and cultural area that particularly witnessed development of foreign missionaries. Lots of its properties are owned by schools or waqf that partially saved the area from land pressure and urban landscape degradation. Many of its residential noteworthy French-Mandate and independence-era buildings, reminds a typical Beiruti domestic architectural style, with verandas, corbels and elegantly designed balconies. It holds lots of damaged or demolished palaces and magnificent mansions which were owned by famous Lebanese notables and intellectuals as well as diplomatic representations or wealthy foreigners. Central location with possibility of an urban path with other areas of Despite its high historical and architectural value, Zokak el-blat is suffering from public authorities and civil society marginalization. Moreover, most of its patrimonial buildings are threatened by negligence or real estate developers projects. As part of the Pilot Project study, a mid-term Road Map enclosing a recommendation plan for an urban regeneration was elaborated. This Road Map will serve as a methodological framework that might be later duplicated for other pericentral districts. The study also includes a short-term Backbone Action, which consists in organizing an event along identifies thematic paths in one of the main street of Zokak el Blat, Rue Amin Beyhum. 5 6

6 Pilot Project Study Renovation The Pilot Project study consists of 2 successive steps: A mid-term recommendation plan: Road Map A short-term action plan: Backbone Action Road Map To regenerate the Pilot Area of Zokak el-blat the Road Map sets up: An Urban intervention An Event organization Urban Intervention The urban intervention must be implemented On buildings, especially the endangered heritage On infrastructure and public spaces. - Buildings Intervention on buildings in Zokak el-blat consists of 3 actions: preservation; renovation; expropriation. Preservation Conservation studies carried out during the 1990s have not been successful as mechanisms in guiding an effective heritage building protection. The Road Map recommends a new methodology through innovative approach to achieve an efficient heritage conservation, such as: Draw up an updated inventory and safeguarding of all buildings to be classified. Adopt new urban planning regulations. Compensate (financially or in kind) owners of classified houses. To contribute in rasing on heritage awareness and to promote historic buildings preservation, a facades renovation plan must be implemented on a group of relevant buildings to create a pleasing general visual impact. These buildings would not be renovated randomly, but according to strict terms of reference, taking into consideration specific features of each building (age of building, architectural patterns and style ) A street was identified as place for the facades renovation plan: the northern section of Rue Amin Beyhum/ northern section because of its harmonious and homogeneous architectural style. About 10 buildings could be concerned. Pictures of Rue Amin Beyhum: Source: MAJAL Expropriation Some buildings, though having both a high architectural and symbolic value, are in a very bad condition in Zokak el-blat district. These buildings would require a heavy intervention such expropriations, to make them key cultural sites of the district. 7 8

7 * * - Rehabilitation of Infrastructure and Public Spaces Rue Amin Beyhum, the main arterial street of Zokak el-blat (Paved Alleyway in Arabic), was the first road to be paved in the 19th century outside the historic core. However, the quarter contrasts drastically with the one of the adjacent BCD. Indeed the public infrastructure is obsolete, degraded and unsuitable for pedestrians. The Road Map suggests guidelines that consist of: Renovating infrastructure. Widening sidewalks. Creating green spaces. Putting in place urban furniture. Event Organization Beirut was nominated as the World Capital Book by UNESCO, in recognition of the quality of its academic programs in promoting reading activities. Following this nomination, the Municipality of Beirut and the Lebanese Ministry of Culture will organize jointly several cultural events from April 23, 2009 to April 22, As Zokak el-blat is characterized by the schools and cultural centers, as well as by the places where writers used to live or meet, the quarter could be a key site for the organization of such an event. Famous Lebanese poets, writers or journalists played a pioneer role in the cultural and educational growth of the area in Zokak el-blat during the 19th century: Nasif and Ibrahim al-yazigi ( ) Boutros Boustany ( ) Hussein Beyhum ( ) Khalil Sarkis ( ) Shaykh Ahmad Abbas al-azhari ( ) Shaykh Abd el-kader Kabbani ( ) ARCHIMEDES PILOT PROJECT 2008 ROAD MAP 9 10

8 ARCHIMEDES PILOT PROJECT 2008 ROAD MAP Backbone Action: Thematic paths in Zokak el-blat Backbone action The Backbone Action aims at giving the opportunity to the public, as well as Archimedes partners, to (re)discover Zokak el-blat area through thematic paths highlighting historical, cultural and architectural value. The Backbone Action activities consist of: Identifying cultural and historical paths. Installing explanatory panels in front of identified buildings panels and brochures. Hiring and training tourist guides to lead visitors throughout the district. Cultural Historical Paths Three thematic paths were identified throughout the two main arterial road of the area: Rue Amin Beyhum/ Patriarcat Street Rue Abdel-Kader. The following thematic paths aim to retrace the valuable history of the quarter through its past and present facts, key-people and family anecdotes, urban morphology evolution and an initiation to the traditional Lebanese architecture: Schools, cultural and worship edifices; Domestic architecture history since the 1920s; Historical landmarks. Information below mainly comes from extensive studies done by the Orient-Institut *. Path I- Schools, Cultural and Worship Edifices Zokak el-blat is distinguished by the strong concentration of schools, mostly of missionary schools. The oldest ones date back to the second half of the 19th century. In addition to their juridical status and non lucrative vocation, these schools have blocked urban densification that has been witnessed by most Beirut neighborhoods at the time. As a result, Zokak el-blat area is one of the few pericentral sectors of Beirut that kept an urban morphology and landscapes similar to its original form in the beginning of the 20th century, characterized by courtyards, gardens, old trees, and patrimonial houses not exceeding three floors. * Orient Institut, History, Space and Social Conflict in Beirut, The Districtof Zokak el-blat, Orient-Institut Beirut, Path I The first path includes: 1. Zokak el-blat Mosque. 2. Orient Institut. 3. City International School. 4. School of Soeurs de Saint-Joseph de l Apparition. 5. Dar al-aytam. 6. Lycée Abdel-Kader. 7. Hariri High School. 8. Eglise Notre-Dame de l Association. 9. Patriarchate School. 10. Librairie du Liban Publishers

9 Path II Path III 13 14

10 Beirut Municipality P.O.Box : 14/5108 Postal Code Beirut - Lebanon Tel: Fax : beirutmc@cyberia.net.lb The way forward The cooperation established among local authorities in the framework of the ARCHIMEDES project has been so fruitful that partners have often expressed their interest in further developing it. Future possibilities of cooperation could be possible within the upcoming opportunities during the period of and, in particular, within the CIUDAD Program to be launched by the European Commission within its Neighbourhood Policy Instrument (ENPI). Coordination assistance : Bureau de Cités et Gouvernements Locaux Unis/Bureau Technique des Villes Libanaises Postal Code Antelias - Lebanon Tel : Fax : info@bt-villes.org Website : This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The content of this document are the sole responsibility of Beirut Municipality and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. Technical assistance: ALBA University/ MAJAL Observatory P.O.Box: Sin el-fil, Beirut-Lebanon Tel: Fax: majal@alba.edu 15 16

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