RETHINKING ZGHARTA STRATEGIES FOR AN INTEGRATED FUTURE WORKSHOP BRIEF. with the support of:

Transcription

1 RETHINKING ZGHARTA STRATEGIES FOR AN INTEGRATED FUTURE WORKSHOP BRIEF with the support of:

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I OBJECTIVE II BRIEF III PARTICIPANTS IV LOGISTICS V ADDENDUM : RETHINKING ZGHARTA- STRATEGIC VISION

3 I OBJECTIVE Rethinking Zgharta is a 3 day public workshop dedicated to discuss and develop integrated urban strategies for the city of Zgharta. This comes at a point in time where the city of Zgharta is facing numerous challenges, notably the pressure on its infrastructure and natural resources, unplanned urban growth, the dire need to reinvent itself as a livable and diverse city, to overcome its geographical confinement and ultimately, to fulfill its vocation to become the center of the Zgharta Caza. The workshop comes after several simultaneous initiatives to envision and plan Zgharta s future growth led by platau platform for architecture and urbanism and ZGHARTA FORWARD NGO, with the support of Zgharta s municipality. After numerous meetings and an elaborate urban analysis, such efforts culminated in an initial vision. Following up on this first milestone, Rethinking Zgharta is organized with four purposes in mind: 1- To provide a collective platform that engages civil society, professionals and academics to contribute to the debate. 2- To develop public awareness about challenges and best practices for an integrated future 3- To develop with participants a mix of tools and tactics to reach the desired goals. 4- To create a network of future alliances with public and private partners needed to develop and implement such vision. Rethinking Zgharta is designed with a wide audience in mind, ranging from public and private sector institutions, academics, professionals and students. The workshop, like the vision it promotes, is interdisciplinary by nature, calling for the engagement of architects landscape architects engineers planners economists geographers agricultural engineers food scientists marketing and business entrepreneurs social scientists artists and activists. The workshop will host: public talks by platau and a mix of experts, public round tables with municipal officials, and five working sessions that require preliminary registration. Participants will be split into groups by themes, with one or several technical experts assigned to facilitate each group. Participants will work together in groups to analyze the existing site conditions and propose ideas for future improvements and redevelopments that follow the vision s agenda. The workshop will end by a public exhibition and a small publication. Such workshop will be the first of many targeted workshops that will accompany the creation and concretization of a collective vision for Zgharta.

4 II BRIEF Situated at the confluence of two rivers, Rachine and Jouiit, the town of Zgharta evolved since the 16 th century as an agrarian town surrounded by olive and orange groves. Initially starting by the rivers, Zgharta s urban development focused later on the crest of the rivers hills, branching out from a main street that extends out to Ehden and Koura district from one side and Tripoli from another side. Trapped in its linearity, the contemporary town has distanced itself from its rivers; in a fragmented physical structure and a poor accessibility between its different neighborhoods. With a lack of direct connection to the Coast, Zgharta and its Caza have always felt confined behind Tripoli, the second biggest city in Lebanon. In such a context, Zgharta s social and physical structure became isolated by topography and social boundaries. Rather than reinforcing its shorter connection to the coast through Tripoli, its main access points and growth are currently in the south, escaping a demographic and urban sprawl coming from Tripoli and Donniyeh road. In the shadow of its sister town, Ehden, Zgharta serves merely as a winter center for its citizens and the towns around it. Neither a village nor a city, the raison d'être for such an agglomeration always seems to be in question. Yet with the diversity and richness of the agricultural fields and forests ranging from an altitude of 100 to 3000m, as well as the different river sceneries, from the coastal river of Rachiine to the deep valleys of Jouit and Qadisha, the Caza offers a spectacular natural and historical background; and assets that Zgharta can build upon to promote itself as its center. The workshop will brainstorm integrated directions for Zgharta s future, addressing the multiple environmental, social, and economic challenges facing the city, such as: Unplanned urban sprawl Threats to the environment: water, air pollution, sewage, and garbage, Limited infrastructure (irrigation, water treatment, waste treatment, electricity) Complex governance system, born of a central government and dependent municipal authorities, but also of the municipality s duplicated responsibilities in managing two independent towns: Zgharta and Ehden. How can Zgharta overcome its defensive history to become an open city on multiple levels: open up spatially in terms of internal and regional connections, open its economy to the caza, diversify socioeconomically to become the real center of its Caza? How can we reinvent the role of the town to become an attractive and thriving city where people want to live and not merely spend winter season until they move back to their summer towns in the mountain? How can it make sense as an economically viable node that would encourage its youth to invest in it? How can we imagine an alternative future that integrates the town s natural and built environments? The workshop will therefore consider Zgharta as: An accessible regional node that connects its inner parts in a pedestrian centered mobility A town that reinvents itself as a regional hub for agro-industries. A town that promotes its productive cultural heritage and landscape. A center that provides diversity, inclusivity and opportunity for growth for its residents An agglomeration equipped with resource efficient infrastructures A citizen-centric town and governance which connects people to nature

5 Structure The selection of 40 participants is conducted by the team organizing the workshop, on the basis on the candidates professional capabilities, their experience on similar topics, their approach to the subject of the workshop, their communication skills (both in terms of language and in terms of their skill at using graphics) and their interest. Participants will be split into groups of 8 working by themes, with one or several technical experts assigned to facilitate each group. Participants will work together in groups to analyze the existing site conditions and proposed ideas for future improvements and redevelopments that follow the agenda. 1-Connectivity Keywords: Movement and Access- Built form and urban expansion - Urban infrastructure and mobility 2-Cultural Identity Keywords: urban heritage- cultural landscape- cultural assets and traditionslocal identity 3-Diversity Keywords: Diverse economy, Social inclusion, Functionality and Activity, land use, special projects 4-Ressource Efficiency Keywords: energy efficient networks, river rehabilitation, green space reservation, environmental farming, green infrastructure, biodiversity habitats 5-Livability Keywords: Landscape, Environment, Public Space, citizen-centric public culture Deadline for Registration: May 30 th, 2016 To register, interested students and professionals should send an to rethinkingzgharta@gmail.com, with one single PDF document (file name: SURNAME_first name) containing the following elements: Resume (1 page)- Work Sample (5 pages)- Statement of interest (100 words)- that explains the nature of interest in participating in the workshop, relevant skills and experiences. Selected participants will be notified one week later.

6 Program Thursday 23 June am: registration of participants am: Rethinking Zgharta - Thematic Launch and Working sessions pm: lunch break pm: public program opening speech- Zgharta Forward pm: Lecture: Rethinking Zgharta - Events.Trends.Goals pm: Panel 1: Tools and Tactics from local precedents Speakers: Rached Sarkis- Constructed Wetlands (Ramhala Municipality), George Yaghi- Hydroponic Farming ( Bkeftine), Ayoub Barq- Public Space and Green Space Reservation (Byblos Municipality), TBD- Independent Municipal Power Supply (Zahle Municipality) Respondent: TBD Friday 24 June 9.00 am: Field Trip am: Working sessions 2.00 pm: Lunch Break pm: Lecture: Old Structures, New Uses: Revitalization as Preservation - Jean Yasmine pm: Panel 2: Funding Urban Growth - Public Private Partnerships Nadine Roumieh - Baladi Program (Rene Moawad Foundation) Wassim Shahin Economist, Kafalat Program (Kafalat, LAU) Paul Douaihy-Economist-(Balamand) Respondent: TBD Saturday 25 June am: Field Trip am: Working sessions pm: Lunch Break pm: Public Presentation and Exhibition

7 III PARTICIPANTS AND ORGANIZERS Organizers: platau platform for architecture and urbanism Zgharta Forward NGO Participants: Invited speakers: Panel 1 Tools and Tactics from local precedents Rached Sarkis- Constructed Wetlands (Ramhala Municipality) George Yaghi- Hydroponic Farming ( Bkeftine) Ayoub Barq- Public Space and Green Space Reservation (Byblos Municipality) TBD- Independent Municipal Power Supply (Zahle Municipality) Panel 2 Funding Urban Growth Nadine Roumieh - Baladi Program (Rene Moawad Foundation) Wassim Shahin Economist, Professor at LAU School of Business- Byblos, Kafalat Program (Kafalat, LAU) Paul Douaihy-Economist-(University of Balamand) Invited Local universities (call for applications): Invited Professionals Bodies: Facilitators: University of Balamand- Architecture, Engineering, Economy Lebanese University- Restoration, Urbanism, Landscape, Architecture Lebanese American University- School of Architecture American University of Beirut- Agricultural and Food Sciences, Urban Planning Order of Architects and Engineers Tripoli Jean Yasmine- Architect, Associate Professor at the Center for Restoration and Preservation, Lebanese University Marwan Zouein- Architect, Assistant professor at Lebanese American University Nayla Al Akl- Landscape Architect, Assistant professor at American University of Beirut Boulos Doueihy Architect, founder at platau Sandra Frem- Architect, founder at platau Invited experts in working sessions: Mousbah Rajab- Head of Urbanism Program at Lebanese University- Tripoli Marc Beyrouti- Head of Agriculture Department at USEK University- Kaslik Rached Sarkis- Civil and Environmental Engineer Wassim Shahin Economist, Professor at LAU School of Business- Byblos, Kafalat Program (Kafalat, LAU)

8 IV LOGISTICS Date: Thursday 23 rd, Friday 24 th, and Saturday 25 th June Time: 9.00 am pm Location: Antonine Univeristy, Zgharta. Transportation: a dedicated bus will provide commuting to Friday and Saturday s field trips and commuting between hotels and university. Lodging: arrangements to be made with Beit el Nassim Tripoli and Residences du Lac Bnachii for special discounts Catering: lunch, refreshments and snacks to be provided on place by a local caterer Material for each participant: 1. A notebook and drawing pens for note taking during site visits. 2. Print package with workshop information, including the schedule, group participant lists, and presentations, including a series of maps to work with. 3. Lunch coupons 4. For Each Group: Large format map, along with blank tracing paper for each working group, so participants could layer existing information and draw ideas enabling a combination of verbal and visual information for communicating and working together dynamically.

9 V ADDENDUM: RETHINKING ZGHARTA- STRATEGICS VISION 1-Connectivity Keywords: Movement and Access- Built form and urban expansion - Urban infrastructure and mobility Goal 1: Emphasize Pedestrian Mobility in the redesign of road intersections. Goal 2: Connect Neighborhoods with optimized road structure Goal 3: Improve city-scale Accessibility with peripherical loops and parking network. Goal 4: Create regional connections to other cities in the Caza and to the sea Goal 5: Introduce public transportation with an immediate implementation on Main Street. Goal 6: Regulate Zgharta s future residential and commercial expansion as a network of connected mixed use villages Goal 7: Create City Database and make it available to all on the municipality s website. 2-Cultural Identity Keywords: local identity- urban heritage- cultural landscape- cultural assets and traditions Goal 1: Reinvent Zgharta s cultural idendity as an agro-industry center for the Caza and the North Goal 2: Cultural Landscape- Protect and develop the rivers, mills and scenic peripheral routes as a cultural landscape central to Zgharta s identity Goal 3: Heritage- Rejuvenate Zgharta Old Town to become a productive agricultural and culinary souk and to receive all year long festivals linked to agro-tourism (Arak festival, olive festival, christmas festival, orange blossom festival, spring festival, culinary festival) Goal 4: Cultural Life- Create a cultural center, support public library. Plan and promote cultural festivals. Partner with schools and universities to make public events that raise the bar. Create annual scholarships and grants. 3-Diversity Keywords: Diverse economy, Social inclusion, Functionality and Activity, land use, Regional development Goal 1: Identify and integrate the economical assets of the regional hinterland of Zgharta to foster partnerships and reposit it as the center of the Caza Goal 2: Agro-industry as an economic catalyst: Establish financial incentives to encourage agro-industries entreprises,

10 Develop Trade policy and Business linkages with producer chains and international organizations Create a knowledge center focused on Research, development, Standards and regulations and capacity building (training and monitoring). Create essential Infrastructure (Buildings, Networks and Organizations) needed for such sector Goal 3: Partner and collaborate with the Union of Municipalities to identify potential shared or collaborative development projects Goal 4: Agro tourism as an economic catalyst: Develop regional tourism trails Create essential Infrastructure (Buildings, Networks, Organizations, trainings) needed for such sector Goal 5: Develop woman and minorities work schemes with local NGOs Goal 6: Develop diverse support and empowerment programs for specific social groups (afterschool programs, elderly social clubs, women support center, lifelong learning, evening school, technical training ) 4-Ressource Efficiency Keywords: Environment, sustainability, energy efficient infrastructure Goal 1: Integrated water management plan Goal 2: Wastewater treatment and reuse Goal 3: Solid waste treatment and reuse Goal 4: City operated Electricity and generator supply Goal 5: Network of urban green and solar lighting to enhance road infrastructure Goal 6: Encourage small and medium scale green entrepreneurship Goal 7: Environmental farming Goal 8: Public Awareness Programs Goal 9: Rivers Rehabilitation Goal 10: Green Space Reservation

11 5-Livability Keywords: Landscape, Environment, Public Space, citizen-centric public culture Goal 1: Increase Urban Nature- Create a network of new parks and natural places of recreation linked to the river, redesign green and pedestrian friendly streetscape to connect them Goal 2: Increase Urban Nature- Add a green belt around Zgharta to act as a boundary and recreational space for residents: "lotissement" project Goal 3: Link people to nature- Improve the use and the culture of public spaces through events, Wi-Fi, landscape and playgrounds. Goal 4: Link people to nature- Develop a program of public events that promote wellbeing and nature (mini-marathon, outdoor sports sessions, open air theater/cinema, zgharta inter-schools sports competition, ect...) Goal 5: Simplify basic public services through a municipal website and application (paying municipal, water, electricity fees through OMT, online or mobile payment) Goal 6: Use ICT technology (sms, s) for important deadline reminders and promotion of public events. Make free wifi available in public spaces and public buildings. Goal 7: Public Awareness campaign that promote public spaces