ECO-SCAPES: From Dreams as Spatial Experiences to Ecological, Social & Economic Alternatives

American University of Beirut, Faculty of Architecture, Beirut

Project idea

Long been a subject of artistic inquiry, dreams are often defined as successions of ideas, emotions, images, and sensations that occur in the mind. Research shows that dreaming serves its own important functions in our well-being, often associated to therapy. It conveys a spectrum of emotions, past experiences, recent events, defensive operations, perceptions of self and others, conflicts, problems, and attempts at their resolution. And by doing so, dreams represent a certain adventure in a world where our internalized thoughts, feelings, unfulfilled needs and wants come to life as many theories state and support (Jung, 1974). This project thus investigates dreams as an entry point to design explorative, therapeutic and experiential spaces/landscapes which stand as ecological, social and economic alternatives to an environment defined by destruction, deterioration and deprivation that is Beirut. In fact, the capital city has been facing continuous challenges, being ecological, social, and economic, favored by the unhealthy spaces and unethical political systems. Most of the citizens, mentally and physically affected, find themselves deprived of most of their basic needs, thus naturally seeking a spatial alternative in response to this destructive environment.

Project description

Programs:

Responding to the issues faced in the city such as the excessive air pollution, lack of food supply, housing options, and common spaces..., the project integrates specific programs based on the three highlighted levels. Essentially, the urban farming and mixed-income housing program stand at its core, supported by others that remain beneficial to the community. Among several of the latter, we note the Miyawaki forests as an integral part of the landscape.

Users:

Designed next to one of the few public spaces in Beirut, known as the corniche, the intervention invites and welcomes the community and visitors to be involved and contribute to the featured programs.
Regarding the users of the mixed-income housing, the envisioned scenario would be that the educational facilities featured in the site of intervention would join hands to house a few of their struggling workers. This will be beneficial for both parties as the workers will remain close to their working locations to fulfill their duties and to keep the system viable, some apartments would be rented for the urban farming workers or any other individuals/families. Student housing would also be integrated into the process.

A circular economy system would then be put in place where most of what is produced as waste could be somehow reused.

Technical information

General Specificities:

The project integrates the site's existing landscape into its design where only the buildable areas are used. It reactivates its excavated pit through social activities and Miyawaki Forests plantations.
The mixed-income housing and urban farming volumes share a seemingly vertical reading though the terracotta cladding of the housing volume which appears more solid and the vertical shading structure of the glazed farming. A main core, placed almost at the center of the plan, extends vertically in both volumes, surrounded by experiential stairs that spiral around it.
The configuration of both buildings break the typical reading of buildings' facades, favoring double-height spaces and outdoor areas which could be used to integrate greenery.

Technical Specificities:

Site's Total Area=8000 SQM
Maximum Footprint Exploitation=40 %
Allowable Footprint=3200 SQM
Allowable Total Area=20 000 SQM
Setbacks=2.5 m from all neighboring lots; 4 m from corniche & 3 m from other roads

Total Used Area=13 000 SQM < 20 000 SQM
Apartments/Studios varying between 40 to 170 SQM

Materials Used=Fair-faced concrete, glass & terracotta cladding for the housing volume

Structural Compositions:

Grid of beams and columns+Structural ring around main cores