On the fateful day of 4 August 2020, a great explosion in the Port of Beirut sent an awakening throughout the city - amplifying issues such as economical and financial security, food and medical sufficiency, religious harmony, aftermath of the tragedy as well as ineffective human administration.

Rather than being a catastrophe, the Beirut explosion has become an awakening to the many underlying issues faced by its port and citizens. In the midst of such calamity, the traditional port system and mechanism is insufficient to provide solutions to the urban population.

To inject a new program into the port’s ecosystem, the old is reconstructed to incorporate the contemporary. Digitization and technology are integrated via an automated port safety surveillance system and cryptocurrency mining and research institutes to replace human administration and cash. The integration of bartering systems and housing in the form of co-living shelters bridges the gap of interracial conflict and food supply shortage by enabling citizens to manufacture a diverse set of produce for local consumption and international exchange. Memorials are erected with the silos as a pavilion to display sculpture and art pieces constructed from the explosion remains.

Finally, the future vision for the port culminates into a coexistence and cohabitation of the utopian and dystopian realms in symbiotic balance. There is a strong connection and relationship between the exterior facing port and the inner city, as well as Beirut as a city and the outside world. The port does not lose its connection to its roots of heritage and the tragic explosion that happened in the past, but continues to move forward with the technology of the future. It is a reimagined portal that traverses through time, history, currency and methodology.

The Beirut Security Network redefines the mission of providing security to the Port of Beirut through 4 components of Shelter and Survival, Surveillance, Sanctuary and Shield. Its key objectives are to erase the negative misconception and labeling tied to the great explosion while creating a major rebranding and reconstruction of the security architecture in Beirut.

The 4 components of security are then translated into operative programs that work towards the pursuit of provision of survival and basic needs, protection from crisis and catastrophe, preservation of heritage and tragedy remains, and prevention of financial crimes.

Firstly, the components of Shelter and Survival unite citizens from opposing religious groups in a time of crisis through the provision of multi-functional living and working spaces for homeless citizens. The mission was to build economic independence and ensure a steady supply of food through a unique exchange system, while still allowing the reception of external help through international volunteers to step in for medical help

The Surveillance component functions to establish the Port of Beirut as a global platform and role model for port security.It manifests the safety perimeters and regulations for the entry and storage of cargo to avert unforeseen circumstances like the explosion by the smart detection of abnormal conditions in the cargo and warehouse. Ultimately, it aims to earn the trust and assurance of local citizens and foreign investors to continue the programs and activities laid out for Beirut’s future.

The Sanctuary component provides a constant reminder of the significance of security through the curation of an iconic memorial to allow the lost lives and demolished artifacts to rest in peace. Artworks and sculptures created from the belongings of victims and destroyed buildings will be rotated around the memorial to provide remembrance of the tragedy. A unique program for heritage mapping and networking will also revive the tourism industry and rebuild the broken pieces of the land.

Lastly, the Shield Component ensured the safety and confidentiality of international and interportal transactions by keeping individual and organizational cryptocurrency accounts and private keys secure. The system encouraged the continued use of crypto without the disruption of thefts and other mishaps, and aims to establish the Port of Beirut as one of the first international ports to fully implement safeguarded and clean energy powered cryptocurrency.

With the proposal of this masterplan, it is hoped that the citizens of Beirut have faith for the peace, security and stability of their port city with the implementation of ensured food supply, enforced surveillance, enhanced art culture and safeguarded finances.

The masterplan is strategized with a cross between domestication and mechanization in architecture in which habitable spaces will be designed to form a human-habitable machine, much likened to the architectural theory of mechanical design and technological advancement to inspire creativity.