THESIS FINDINGS AND PROPOSAL
Project Name: The Occupation - A Hub of Opportunities
Location: Al-Achrafieh, Lebanon
Function: Producing, Trading, Living
Plot: 28,000 sqm
Theme:
The theme of this thesis revolves around unemployment and crises in a struggling country like Lebanon. Lebanon suffers from gradual and systematic unemployment, often caused by sectarianism, social challenges such as inequality, underdevelopment, and jobs scarcity in recent years formation. There is a limited share of women in the economy, a strong informal market, a wide shortage of expertise, a large number of migrant employees and many qualified Lebanese citizens who search and pursue jobs abroad. These people from different age groups are deprived of the basic needs that should be part of their everyday lives.
The purpose of this project is to serve as an interim that fills the state of being unemployed until these people are secured enough to lead a more stable life. Moreover, this has a parallel effect in which it goes hand in hand with benefiting the government and the country’s GDP and economy. This is eventually achieved through the process of enhancing the exports and imports activities.
Project Design:
The main concept behind the project is to create an interconnection between the three main sectors of exports which are cultivating, crafting, and trading. The project starts with dividing the plot into three zones by having the stepped and inclined cultivation near the existing agricultural area, the fragmented blocks of production near the crafting area and the distribution of the trading masses along the pathway near the commercial area. This creates harmony with the surroundings and pushes people to integrate with the nearby functions for a more solid scheme. A proposed pathway is designed to allow continuity from the beginning till the end of the plot. Diverse activities are in the blocks along the pathway that includes pottery, ceramics, woodwork, blown glass, workshops, offices, workspaces, galleries, auditorium, food market, and a public plaza. This design also aims to elevate a job center from having a conventional economic function, to also becoming a prominent landmark that symbolizes opportunities. The ultimate goal is to allow the worker to learn, produce, sell, and live.
Site:
Al Achrafieh plot corresponds with the needs of the architectural system required to increase the amount of producing and selling products. The site is located in the heart of Beirut, where it connects the surrounding cities, attracting visitors from all across Lebanon. The chosen site acts as a linkage between Syoufi, Adliyeh, Tayouneh, Badaro, and Forn Al Chebbak. The plot is centered between museums, green house, and commercial areas which ultimately serve the proposed building's functions.
SITE ANALYSIS
This site is always congested with traffic and people as it is the passing point to get to different areas in Beirut. It is always a host to tourists due to the site seeing attractions.
PLOT PICTURES
Concept
DESIGN PROCESS
SITE PLAN
FIRST ZONE: AGRICULTURE
The geographical features of Lebanon make it an ideal place for agricultural procedures. Lebanon’s moderate atmosphere, fertile soil, and numerous water resources make it a suitable place for growing different crops. The agricultural district is employed by around 4% of the Lebanese labor and is the pillar of Lebanon’s food industry which leads to the growth of the local industrial zone. Although the Lebanese land is rich in soil yet there is lack of agribusiness sector and delivery.
The laborers harvest the crops on an open ground which allows the users to engage with the laborers and observe the agricultural scenery and process.
FLOOR PLANS
SECOND ZONE: CRAFTING
Before technology has encountered the human life, people used to depend on their hands and manpower to produce masterpieces. Arts and crafts are historically defined as artisanal handicraft where valuable and decorative items are made completely by hand or/and by working with simple tools. The outcome of an object represents an environmental, social, and historical influences. Rural places of Lebanon consider handicrafts as a major traditional sector of the living cultural heritage.
The crafting area is surrounded by a public plaza which connects the users of the nearby surroundings to the site. The view projected by the public plaza enhances the sense of unity between the workers and the users rather than both being isolated.
FLOOR PLANS
The gallery allows the user as well to utilize the center's resources and productions for several purposes ranging from purchasing, education and entertainment.
THIRD ZONE: TRADING
This zone is the hive or network where the retrieved produce from the agriculture and crafting zones are exported for consumer use. The Lebanese export percentage is relatively low compared to neighboring countries Jordan. For example, the Jordanian total fruits and vegetables export reaches around $760 million; on the other hand, Lebanon’s profit is approximately $260 million. The same is applicable in the case of arts, crafts and other products.
This zone is integrates the residential and trading buildings with the existing forest surrounding the center which provides a natural and cleansing element from all sides of the zone.
ZONING AND CIRCULATION
There are two types of people who undergo different experiences in the center. The first category is the laborers who work on the land and rooftop and thus engage with the second category whom are the visitors or users. While touring in the community, the visitors get an on ground comprehensive knowledge of all the on going production processes. Therefore, this distinguishes the job center from a conventional setting, to a landmark in the heart of Beirut.
SUSTAINABILITY
There are certain elements that are essential for the functions and activities that are found in the center. Openings and fragmentations are made in between the agriculture part and buildings to allow direct and inclusive flow of wind. The agriculture part of the project is directed towards the sun's orientation to allow light exposure on the crops. The greenery in the proposed plaza allows shading to the crafting area and the existing natural elements surrounding the trading zone creates the proper circulation, scenery and shading.
The roof is dynamic since the pathway along it is curved which allows users stroll around different zones and areas. This in itself creates different promenades at different points of the user's and worker's journey.
PROJECT ELEMENTS
The façade of the two trading blocks is surrounded by a skin of interlocking branches made of concrete and which mirror the surrounding trees. These branches also function as a shading element on two sides of the building from where the sun orients.
SECTIONS
SEC AA
As projected in section AA, the pathway penetrates the building which allows the user to overview the open market on the lower level of the two trading blocks. As the pathway reaches the two residential blocks, it becomes a public area where another open market exists.
SEC BB
In section BB, the pathway connects the three zones and then inclines in relativity with the topography behind it, until it reaches the trading zone where it becomes flattened out.
FACADE DETAIL SECTION
SOUTH ELEVATION
To explore the project's purpose concept and thesis in more depth, please click on the link below for my thesis book "Collateral Damage of Unemployment".
