The Beirut Lines

With the force of a 3.5 magnitude earthquake, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever occurred on August 4, 2020, 18:08:18 EEST, and it is thought that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate housed in warehouse-12 at the port were the source of the explosion's fuel. In addition to the extensive damage this explosion produced, at least 204 people were killed and 6,500 injured. Above all, Beirut-the capital of Lebanon that was spawned by its harbor as the focal Middle Eastern node point that connected many continents, has been left with a dead Port. For many years, the Beirut port represented more of a barrier than a connection between the city’s communities and its coast. The reconstruction of the port area opens up the opportunity for a pivotal civic gesture that will both catalyse the area and fill the void of active public spaces in the city.