The qualities of this project lie in the public spaces that are constructed along the water’s edge, recreating and reinterpreting the landscape of the former beach. Located in Downtown Beirut, the Marina and Town Quay creates an extension of the existing Corniche along the seashore forming an elevated deck which covers the mixed-use marina buildings that follow the curve of the harbour front. The Corniche is inflated into a series of overlapping platforms, striated like waves to create an ‘urban beach’, subtly articulated as public areas for artwork. The programme includes apartments, a yacht club, public facilities, a harbourmaster’s office, restaurants, and specialty stores.
Source:
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2011.