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<p>Scope: Corniche and public realm rehabilitation for Ramlet Al Bayda - Beirut's prominent sandy beach neighborhood. Landscape design anchored around multi-use platforms, corniche extension with limited vehicular traffic, reintroduction of historic Beirut tree species, new accessible walkable pier to beach, integrated framework connecting all neighborhood public spaces.<br>Challenge: Achieve dual Beirut Municipality objectives: significantly improve pedestrian experience along Beirut corniche while decreasing vehicular flow and reducing car dominance in densely trafficked coastal district. Transform car-dominated seafront into pedestrian-priority public realm without eliminating necessary access. Create year-round comfortable pedestrian environment in extreme summer heat and winter exposure. Improve beach accessibility, particularly for population with disabilities.<br>Approach: Landscape design centers on flexible platforms enabling diverse programming - supporting varied user activities throughout day and seasons. Corniche extended with vehicular traffic restricted to limited adjacent lanes - prioritizing pedestrian space over automobile circulation. Historic Beirut tree species reintroduced along corniche provide seasonal shade spectrum and climate protection for pedestrians - making year-round use viable. New walkable pier extends corniche and improves accessible beach access, particularly for population with disabilities. Comprehensive neighborhood framework connects all public spaces - creating complementary user experiences and programmatic diversity rather than isolated interventions.<br>Status: Completed</p>
Urban planning and design
Landscape design
Laceco responded to the above objectives by:
Designing a consistent urban framework that nevertheless provided a diversity in the individual architectural character of buildings.
Curating a seamless pedestrian experience in a site that had a challenging topography and was exposed to dominant winds.
Anchoring the site along three platforms linked to each other by a continuous game of terraces, stairs, suspended bridges and esplanades that gently slope down the length of the development.
Conducting value engineering and cost optimization studies to preserve economic viability of the development.
Laceco responded to these objectives by:
Designing a landscape anchored around platforms that can be used by residents for a diverse array of programs and by extending the corniche and limiting the flow of vehicular traffic adjacent to it.
In the new scheme historic, Beirut trees were re-introduced to the corniche, providing a spectrum of shades and colors that vary along the seasons and protect pedestrians from extreme climatic conditions.
A new walkable pier as an extension to the corniche improves accessibility towards the sandy beach, specifically for the population with disability. Rethinking the totality of the neighborhood and devising a framework that connects all the public spaces in a manner that provides complementarity and a diversity of user experiences.
