Rhythmic Chaos

1. Rhythmic Chaos
Jana Abed Jalil1, Marwan Chahine2, Nour Fneish3,
123 Lebanese American University
Lebanese American University, June 28-July 6, 2019​ Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun

2. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
From our analysis, the issues to address are:
- Not Enough Public Space
- People Extend their Private Space into the Public
- Commercial Activity Could be Enhanced
- There is lack of Parking Places, People are Overusing the Streets
- Cultural Fragmentation and Lack of Interaction in Public Space
- Lack of Green Spaces in Public Spaces
- Commercial activity could be enhanced, and Culture Fragmentation Effecting the Commercial Activities
The Problematics:

3. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
1. Cultural Fragmentation and Lack of Interaction in Public Space

4. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
2. Lack of Green Spaces in Public Spaces
A. Greenery found Infront of Commercial Businesses
B. Greenery found Infront of Commercial Spaces
C. Greenery found Infront of Transitional Areas
People extend their private space into the public

5. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
3. Commercial activity could be enhanced, and Culture Fragmentation Effecting the
Commercial Activities
1. Current Situation In Karem El Zaytoun: Cultural
Diversity shown by having different types of
shops of the different cultures found in Karm
Zaytoun.
Blind Facades around
Mar Mikhael
2. Greenery causes the private commercial shops
creating a private area on their own. and
activating the main street area.
3. People use Greenry as a
communication/shading spot, emphasizing
the role of greenery is social
communication.

6. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
4. There is lack of parking places, making people overuse the streets
Previous Parking Area turned into University Accumulated Parking Spots all over Karm El Zaytoun

7. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
S O U K N A
Previous Study Master Plan
proposal. progress study.
Karm Al Zeitoun is an area characterized by its Irregular and chaotic heights that are located in a well-
defined grid that lacks greenery. Our approach to dealing with this neighbourhood is creating public
spaces and inserting social functions by making the main street of Karm Al Zeitoun purely pedestrian,
making a “street food” and organic food market and extending it into several alleyways hence reactivating
the main street through its blind facades. The strategy adopted in the market mainly deals with several
heights housing several functions.

8. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
A. Alleyway:
1. Prototype 1:
Before State After State
Reactivating the alleyways is an important approach to reactivate the main street itself. The
proposed alleyways are prototypes that can be implemented in several other alleyways in
the area. Introducing greenery is a must as well as social “moments” such as a basic bench,
table, or even exhibiting wall. The difference of levels in the alleyways’ buildings can be
approached by elevating the whole alleyway and then creating those spaces. The corner
relationship with the main street is the key point is activating the main street.
Alleyway Masterplan

9. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
A. Alleyway:
2. Prototype 2:
Reactivating the alleyways is an important approach to reactivate the main street itself. The
proposed alleyways are prototypes that can be implemented in several other alleyways in
the area. Introducing greenery is a must as well as social “moments” such as a basic bench,
table, or even exhibiting wall. The difference of levels in the alleyways’ buildings can be
approached by elevating the whole alleyway and then creating those spaces. The corner
relationship with the main street is the key point is activating the main street.
Before State After State

10. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
B. Mainstreet:
Transforming the main street of Karm Al Zaytoun into a purely pedestrian street is the first step into activating the street again. The
critical point of the intersection between a building corner and alleyway has been approached in several ways. All include placing a
commercial function next to a social and more "private one.
Different Prototypes regarding the placement of the interventions of the main street.

11. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
B. Market Space:
Karm Al Zaytoun is an area characterized by its Irregular and chaotic heights that are located in a well-defined
grid that lacks greenery. Our approach to dealing with this neighborhood is creating public spaces and inserting
social functions. We aimed to introduce a “street food” and organic food market and extend it into several
alleyways hence reactivating the main street through its blind facades. The strategy adopted in the market
mainly deals with several heights housing several functions, thus creating a “Rhythmic Chaos”.
‫سوقن‬‫ا‬
Blueprint: Site Condition StudyConcept

12. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
B. Market Space:
Karm Al Zaytoun is an area characterized by its Irregular and chaotic heights that are located in a well-defined
grid that lacks greenery. Our approach to dealing with this neighborhood is creating public spaces and inserting
social functions. We aimed to introduce a “street food” and organic food market and extend it into several
alleyways hence reactivating the main street through its blind facades. The strategy adopted in the market
mainly deals with several heights housing several functions, thus creating a “Rhythmic Chaos”.
‫سوقن‬‫ا‬
Different Moments Experienced:
1. 2 3
Market Proposal:

13. Beirut Workshop : Reconsidering the Urban Condition of Karm El-Zeitoun
B. Market Space:
Karm Al Zaytoun is an area characterized by its Irregular and chaotic heights that are located in a well-defined
grid that lacks greenery. Our approach to dealing with this neighborhood is creating public spaces and inserting
social functions. We aimed to introduce a “street food” and organic food market and extend it into several
alleyways hence reactivating the main street through its blind facades. The strategy adopted in the market
mainly deals with several heights housing several functions, thus creating a “Rhythmic Chaos”.
‫سوقن‬‫ا‬
Market Place Plan:
Section:
Initial Stud

14. Organised by:
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