CHANGE BY DESIGN: a participatory workshop to save the heritage of Beirut

with ALBA Global Design Master Students

In this hands-on workshop, the Global Design masters students will walk our participants through the design creative process that helps raise questions around salvaging one of Beirut's heritage: the stairs of Beirut. Using participatory design methods, simple and fun exercises this workshop will address issues such as gentrification, shifting markets and the displacement of the local communities of Mar Mikhael.

Come and join us in raising some important questions about the future landscape of our city, bring your creativity and enthusiasm so we can brainstorm together some ideas and use lots of post-its.

Topic: The stairs of Beirut

The predominant hills of Beirut were one of the guiding principles that determined the urban development of the city. As of 1850, several staircases started to appear in order to connect streets that were separated by a very steep landscape. Quickly becoming major connectors, the stairs were the main access to the various coastal activities such as the port and the train (running down the coast). Unfortunately, with the rise of the automobile as of the 1920s and the urban developments of Beirut, little planning was done to preserve these stairs. While they have managed to survive the Lebanese Civil War these stairs are today misued and sometimes even endangered of demolition. Lying between the main street of Mar Mikhael and the area known as Geitawi the 8 major stairs and a few other hidden ones dating from the Ottoman Era should be preserved and revitalized as important heritage for our capital.