Restoring Beirut: Foster + Partners’ New Development Hopes to Revitalize The City
After the Second World War, Beirut, Lebanon, became known as the Paris of the East. A cosmopolitan oasis of culture and nightlife, it was a prime destination for tourism, glamour, and even the world of high finance. However, after a civil war and significant regional instability, this reputation has been tarnished in recent years. But Beirut today is making a comeback.
Foster + Partners’ newest development, 3Beirut, promises to help revive Beirut’s image by regenerating the city center as a place for tourism, retail, and easy living. With a design focused on public planning and access, they have incorporated new pedestrian walkways and landscaped spaces that connect historic Beirut with its harbor.
The towers themselves are clad in limestone, lending a very natural and classic feel to their contemporary design. They are also staggered to create a feeling of privacy within the apartments, as towers do not directly face each other. North facing facades feature stunning harbor views, while the south facing apartments have spacious terraces. On the ground, public gardens wind along the new pedestrian walkways, and host a range of amenities from pools and gyms, to a McLaren supercar showroom.
Sources:
http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-beirut-lebanon-1965-2014-12
https://www.designboom.com/architecture/3beirut-foster-partners-residential-development-12-5-2017/
