WiE・Human Centered Design
The Stitches
Sector
Public, Urban Heritage
Location
Beirut, Lebanon
Year
2022
Farah Saab
Client
Order of Engineers and Architects
The explosion that struck Beirut on August 4, 2020, prompted a reevaluation of the city's future within a larger master plan. The devastation led to the inception of The Stitches, a comprehensive Cultural Heritage Research Center, designed to unify various aspects of the city's history, memory, and identity.
The primary purpose of The Stitches is to create a space that embodies Beirut's cultural confidence and promotes openness to the community and the future. By crafting an environment that embraces the city's history and architectural significance, The Stitches seeks to redefine the narrative surrounding Beirut's identity, turning its physical spaces into dynamic works of architecture that reflect its past, present, and aspirations for the future.
The design of The Stitches is guided by several key principles:
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1. Comprehensive Heritage Center: The center will serve as a hub where the city's multifaceted history converges, safeguarding its heritage while contributing to the creation of a new collective identity.
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2. Inclusivity and Collaboration: The core concept underlying the design is collaboration. No space within the center stands alone; they are interconnected and interdependent, reflecting the idea that unity is paramount in recovering and rebuilding.
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3. Spatial Relationships: The architectural layout emphasizes the interplay of spaces, allowing for open interaction between different levels and functions. This integration embodies the healing process, binding the past with a hopeful future.
