Beirut Waterfront

http://www.solidere.com/city-center/urban-overview/districts-main-axes/waterfront

Overview

The Waterfront District is the new Beirut destination. Commanding spectacular views to the sea and to mountains snowcapped through winter and spring, the 73 ha of reclaimed land, enclosed by a terraced sea defense system able to withstand centennial storms, are designed as a natural continuation of the traditional city center. Some 29 ha of development land will offer 1.7 million sq m BUA to form a prime, active, multiuse district with distinctive architecture.

The development density will be higher than in the traditional city center, with nearly 60 percent of the reclaimed land set aside for public spaces. These consist of a waterside city park, sea corniche, quayside and sea promenades, squares and gardens, plus walking, jogging and cycling trails.

Marinas, waterside leisure, lifestyle, cultural and other entertainment are among visitors’ attractions. Beirut Marina quays and the 1.3 km-long sea corniche and promenades, varying in width from 45 to 110 m, have become a popular pedestrian area. Upon completion of the Eastern Marina, the city center will offer a 3.5 km uninterrupted extension of the Beirut shoreline, providing more than four times the space of seafront promenade currently available in the city.

Solidere aims to develop the Waterfront District as a model of urban development. Destined to become a major destination, the district is already hosting several temporary cultural and leisure activities, as per Beirut Exhibition Center (BEC), a biking and walking trail that leads from the traditional city center to the waterfront promenade, and is planning a number of other cultural and leisure activities along a pedestrian spine.