Omar Harb

advisor

USEK - Holy spirit University of Kaslik

Lebanon

As an architect and founder of Omar Harb Architects & Associates, my work centers on creating… more

A. Narrative & Symbolic Depth

Strengths: The project has an incredibly powerful narrative. Using the "Green Line" (a symbol of civil war division) and extending it toward the Port (a symbol of recent tragedy) turns a scar into a bridge. The choice of sunflowers for phytoremediation is both a practical ecological tool and a poetic "Beacon of Hope."

Critical Review: Jurors look for the balance between memorial and utility. While the "memory of the void" is strong, the jury will evaluate if the project focuses too much on the tragedy of the past and not enough on the future economic vitality of a working port.

B. Urban Connectivity (The "Lines")

Strengths: The "Elevated Connectivity" concept is a smart response to Beirut’s congested and compromised ground-level mobility. By liberating the ground plane, you create a dual-layered city that allows for both high-speed urban flow and slow, contemplative public space.

Critical Review: The jury often questions the "shadow effect" of large elevated structures. If the "Beirut Lines" are too massive, they may create dark, neglected spaces underneath them, effectively creating a new kind of "barrier" rather than a connection.

C. Programmatic Versatility

Strengths: The "polyvalent" framework—designing spaces that don't impose a strict function—is a very modern architectural approach. It respects the organic, self-organizing nature of Beirut’s culture.

Critical Review: For a project of this scale, "total freedom" can sometimes be interpreted by jurors as a "lack of definition." They will look for at least a few "anchor" programs that guarantee the hub remains active 24/7.

I. Mitigating the "Under-Bridge" Condition
Suggestion: Provide detailed visuals or sections of the space underneath the elevated hub.

Refinement: Show how light reaches the ground plane. Use reflective materials on the under-surface of the hub or integrate "light wells" that pierce through the levels to ensure the sunflower fields and public paths below are vibrant and safe, not dark and industrial.

II. Technical Detail: Phytoremediation Logic
Suggestion: To win technical prizes (like the Archicad/Chaos prize), move beyond the metaphor of the sunflowers.

Refinement: Include a technical diagram showing the stages of soil decontamination. How long does the process take? What happens after the sunflowers have absorbed the toxins? Showing this "ecological timeline" proves the project is a serious urban strategy, not just a conceptual dream.

III. Balancing the Silos (The Ruins)
Suggestion: The preservation of the Silos is a highly sensitive topic in Beirut.

Refinement: Your idea of using "wire mesh frames" to trace the missing pieces is excellent. To improve this, show a "Night/Day" comparison. At night, these wire meshes could be illuminated to "reconstruct" the silhouette of the Silos with light, creating a ghostly, powerful monument visible from across the city.

IV. Circulation Hierarchy
Suggestion: Ensure there is a clear distinction between "Fast" and "Slow" movement.

Refinement: In your master plan, clearly color-code the pedestrian "loops" vs. the "urban axes." If the Beirut Lines are meant to connect four urban axes, show the "nodes" where people transition from the city streets up into the elevated hub. These "vertical transition points" (elevators, grand ramps, stairs) should be the most architecturally celebrated parts of the design.
21.01.2026