Land Management and Planning

Policy Watch

The Government Legalizes Violations and Complicity in Environmental and Housing Damage:

The Issued Decree Authorizes Industrial Expansion in Kfour, Despite Pending Court Challenges

The government has legalized a harmful industrial expansion in Kfour, neglecting environmental and health threats and ongoing legal objections. Residents and civil society are calling on the government to withdraw Decree 1962 before more damage is done to their health, homes, and land.

Article Investigation

The State’s Limited Role in Reconstruction and Its Submission to the Discourse of Inaction

Despite the government’s repeated rhetoric about its commitment to reconstruction and recovery, and the emergence of what appears to be a comprehensive plan, its efforts remain delayed, limited, and fragmented. They rely almost entirely on external loans and grants amid weak local financing, reflecting the absence of an effective, long-term national vision and a surrender to the discourse of state incapacity.

Law Commentary

A law proposal to establish a separate cadastral zone for the municipality of Saadiyat, submitted by MP Bilal Abdullah, represents a pivotal point for a deeper discussion around the history of these areas and their evolving social boundaries. In the case of Damour and Saadiyat, the area became a symbol of the profound political crisis brought about by demographic changes in the Chouf coastal region, resulting from transformations and repeated waves of displacement to and from it.

Policy Watch

Green light to destroy Beirut’s theater:

The Ministry of Culture removes protection under pressure from the Shoura Council and the owner's threats

The Ministry of Culture delisted lot number 243 in the Ain Mreisseh district (Beirut) from the general inventory list of historical buildings is a striking decision. This contradiction raises questions about the motives behind the decision, specifically that the lot includes Beirut Theater.
In this article, we review the details of the property and previous attempts to protect it, revealing an alarming threat on the theater and the adjacent buildings.

Policy Watch

The Ministry of Culture classifies buildings on the inventory list:

Preserving the urban heritage requires additional steps.

In a surprising step compared to previous years, which did not witness similar activity, the Ministry of Culture classified a number of buildings on the General Inventory of Historic Buildings. We offer an understanding of what is needed in terms of effective practical steps to preserve Lebanon’s urban spatial heritage.

Policy Watch

An attack on the Seal cave in Amchit with the participation of the DGU

On the rocky shore of Amchit, the Seal Cave is currently under attack as a result of an unjustified and illegal decision by the Directorate General of Urban Planning (DGU) granting construction works …

From Dossier Investigation

Lessons from the “Waad” Reconstruction Project

After thirty-three days of continuous bombardment that killed more than 1,000 people, the 2006 war affected a total of 1,232 buildings, mostly residential.
On November 14, 2006, a meeting was held with residents, where they expressed one primary concern: returning to their homes as soon as possible. Accordingly, the local political party promised to rebuild Beirut’s southern suburbs, making them “more beautiful than before,” as the slogan of the project became.
In this text, we present the project and its challenges, especially at the urban level.

From Dossier Investigation

The Beirut Central District Reconstruction Experience (Solidere)

Solidere was established after the end of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) to undertake the reconstruction of downtown Beirut, which is now known by its name. This company’s experience represents the neoliberal model of reconstruction, a model that has been subject to much criticism and questioning.
This article reviews Solidere’s experience with the aim of recalling it and rethinking the social and cultural repercussions of the neoliberal model it followed.

From Dossier Investigation

Aita al-Shaab: How do we rebuild a village?

Bulldozing the old neighborhood in Aita al-Shaab, a Lebanese village on the southern borders, following the 2006 israeli war, the solidere-like approach to reconstruction, or the many stories we heard from returnees and their experiences during the war, highlighting the meaning of losing their home, their village, and their community. We will attempt to address these three levels through this text, while exploring the experiences of a group of urban planners who volunteered to support reconstruction efforts in the village immediately after the war.

From Dossier Investigation

The camp’s extension in Lebanon between the barriers of security and law: The story of Nahr al-Bared

The story of the destruction and reconstruction of Nahr al-Bared camp offers insights into the current state of Palestinian camps and settlements in Lebanon. This study demonstrates that the approach adopted by official Lebanese politics in Nahr al-Bared, will likely lead to the emergence of a new approach to dealing with Palestinian camps and settlements in Lebanon, one that relies on security measures reinforced by discriminatory laws.

Investigation

Who’s Beirut?

On the Necessity of a Unified Conception of the City that Goes Beyond its Municipal Borders

Over the course of more than a century, Beirut has witnessed a radical transformation and tremendous urban and population growth intertwined with major historical events. Aerial maps show this expansion, but also they raise a basic question: Who is Beirut today, with its urban complexities and interactions?

Interactive Map

Uncovering the Informal Blueprint of cities in Lebanon

Tripoli | Beirut | Saida | Tyre

The map and article is not yet translated, refer to the Arabic version here.