2. Ödül, Tactical Urbanism NOW! IV

hay.axi'nin Tactical Urbanism NOW! IV için tasarladığı proje, ikincilik ödülünü kazandı.

Proje Raporu:

Urban Camouflage reimagines the Port of Beirut as not just a logistical and industrial hub, but as a versatile Freezone capable of meeting any economic or social demand from the city. Resilience in urban systems requires constant harmony with the context and the ability to adapt to changes within that context. The concept of camouflage emerged from research, highlighting Beirut’s familiarity with crises. Notably the Civil War from 1975 to 1990, which left lasting cultural and physical borders, such as “The Green line,” named for the vegetation that camouflaged the region during the conflict.

Camouflage, in this context, refers to synergy with the background rather than hiding. The port must continuously adapt to the ever-changing backdrop of Beirut, reflecting the regeneration of vegetation and landscape over time. This adaptability mirrors the city’s intrinsic resilience, where diverse cultures, religions, and nationalities blend seamlessly—a metaphorical camouflage. This project aims to formalize and enhance Beirut’s innate resilience by establishing a system that consistently and efficiently adapts to evolving needs, promoting flexibility and multi-functionality.

The project categorizes constants and variables. Constants include the Passenger Terminal, Silo Memorial, Shipyard, Container Terminal, Long-term Housing Project, and Tensile Structures, ensuring a future-proof environment capable of responding to needs. Variables, with varying time-frames, encompass daily (Modulor Shoreline Platforms, Shadings), weekly (Light Structures, Containers), monthly (Open Spaces, Temporary Housing Units, Power Stations), and long-term (Markets, Warehouses) elements, providing flexible solutions to handle urban scale problems.

The Passenger Terminal and modular shoreline work together. The Silo Memorial symbolizes the city’s resilience, surrounded by open spaces /gathering zones. The Shipyard, located on the third dock, facilitates ship repairs, contributing to the city’s economic sustainability. Tensile Structures serve diverse purposes, from sports to concerts, enhancing adaptability and inclusiveness. The Long-term Housing Project addresses homelessness both now and in the future emergent situations.

Variable elements combine to form clusters catering to various functions, including Market Areas, Exhibitions, Gathering Zones, and Workshops, promoting an inclusive and collaborative environment. Beirut’s residents can freely assemble these elements to create clusters, even innovating new ones, fostering adaptability and innovation. An easily printable catalog shows all these possible clusters and exemplifies the functions of them.

The catalog features a comic illustrating solutions for festivals or emergencies at the Port, demonstrating the system’s versatility. It is even possible to make overnight transformations, like a shoreline becoming an open-air cinema, facilitated by storing smaller elements in nearby warehouses for swift deployment, showcasing adaptability and resilience.

The 1/4000 site plan is only a possible instant frame from the project. The constants are going to stay as they are, but any variable on the plan might change one day later.
Urban Camouflage develops participatory solutions to city scale problems.