Urban Design Portfolio 2021

URBAN DESIGN PORTFOLIO SAR AH SAAD 2021

SAR AH SAAD

ARCHITECT . URBAN DESIGNER

A designer with a double masters degree in Architecture and Urban design from the ‘Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts - Alba’

During my years at ALBA, I developed my knowledge of planning concepts focusing on urban rehabilitation, program development , and placemaking. In parallel, I've used my eye for design to develop brand identity concepts for local and international start-ups. I joined IGA and Round the corner in 2019, since then I have been working on the concept , strategy, and design for various projects as well as the branding design and event curating for Round the corner’s artistic and cultural events.

for the Beirut urban planning and reconstruction project with Live Love Beirut .

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G13 PARK

PROJECT WITH IGA sarl , in partnership with RELK&P

PROJECT TYPE LANDSCAPE STRATEGY & DESIGN

SCOPE & ROLE CONCEPT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

STRATEGY & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

VISUALS AND RENDERINGS

PRESENTATION DESIGN

OVERVIEW

The Masterplan of Yas Island foresees a substantial number of projects to be developed in a relatively high density, mixing together residential and commercial buildings, leisure and corporate compounds.

The G13 Park, strategically located within that context, is expected to play an important role if equipped with the right amenities and properly connected to its surrounding, be it physically or visually.

The Park has an approximate area of 23,000 sqm and offers many opportunities yet with many adjacent projects still under construction and others not yet developed, the program remains diverse while the budget had to be limited.

The design should therefore be flexible and expandable to allow future additions and multiple activities. Being planned as temporary and cost-efficient should not compromise the aesthetic and contextual aspects.

SITE ANALYSIS

OPTION 2: SHADES AND SHADOWS

The Option 2 concept relies on that notion, using the surroundings and the sun path to identify shaded areas from the adjacent buildings. Shadow patterns, soil textures, strata levels constitute the design elements and inspiration sources to the Park identity. 2 levels of Plazas were proposed, one as an extension of the C40 outdoor spaces and host all the F&B activities, then another at a lower level where the community activities and the sports playgrounds are located. All linked with a network of pedestrian passages with trails for joggers, cyclists, art exhibitors or simply nature lovers.

SHADOWS & PATTERNS SHADES & STRATA FLEXIBILITY

02 AL REEF

PROJECT WITH IGA sarl , in partnership with RELK&P

PROJECT TYPE MASTERPLAN DETAIL REVIEW

SCOPE & ROLE CONCEPT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

STRATEGY & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

URBAN, STREETSCAPE, LANDSCAPE DESIGN GUIDELINES VISUALS AND RENDERINGS

MASTER

OVERVIEW

Al Reef project is a mixed use development with a mix of residential, commercial, retail, recreational and hospitality venue. It is divided in various neighborhoods with a total GFA of 1,438,191 m2 excluding the utilities.

The Masterplan of Al Reef project foresees a substantial area for public spaces. These are split between the Spine, serving as a main connector within the entire development, and other spaces, like neighbourhood or pocket gardens, linear green strips, remnant lots or even wide sidewalks.

Most of the major public amenities have been distributed along the Spine, such as the 5 Mosques, the 2 soccer fields, the community centres... While all public spaces should be developed in a close harmony with the adjacent streets, lots and projects, be they residential or commercial buildings, private or public, a general strategy is put forward to provide sufficient guidelines based on which a detailed landscape design can be submitted in the future. Those guidelines offer sufficient flexibility to allow adaptation to any change in site conditions, program or future evolution.

They adopt as a base, the following strategies for:

FLEXIBILITY & CONNECTIVITY

CULTURAL IDENTITY

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

SHADING STRATEGY

FURNITURE, SIGNAGE, WAYFINDING LIGHTING STRATEGY

RENDERED MASTERPLAN

SEGMENT FURNITURE PLAN

MIXED TREES

SEGMENT ZOOM-IN

ACTIVITY AREA

TEMPORARY EXHIBITION OR ACTIVITY AREA

STABILIZED SOIL

ACTIVITY AREA

Light Pole Special Light Location Map

SEGMENT LIGHTING PLAN

WATER FEATURE

GREENING THE EDGES

ACTIVITY AREA

Bench Bins Bicycle Racks Sail Shading Structures

GREENING THE EDGES

SITU CONCRETE FOR PASSAGES

SIGNAGE MASTERPLAN

03 THE NETWORK

PROJECT WITH IGA sarl , Round' The Corner Beirut

PROJECT TYPE LANDSCAPE STRATEGY , DESIGN , CURATING

SCOPE & ROLE CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

BRANDING & IDENTITY DESIGN

OVERVIEW

Part of a larger vision intended to reactivate existing structures and revitalize a neglected village center, the wine bar and deli is the first of a series of projects to be kicked off. An eco-eatery, an organic nursery, a cultural center, a guest house and few Airbnb units are expected to follow.

All of which will serve as a new model of sustainable development for rural areas making use of existing structures. An approach that builds on the natural landscape, historical, archeological and religious assets of the region as opposed to the purely commercial current trend that has proven to be very destructive of the heritage, the identity and the natural resources.

KM IN ACHRAFIEH

CAN WE STILL WANDER AROUND BEIRUT?

This project started with what seemed to be a basic question that I asked myself: Can we still wander around Beirut? In a city dominated by cars, and with real estate pressure competing for remnant spaces in the city erasing whatever is left of our traditional urban fabric, can we still find non constructed spaces that can accommodate our city dwellers’ need for a healthier more equitable, socially and ecologically just public space? This incited some curiosity to explore the area, followed by some Sunday morning walks around the city with friends and family who had different relationships with the city- some who grew up in it, others who came for work or a visit only by car, enduring heavy traffic- These tours revealed a staggering mixture of dormant opportunities and missed occasions. The result is an urban design proposal based on observations of local people practice of open public spaces in Beirut with a focus on one peculiar neighborhood that is Achrafieh.

Beirut’s natural urbanization outside the walls of the traditional city grew along two hills that occupy its eastern and western sides. The two hills, Achrafieh and Ras Beirut overlook parts of the city and the sea from their elevated platforms and steep slopes. Topography has widely influenced the urbanization on the hills, especially throughout the organic and vernacular growth of the city. Achrafieh’s peak, is the sassine square - today, an intersection for through traffic crossing from outside Beirut, into the city.

Achrafieh is one of the oldest districts in Beirut. Over the years this geographic landform, the hill, has developed in many directions becoming more congested and even more fragmented.

Today, the traditional urban fabric has been cut through by large infrastructural projects (Charles malek avenue, Alfred Naccache road,etc).

THE PATH

In order to better understand the human experience in Achrafieh, I decided to experiment with different walking scenarios. What’s particular about these experimental itineraries is that only local roads were used to go from one side of the hill to the other side, and large regional roads were only crossed.

For the project, I have decided to work on one of the itineraries taken during my personal city walk.

AN INTERFACE between the highest platform (Sassine Square /Lazarus school) of the hill and the lowest(Sea, River,Regional Roads)

SPECIFIC TOPOGRAPHY part of the area where the slope is the most steep, less “built” over the years, and rich in green heritage

AN EASY WALK the platform is more or less flat as it circulates Achrafieh without the need to go uphill - An enjoyable walk

LANDMARKS Not only make the path more interesting, but also help in navigation (Schools, hospitals, Cemeteries, Gardens)

LOCAL NETWORKS ONLY the belt exclusively uses local streets , rather than regional roads

NEIGHBORHOODS the belt passes through di erent Achrafieh neighborhoods, connecting the hill on physical and social levels.

ANALYSIS RESULTS

The morphological analysis unraveled a diversity of existing typologies of built form and open space, that included areas where all domestic openings and di erent semi- public open spaces (Courtyards, Staircase Landings, Balconies) were directed towards the adjacent street creating “Eyes on the street”, contributing to a sense of intimacy and safety in the neighborhood.

In other areas, streets where bordered by fences of private open spaces creating a very visible demarcation disconnecting private and public life.

Other discoveries included abandoned open spaces like the Tobaji Garden (an orchard expropriated for the sake of the “Fouad Botrous Highway Project), the abandoned railway area in Badawi, as well as di erent types of residual spaces found bordering the public right of way that is the street. In conclusion, an abundance of lost space.

STRATEGIC MASTERPLAN

PLACEMAKING AS A TOOL TO REGENERATE LOST SPACES

Encouraging the integration of public spaces as the core of community life is a crucial tool in urban renewal. The proposal places the human experience in the public space as a top priority, which includes the local residents’ cultural, social, functional, and comfort needs. Therefore, on the larger scale a proposed masterplan using the key principles of placemaking – Sociability, Uses and Activities, Access and linkages, comfort and image – in order to provide attractive and safe public spaces that bring the community together, complement the existing functions of the neighborhoods, connect the neighborhood to the adjacent neighborhoods and the city, and stimulate busy street activity to support local economy. The masterplan also proposes the conception of Pedestrian Friendly streets with bike lanes and tra ic calming measures as well as Designated park and ride facilities to liberate streets from unauthorized parking.

Abandoned and residual spaces Potential for extension of public space

Opportunity for small local economy shops

Patches of Green spaces, however small, can make a di erence

Parked cars fill the majority of the public right of way width Stairs as potential extension of the public space

Giving more importance to local streets will encourage local economy

DISTRICT : INTERVENTION ON DIFFERENT SCALES

Scale Theme Design Intervention

BUILDING Building form and occupation

BLOCK STREET

Density Block Courtyard Block Porosity

Preserve Convert Add to Subtract From No intervention

Build in Empty plot Add to Subtract From Activate Open Space Intervene on future regulation Preserve Open Space No intervention

NEIGHBORHOOD

Public Domain

PD vs Private ground floors

Squares Stairs Street Commerce Intersections Green Corridor

Green Network Mobility & Accessibility

Main Road Boulevard So Mobility Pedestrian Friendly Corridor Street Level Commerce Open Space Park & Ride Facility

INTERVENTION ON DIFFERENT SCALES

SUB-DISTRICT DESIGN STRATEGY

D D

COMMUNITY GARDEN REAPPROPRIATION

Strategy - The project proposes the consolidation and activation of this site through its conversion into a public community garden and the re-use of the exsisting expropriated buildings with complementary programs. Also, connecting the space to the surrounding urban setting through passageways and ramps.

INDIVIDUAL SPACES

(DOUBLE ITS SIZE)

Space

Space

KITCHEN ENTRANCE BUILDING RESTAURANTS SHOPS PROMENADE RESIDENTIAL KINDERGARTEN

GARDENVISITORSCENTERMANAGEMENT

Citrus Sinesis “Orange”

Eriobotr ya Japonica “Louquat”

GARDEN

COMMUNAL KITCHEN

PACE

KINDERGARTEN

AMBIANCE VIEWS

Achrafieh is one of the oldest districts in Beirut. Over the years this geographic landform, the hill, has developed in many directions becoming more congested and even more fragmented.

Today, the traditional urban fabric has been cut through by large infrastructural roads.

The initiative aims to allow people to rediscover the neighborhood through its old street network, by highlighting a walkthrough and creating a public space and activity space network.

Trail/Loop- Shared Street

Cut the loop to discover other neighborhood

Spaces &

Route

ALFREDNACCACHEAVENUE

To Adlieh

Keep an eye/ear out for

and ride

Stairs

Path

Karm

Lycee Franco-Libanais

Coeur School

School

Mitr Cemetery

from

Mitri”

EL MOT

a congested knot, consequence of partially thought-out infrastructure, a waterfront separated and inaccessible to the public, a discontinuous and fragmented urban and natural landscape, and a district of wastelands in mutation, su ering from an existential crisis, the problem of the Nahr el mot coast spreads out on 4 di erent scales.

BEIRUT BOURJ HAMMOUD

Tracing of the

on

SIN EL FIL

JDAIDE SAD EL BAOUCHRIYE

JAL AL DIB

BSALIM

BEIT MERI

STRATEGIC MASTERPLAN

By deconstructing the existing mall structure, a rehabilitation of the old valley leading to the old house today surrounded by the mall becomes possible.

Dynamic corridors (Green, Commercial, Sports) connect the city with the newly liberated coast.

Liberated Waterfront Green Space Open Space Mineral Space

Built - Newly Added Built - Existing Built - Converted

Regional Train Bridge Interchange BRT / Elevated Metro

CONSTANTINE

Constantine, a city erected on a rock overlooking a series of striking picturesque landscapes, and linked to the rest of its territory with a number of modern and historical bridges, has more to o er than meets the eye. Its peculiar landform marked by steep slopes has significantly influenced the form and character of its urban fabric.

Evolving from an ancient core “the Medina”, the old city of Constantine have known many historical and spatial mutation resulting in a network of fragmented open spaces, the case of the city center. Today, the city center emerges as an administrative hub attracting a huge tra ic favoring cars over pedestrians and public transport. However, with a footprint ratio of 70% vacant/constructed, the center’s symbolic significance is compromised by its inability to provide an inclusive, attractive, ecological and well-equipped public space that reflects the image of its community and its city.

Our urban design proposal focuses on the consolidation and requalification of these fragmented public spaces. It develops physical connections between the di erent voids and envisages them as shared landscapes where the human scale and right to inclusive and sustainable spaces draws the character and the image of the city.

In order to promote walkability, tra ic-calming interventions are used to prioritize pedestrians over cars. Accordingly, the project places the human experience in the public space at the crux of our proposal, thus integrating locals’ cultural, social, functional needs and well-being. This was possible by reflecting and trying to integrate the key principles of placemaking as put forth by Project for Public Spaces (PPS). As such sociability, diversity, accessibility and image where the design driving forces to draw attractive and safe spaces that could bring the community together, complement the existing functions, connect the city center to its dual urban cores, and stimulate socio-economic activity.

SQUAREGESSOUMRAMDANE

PLACEAHMADBEY SQUAREBENNACERBACHIR

C HA LLE NG E AP E R A U ( AMO ) C O N S TANTIN E, A L G E R I E N O V E M B R E 201 8

RO U A R AWA S S SA R A SAA D EN C ADR E E PAR D R . HA S S Ã N B I TA R

ESPLANADEDELAREVOLUTIONMARCHEBOUMEZOUMAHMOUD

PLACEDU1ERNOVEMBREPALAISDELACULTURE PALAISDEJUSTICE

PONTSIDIRACHED

PLACECOLONELAMIROUCHE PLACEDESMARTYRS

HOTELNOVOTEL

C IR C U L ATION & IN T E R SE C TION S

INT E R SE C TI O N F L U X VEHI C U L AIR E B O R D

Mapping using: The Image of the City, Kevin Lynch

ESPLANADE DE LA REVOLUTION

PLACE AHMED BEY

PROTECTION AGAINST TRAFFIC AND ACCIDENTS

PLACE1 ERNOVEMBRE

AGAINST TRAFFIC AND ACCIDENTS

SAFE-

SQUAREBENNACERBACHIR

TO

PR O TE C

T

TO

Y

U S T

PROTECTION AGAINST CRIME AND VIOLENCE -FEELING SECURE-

-FEELING SAFE-

-Eliminating fear of tra ic -Protection or pedestrians

-Overlapping functions -Good lighting

OPPORTUNITIES TO

-Wind Rain/Snow -Cold/Heat -Noise/Dust

PROTECTION AGAINST CRIME AND V OLENCE

PROTECTION AGAINST UNPLEASANT SENSORY EXPERIENCES -Lively public

-FEELING SECURE-

PROTECTION AGAINST UNPLEASANT SENSORY EXPERIENCES -Lively public realm -Overlapping unctions -Good lighting

-Wind Rain/Snow -Cold/Heat -Noise/Dust

HUMAN SCALE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY THE POSITIVE ASPECT OF CLIMATE

THE

SENSORY EXPERIENCES

POSITIVE SENSORY EXPERIENCES

-Buildings and spaces designed to human scale -Sun/Shade -Heat /Coolness -Breeze

OF

OPPORTUNITIES TO

OPPORTUNITIES TO SIT

-Good design -Good materials -Nice view -Plants/ trees/water

OPPORTUNITIES TO SIT Room for walking -No obstacles -Good

OPPORTUNITIES TO WALK OPPORTUNITIES TO STAND/STAY

e ect -Supports or standing -Shade

TO

TO

urniture View -Shade

EXERCISE

OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK/LISTEN

-Urban

OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY EXERCISE

activity

that

- Day/Night -Summer/Winter

WATER SENSITIVE URBAN DESIGN URBAN BIODIVERSITY ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

-Intergrated Storm Water Management

-Biodiversity sensitive urban design - Native Ecosystem Resiliency Urban Heat Island Air and wa er quality

MOODBOARD