Investigating mbncp·
mbncp· is an ongoing research project about non-constructible parcels within municipal Beirut.
As cities struggle to adapt to the changes in society, culture, technology and the economy, new types of urbanism intriguingly manifest themselves as necessary tools for its re-naturalization. Today’s understanding of re-naturalization has shifted from the traditional focus on squares, parks and pavements to a broader concept that recognizes the value of less formal leftover spaces and the daily interactions that occur in them. It is through this manifestation and the emergence of a more dynamic, flexible or adaptive urbanism, that the city could become more responsive to new needs, demands and the preferences of its users.
Within the context of a growing urbanization on a territory that can no longer accommodate such growth, and the lack in open and public spaces to respond to users’ needs, municipal Beirut finds within its realm an urban resource that can no longer be ignored. Aouad’s work is an inquiry into the role of leftover space and more specifically non-constructible parcels, regarding their values and potentialities for the re-naturalization of the city, based on their contribution to the public realm.
This investigation is part of Aouad’s ongoing research interests on Municipal Beirut’s urban fabric, and more specifically the left over spaces within its realm.
