In a city like Beirut, public space is a rarity. While the government struggles to simply organize itself, the city is left to fend for itself - typically with money making the decisions. Big tower development and high end commerical hubs are springing up faster than you can even say United Arab Emirates- there are even plans for a coastal island community in the shape of a ceder pine. But, what does work here is the Cornich.
The palm tree promenade becomes one of the rare public gathering spaces. It was formally cleaned up with new railings, sidewalk patterns and planters in 2007, and now regularrly hosts a number of bikers, walkers, strollers, fishers, swimmers and late night rendezvous. You can sip coffee from traveling vendors or even catch an occasional art/music performance. And of course the whole time taking in the incredible Medeterrian Sea views.
What makes it work? If I could make an assumption after only being here 15 days...its becuase its linear. Its not one open space. This is a city of movement and commuting. With no public transportation, its the automobile that gets people around. Its a city of diverse neighborhoods, communities, beliefs...perhaps its a space that one can be moving in that feels the most familiar, secure...safe?
Maybe the question to ask is more like...how did stay public and not get privatized? And what does it take to get manipulate the city space for MORE public spaces like this?
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i hate to be repeating myself but i can think of at least one more middle-eastern city where the only place people of different origins and religions share the public space is along the waterfront...
ReplyDeletei was also wondering - what about the street life? are there smaller, walkable areas that have a more compact urban feel to them? are there places where you feel safer because there are many people on the street, or would you actually feel not as safe for the same reason?
Well, actually, i was going to re-state my comment to talk more about HOW this space came to become public. Because, its popularity perhaps is due to it being one of the ONLY public spaces. So I would be interesting to ask, how did this not get developed into private space...maybe because it simply was built right on the edge of the sea...Because there is very little public space here. There is more private interest to create spaces...that are similar to what we know as BID's....(Battery Park City for example).
ReplyDeleteSo, yes, streets are where the public spaces exists. Street life? Well, it depends on where. In my neighborhood Hamra, its here...its vibrant. But walk in any direction and it ends, the streets are filled with cars and no one walking. Downtown, you look funny walking around...and crazy, if you dare to cross the 6 lanes of traffic.
As far as safety, I always really feel safe. But perhaps I am the clueless foreigner. Crime is low here, and I have not been warned...but then again, I am in a rather stable neighborhood. I am sure this is not the same for other neighborhoods.