Reclaiming the City: Strategies for Inclusive Urban Development in Beirut's Central District

Reclaiming the City: Strategies for Inclusive Urban Development in Beirut's Central District Beirut’s Central District, specifically Martyr’s Square, has always been a physical and symbolic center for the city of Beirut, representing the city’s historical and socio-political changes. During the Ottoman era, it became a place to remember the martyred Lebanese nationalists of 1916. Since then, it has served as a public space for the city’s gatherings, a transportation hub, and a place for citizens to protest. However, during the Lebanese Civil War (1975 - 1990), Beirut was physically split in two: East and West Beirut. This left Martyr’s Square in the middle of the divide. After the war, a private company set out to rebuild the Central District, adopting a modernist approach. However, a focus on profits turned most of the public areas into private ones, neglecting inclusivity and accessibility. The Beirut Port blast of August 4, 2020, further worsened the state of the area, emphasizing the inefficiencies of government planning and further damaging its infrastructure. Despite this neglect, local grassroots and non-governmental organizations stepped up and organized emergency responses and cultural initiatives that helped reclaim these public spaces. While primitive, these efforts show how public spaces can bring people together, reconnect fragmented urban fabric, and serve as platforms for civic engagement, emphasizing the role they can play in linking parts of the city that were split apart. Their work, however, faces many roadblocks due to scarce funds, pushbacks from established systems, and a lack of government support. This thesis aims to examine the role of grassroots organizations in reshaping and reclaiming the neglected public spaces in Beirut’s Central District, focusing on Martyr’s Square. By suggesting strategies to develop the city in a more inclusive way, this thesis will propose methods to repair Beirut’s fragmented urban layout, turning Martyr’s Square into a space of real value for citizens that is open to all. By referencing the history and present state of Martyr’s Square, evaluating grassroots contributions, and examining urban planning challenges in Beirut’s Central District, inclusive urban strategies will be proposed. This thesis will produce a framework for inclusive urban growth and transformation, showing how with the participation of grassroots organizations, neglected public spaces can be reimagined to encourage urban connectivity and social integration.