On the 4th of August 2020, the 3rd biggest non-nuclear explosion ever recorded shattered Beirut from its epicenter at the port, across several kilometers of radius, leaving the city and its neighborhoods in a state of complete destruction and human despair. As part of the relief efforts to rebuild and bring back to use educational spaces that were affected, our studio was approached by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation to repair 10 public schools in the West area of Beirut in an emergency swift action in coordination with the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

The Studio took charge of detailed assessment of the caused damage as well as in identifying other structural and functional weaknesses of each building. Additionally the studio was in charge of the tendering process through preparation of tender documents, selection and evaluation of adequate contractors, followed by supervision of execution phase. Schools have been classified in two groups, those that are situated in heritage buildings, some of them dating from the end of 19th century, and others that are occupying buildings dating from late ‘50s and onwards.

Hidden in the old neighborhoods of Beirut such as Mar Elias (Schools 60 (Dr. Iman Kabbara Chaarany Secondary Public school), 61 (Rafka Taji Kindergarten), Zoqaq el Blat (School 16 (Zoqaq Al Blat Mixed)), Burj Abi Haidar (School 20 (Burj Abi Haidar Mixed Public Kindergarten)), Ras el Nabeh (School 44 (Ras El Nabeh Second Public School for Girls)) and Basta (School 12-1406 (Beirut Alaliya Girls Intermediate and Ras El Nabeh Second Mixed)) each school modestly reflects the era in which it was built. Aiming at preserving those qualities, works that were undertaken in heritage buildings are mostly reflected in restoration of specific architectural elements such as triple arched windows, wooden decorative elements, mostly found above partition walls that are separating rooms from central areas, repair of massive wooden doors and windows, repair of lime plaster walls, revealing of wooden ceilings, repair and retiling of red tile roof. The most apparent example of the executed work is surely the kindergarten in Burj Abi Haidar (School 20 (Burj Abi Haidar Mixed Public Kindergarten)).

Some of the schools that are occupying modern buildings built in late 50s gave us opportunity for programmatic improvements. For example in a school in Zoqaq el Blat (School 16 (Zoqaq Al Blat Mixed)), whose building belongs to one of the oldest Beiruti families, the studio got a chance to transform the unused roof area into a multifunctional space, renovating two rooms and transforming them into an arts and crafts room that will give the school an opportunity to expand their curriculum and engage students in creative works. Another area on the roof terrace was prepared to receive a green house, that will be implemented in Phase 2 of the project. Different interventions that enhance energy efficiency of the building’s envelope were executed along other repair works. Replacing windows (steel or aluminum frames) with double glazed glass, reapplication of double layered waterproofing membrane for flat roofs, replacement of asbestos canopies, treatment and encapsulation of asbestos panels, assessment and treatment of water leakage in affected areas are some of them.

Throughout the Phase 1 it became clear that additional actions are needed in order to prevent buildings, especially those of historical significance, from further deterioration. It also occurred to us that there is a need for spatial improvements and programmatic adjustments. Some of these changes, such as urban gardening and art wall painting will be followed with the set of workshops as part of a participatory approach that will involve students in design and execution, as well as the maintenance and preservation of these newly added areas.

List of all schools:

Beirut Alaliya Girls Intermediate (CERD 12), Basta, Beirut
Zoqaq Al Blat Mixed (CERD 16), Zoqaq Al Blat, Beirut
Burj Abi Haidar Mixed Public Kindergarten (CERD 20), Basta, Beirut
Fakhreddine El Maani Secondary Public School for Girls (CERD 24), El Mazraah, Beirut
Ras El Nabeh Second Public School for Girls (CERD 44), Ras El Nabeh, Beirut
Dr. Iman Kabbara Chaarany Secondary Public school (CERD 60), Mousseitbeth, Beirut
Rafka Taji Kindergarten (previously Raml El Zaydanieh) (CERD 61), Mousseitbeth, Beirut
Ras El Nabeh Second Mixed (CERD 1406), Basta, Beirut
Al Allama Abdullah Al Alayli Secondary (CERD 1477) + MEHE Regional Office, Al Malaab, Beirut
Mohammed Shamel Mixed Elementary Public School (CERD 1532), Al Malaab, Beirut