Mar Mikael Train Station
University Project – Masters In Architecture
During the first year of my master’s project, our focus was on studying the Mar Mikael station area, paving the way for the design of a novel train station connecting Beirut to the abandoned railway systems. The conceptual framework revolves around the juxtaposition of fast and slow elements.
The chosen location, housing historic buildings from a bygone train station era, now in ruins, serves as a poignant reflection of the slow, frozen historical time since the 90s. Contrasted against this, the envisioned new trains symbolize speed and progress, creating a dynamic narrative. The plot, bordered by a highway on one side and Mar Mikael’s slow internal, serves as a transition from slow to fast and vice versa.
This concept materializes in the form of blade-shaped structures, embodying speed lines, interspersed with slow green bridges. These bridges offer a serene walking experience, connecting people with a contemplative and slow-paced nature, contrasting the rapid modernization of the trains.
The multifaceted project includes a train station, ticket sales area, hotel, front road shops, a small train station, and a railways museum. An underground platform and technical fixtures cater to the operational needs of the trains. Additionally, a public garden and bus parking facilitate public transportation.
In essence, this project envisions a revitalized Lebanon and Beirut, where modern transportation is seamlessly connected through railways. Mar Mikael, at the heart of these connections, becomes a symbol of progress and connectivity, ushering in a brighter future for transportation and urban development.
