Mar Mikhael Analysis

According to Wikipedia, “Mar Mikhael is a residential and commercial neighbourhood in the Ashrafiyeh district of Beirut, Lebanon. It lies South of Charles Helou, the maritime highway that separates the neighbourhood from the Port of Beirut area, north of Geitaoui neighbourhood, east of Gemmayzeh and west of the Pierre Gemayel highway and the Beirut River”. The neighbourhood is considered of a natural extension of the Gemmayzeh neighbourhood and composed of several urban fabrics, with distinct atmosphere and dynamics. It starts on the extremely commercial and trendy Charles Malek avenue and houses several historic institutions like the “Maronite Campus” that includes the “College de la Sagesse” school, and little do they know that this school
The architectural heritage is significant, as most houses belong to the early 20th century ottoman period, with several dating from the 19th century rural past of Ashrafieh. It is a neighbourhood of small alleys, stairs and dead-ends that constitute a very organic and warm urban fabric. One of the most significant, priceless and remarkable features of this neighbourhood is the very large orchard that remains in the heart of the quarter. It is one of the last gardens of such type in Achrafieh and Beyrouth, and a remain of the terraced morphology of the Achrafieh Hill before its heavy urbanisation. The neighbourhood ends on Armenia Street, where the Mar Mikhayel neighbourhood starts. Armenia street is the main artery of Mar Mikhayel, one of the last streets of Beirut to have retained its traditional character, with a remarkably coherent and intact historic urban facade, dating from the 19th century. It is one of the most touristic, most active, most trendy, most “artsy” streets of the city. Two years ago, a shopping trip to the dusty, dowdy Mar Mikhael district of Beirut would have netted you little more than a tire change and some vacuum cleaner
Since the beginning of the Lebanese Civil war and the collapse of Beirut’s public transportation system as mentioned previously, three key developments have taken shape: Cola Transport Hub, Dora Transport Hub and Charles Helou Bus Station. All of them are ongoing failures and conflicts of contemporary Lebanon. Almost all transportation hubs across the country have been the consequences of bad management and unpleasant events caused by several factors whether on a political or urban level. The intention was enhancing the public but all it really enhanced was fear and