Urban Stitch

Abstract

Since the beginning of civilization rivers are strongly linked to the identity and vitality of cities. they provide water, means of transportation, spaces for urban expansion, and a defined boundary which contributes to the identity of a city. Rivers are often the raison d'etre of cities, and their inhabitants have an intricate relationship with it.

Such sites are often a target for impulsive and premature development. in the case of zahle, a city established on the banks of the berdawni river, the area has seen part of its precious asset disappear under an underground parking, forming an artificial barrier, between two urban parts, and a void in the identity of the city.

This thesis proposes that urban stitching based on architectural elements can reconnect different parts of the city. how architectural measures can fabricate reminders of a former presence of elements and artifacts, while defining an iconic public architecture, and a modern riverfront with a new urban identity, thus raising the quality of the city.