Public Projects and the Responsibility of Redefining the Nature of the Cultural/Natural Landscape (The Seafront Promenade) "The Public Water Front along the Highway: A Space of Transition between the Highway and the Sea"

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"I am becoming more interested not so much in the vernacular (As an object), but rather in understanding its evolution as 'type', 'morph', and relationships "Al Siyaq" represented in the natural and cultural landscape"

- Rami Daher  

 

Introducing the Seafront Promenade

• The seafront promenade as a distinctive public space has accompanied the history of littoral and seaside resorts, from the beginning in the XVIII century, during modernism and the crisis produced by mass tourism.

• It is an historic urban/rural space which, from the invention of the sea holidays, has played a significant role in ordinary life and therefore it is largely mentioned by many cultural sources.

• Until today the spatial pattern of the urban promenade was more or less stable in time: an asymmetrical spine, a great scenery with the sea as backdrop; the promenade as stage, a "parade"; the people as actors, and, at the same time, spectators; therefore it is divided into three strips:

1. Bathing establishments on the sea

2. Space of the promenade as a stroll space (Extended into the sea by the pier)

3. Urban façade and the urban equipment (The Villa, The Kursaal, The Hotel, The Casino, etc.)

 

In our case as the Dead Sea area, we have the highway interface instead of the city urban interface.

It is very important and through recognition of this reality to respect of both public space and marine environment. 

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Re-urbanizing, Opening up the Highway Cultural Landscape to the Sea

An urban space can be a space of transition between the city (the highway) and the country (The Waterfront). Re-urbanizing here is all about redefining this relationship between the highway and the waterfront, which is based not necessary on "Building buildings" but rather on how public space is defined in a way to create public access and also how a transitional space between the highway and the sea is created through a series of platforms and structures that do not aim to become architectural icons as much as to creatively create public spaces and amenities that emerge from the natural character of the space.

Re-urbanizing is this particular project also means the configuring of the Project as a series of platforms (Surfaces) that creates a number of transitional areas between the highway edge and the waterfront. These Platforms would correspond to the naturalness of the area and its topographical terrain.

 

Remove Exclusivity & Remove Clatter in order to Achieve Free Visual Access / Rejecting The 5-Star Exclusive Hotel Syndrome or the Clattered Chaotic Public Waterfront

 

Recognition

Transforming a place through the conservation of its spatial qualities and potentials:

• The relationship between the edge of the highway and the waterfront.

• Recognition of the natural terrain and topography.