Informality versus Formality, A neighborhood of Beirut, Az-Zaaytriyyeh

The new millennium development goals focus on low-income society development and security, especially along its first goals. However, the actual urban planning procedures undertaken in the cities of developing world are excluding the development of poor populations and not allowing them to integrate within the urban community. The modern urban history of Beirut was marked by the constant presence of informal areas which were not planned and not mentioned in the initial plans neither after, and which were generally occupied by poor migrants. The aim of this paper is to report and study one of the oldest informal neighborhoods of Beirut, Az-Zaaytriyyeh, located in the eastern suburbs of the city, precisely in the region of Fanar. This neighborhood has been one of the first and most important arrival and settlement point for Lebanese rural migrants. This paper analyzes the social, political, economic and physical organization of the neighborhood, in order to focus on the problems inside. The data collection is through access to archives, books, maps and studies about the city of Beirut and the informal areas within its boundaries, and through interviews with state/non-state stakeholders and residents. In conclusion, to help the residents access their “right to the city”, a general urban strategy should be applied to develop an urban consciousness among the residents and to provide a health, social and economic support to those vulnerable people. On the other hand, the improvement of the aesthetic and architectural forms of the buildings is essential.