Projects for Beirut. Reflecting on the city after the 2020 blast.

On August 4th, 2020, the world woke up to a new form of urban destruction. A blast of unprecedented power – among the most devastating ever recorded in non-war settings – tore apart a vast portion of downtown Beirut, radiating from a warehouse in the port. The shocking images and footage made headlines throughout the world, as people everywhere witnessed how Beirut had been – once again – struck by disaster. Shortly after the blast, a seminar was organized to understand the complex and unfolding situation in the city. Three scholars from Lebanese universities presented their outlook and reported on the early efforts to protect and restore the damaged heritage. In a final roundtable, further discussants contributed to a deeper insight on what was happening in Beirut. This book offers a recording of the seminar, with the texts of the three keynote speakers and a transcript of the closing discussion. As the situation in Beirut continues to evolve, amid a deep political and economic crisis and the enduring global pandemic, the fate of the urban heritage is still at stake.