African Design Magazine November 2014 | Page 13

News SILVER: Evergreen City, Beirut, Lebanon The Beirut Pine Forest extends over more than two hectares and is a unique green space, considered the largest botanical garden in Lebanon. A rehabilitation plan has been proposed to develop the facilities and services needed in the park for opening it to the public and promoting it for cultural, social, sports, and environmental activities – while at the same time maintaining and conserving the park’s natural habitats. BRONZE: Incremental Construction, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Responding to the housing challenge of rapid urbanization, the project develops a purposefully incomplete structure that is both affordable and rapid to assemble. Close to 90% of components including concrete elements and lightweight eucalyptus frames are prefabricated by micro and small-scale enterprises, creating skilled employment and capacity building. Homeowners will be able to finish the construction themselves, installing building components and finishes according to their needs. Acknowledgement prize: Adaptive Re-Use, Beit Iksa, Palestine Reviving the historic centre of a village of 1,600 people, the project responds to isolation and limited resources. Two abandoned buildings will be adapted for reuse as working spaces with an eco-kitchen, followed by the rehabilitation of surrounding spaces. The new facilities will include interactive educational playgrounds for children, winter and summer seating areas, and a protected bird habitat – combining design, planning, restoration, landscaping, and infrastructure. africandesignmagazine.com 13