August 4, 2020. A single moment ruptured the fabric of Beirut, sending shockwaves through its streets, its history, its soul. The explosion at the port left behind not only destruction but a profound void—a silence that demanded to be filled, not with noise, but with meaning.
I was in Achrafieh when it happened. The earth-shaking force was followed by a disorienting stillness, and then chaos. I walked through streets littered with shattered glass, past people carrying children, bloodied and dazed. Among the devastation, one image remains with me: an older gentleman with a broom, quietly sweeping the glass from his storefront. That simple act of restoration in the face of overwhelming loss became a symbol of Beirut’s unyielding spirit.
The next day, I returned to Mar Mikhael to witness an extraordinary mobilization. Hundreds of people had taken to the streets, brooms and shovels in hand, clearing debris and reclaiming the city inch by inch. I found a broken broom, worn down by the day’s relentless efforts, and turned it into an art piece called Weapon—a reminder that even in destruction, there is the power to rebuild.
This spirit of resilience informs the design of the memorial park. Situated at ground zero, it is a landscape of memory and renewal. A saltwater lake marks the crater left by the blast, while the Wall of Light emerges from the freshwater lake where the silos once stood, a luminous memory of their role in shielding the city. Seven spheres, scattered across the terrain, embody silence, hope, identity, continuity, and more, creating a space where absence becomes presence, and memory takes tangible form.
This park is also part of a larger vision. In the aftermath of the explosion, the Beirut Urban Declaration emerged, a collective effort to envision the city’s reconstruction while preserving its urban identity. As a member of the committee, I contributed to Axis 3: A comprehensive view of rehabilitating the destroyed area. This declaration, crafted with contributions from architecture schools, the Order of Engineers and Architects, and cultural foundations, seeks to weave Beirut’s fragmented elements back together.
The memorial park is not just a tribute to what was lost—it is a space to reflect on what remains and what can be rebuilt. It is a place where silence speaks, light remembers, and resilience transforms.
Link to Project File: https://marounkassab.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Beirut-Memorial-Park-by-Maroun-Kassab.pdf
