Beirut’s (Dis)integrated Seafront: Diverse Identities, Experiences, Typologies and Governance at the Edge of the City

This thesis looks at multiculturalism and integration to answer what different levels of seafront show us about how typologies of public open space can unite across differences and divisions and, conversely, in what ways these divisions are further entrenched. The thesis offers an understanding of leisure cultural practices across ethnicities. The thesis investigates how public spaces are reclaimed by the practice of leisure or by forcible reclamation, protests and sit-ins due to the lack of citizen participatory mechanisms in governance of public space. The thesis details findings and methodological development relating to multiculturalism and integration, governance, social justice, and leisure in a post-war city in the Global South. Mapping and questionnaires allow understanding of micro-spaces of the seafront and links to city-wide and beyond territories. Interviews, on-site observations -walks, photo analysis and sketches note typologies, narratives of leisure and the diversity of activity. Netography highlights nationalities’ engagement with memory. Desk research and interviews note a lack of citizen participatory mechanisms. Beirut’s seafront is the only large-scale, free, fully accessible open space in Greater Beirut (Khalili, 2015; Beirut Zone 10, 2018). Beirut has 1m2 of green open space per person (compared to 40m2/of public space per person recommended by the World Health Organisation). A history of privatising public spaces transformed Beirut’s seafront into high-end resorts predominantly catering to the rich; Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, endured a brutal sectarian war (1975-1990). Initially settled by migrants and refugees in the 18th century, it currently accommodates large numbers of Palestinians, Syrians and migrant workers from Ethiopia, Sudan and other countries, The thesis emphasises the need for integration across different scales to be able to respond to diversity in a divided context and recognise difference in social and cultural values concerning recreation and socialising across seascape typologies.