São Paulo – Beirut, the capital and largest city in Lebanon, will be the first case to be presented to participants of the International Forum on Urbanism, organized by the São Paulo Housing Union (Secovi/SP) and due September 21st, 2010. Specialists from Brazil and the world over will show models of cities where real estate intelligence was used in favour of urban development.
According to businessman Basílio Jafet, the development vice president of Secovi/SP, in spite of having been devastated by decades of wars, the historical centre of Beirut is now one of the most notable examples of revitalization and reconstruction.
“As a result of the project, implemented in 1994 by Solidère (Societé Libanaise pour le Développement et la Reconstruction de Beyrouth), the city went back to being one of the Middle East’s most important regions from the perspectives of economy, culture and tourism,” he said.
The project for rebuilding Beirut, devised by prime minister Rafik Hariri, who passed away in February 2005, uses a model of partnerships that succeeded in increasing the dynamism of Lebanese economy in order to enable the intervention, which is now a reference in terms of rebuilding degraded areas.
Jafet was a member of a group of 20 Brazilian businessmen that visited Lebanon in January this year, and was very impressed with the city. “Beirut is experiencing a renaissance and is one of the greatest examples of reconstruction of the last decades,” he said. “The centre of Beirut is fully recovered, with many new buildings and old ones restored. The combination makes for a very cool view,” he said.
“They have invested not only in new construction work, but also in the city’s infrastructure, recovering water, sewage and energy networks, streets, avenues, the port, beaches, dams,” he said. “The central square is completely restored. It is amazing how they were able to make the city lively, happy, the people walking around safely,” he claimed.
According to Jafet, some streets have been closed down to make pedestrians safer, and now there are stores, restaurants and bars. The city received new investment, including foreign, especially from other Arab countries.
“Beirut is a nice example to be replicated. The forum will be an opportunity for businessmen in the sector to become familiar with the transformation that has taken place,” said Jafet.
Starting again
Before the Civil War, which lasted 15 years, from 1975 to 1990, Lebanon experienced a period of prosperity, as a result of tourism, agriculture and services, especially banking. In particular between the 1940s and 1970s, the country attracted a large number of tourists. It used to be known as the “Switzerland of the Middle East” and its capital was known as the local “Paris.”
The post-civil war reconstruction was near-complete when, in July 2006, the city was bombarded by the Israeli Armed Forces, which caused deaths of civilians and infrastructural damage. The damages were minor, but many people had to start all over.
“Lebanon still has a long way to go and many challenges ahead, but the Lebanese people have much energy and will surely be able to overcome any obstacle,” Jafet.
The event
The International Forum on Urbanism is part of the activities of the Secovi Convention, scheduled to take place from September 18 to 22 at the union’s headquarters, including panels and technical lectures addressing matters pertaining to “Urban development and real estate intelligence.” The meeting will also present the experiences of Portland and São Francisco, in the United States, and new models in urban occupation for the capital of the state of São Paulo.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
