Visualisation of Martyr s Square, Beirut

Solidere, a Lebanese joint-stock company, was created by government decree in 1994 to reconstruct Beirut city-centre. The company, a form of public-private partnership, has a majority share holding of former owners and tenants of city-centre property. Several projects are underway, including the redevelopment of Place des Martyrs, once the bustling heart of Beirut but badly damaged during the war. Urban planners in Beirut have recently developed a 3D computer model to visually describe the spatial characteristics of Martyr’s Square and its context, prior to inviting design proposals for an international competition. This paper describes issues pertaining to the development of the model to meet the needs of urban designers and town planners. It also considers potential future uses of the simulation, outlining areas for further research and development