DESIGNING A SUSTAINABLE EVENT
In consultation with our partners and specialists in sustainability, theOtherdada, Cedar Environmental, Recycle Lebanon, Waste, Lebanese Architecture Club, and many others, the team spent numerous months studying how to be as sustainable as possible with the renovation of KED and the overall design and communication elements of Beirut Design Week’s central location. The aim of the project was to restore the building with the intention of reviving Karantina, while shedding light on the misuse of the area as a waste dump, as well as creating awareness about sustainability with concrete actions and examples in the space. The team focused on certain aspects of the building, recognizing that there would be a lot of challenges and that 100% sustainability was not feasible. These aspects are:
ENERGY
Reducing energy consumption, especially in a country like Lebanon, where power outages are a daily issue, is key to creating a sustainable event. Therefore all the lighting in the space consists of LED lamps. Air conditioning is only used in one room of the whole building; the rest of the space depends on ventilators that consume very little energy. However, power outages remain a challenge, and therefore a fuel-based generator is needed for the hours where electricity from the public grid is unavailable.
WATER
Water is supplied by the six tanks installed on top of the KED building. Much of the graywater is used to irrigate the Beirut River Less installation by theOtherdada next to KED. To create awareness about the importance of conserving water, messages about water usage are communicated through environmental graphics in the washrooms.
MATERIALS
The sustainability of materials was a key factor in all decisions related to building interior spaces, installations, and exhibitions. All the walls in the building were made out of OSB (Oriented Strand Board) wood, which is made out of discarded wood particles. All the furniture in the space, especially on the second floor terrace is made from recycled materials. These include the eco-boards made or plastic bags by Cedar Environmental and Waste seating furniture made from up-cycled ad banners.
RECYCLING
Recycling bins for sorting papers, plastics and organics are installed in the premises. The service of delivering the waste to the appropriate facilities is provided also by Cedar Environmental.
COMPOSTING
All the organic waste created at the even will be sent to local farmers for composting.
INCLUSIVE
All events and especially the KED central location are open for all free of charge, with the exception of some workshops.
MOBILITY
Encouraging sustainable mobility to and from the venue is also of concern to the team of organizers at MENA Design Research Center. Public transportation, shuttle services, carpooling, and riding bicycles (in collaboration with CyclingCircle) are all encouraged and advertised in the BDW communications. Moreover, all delivery services prior and during BDW are provided by Deghri Messengers, a local Lebanese bicycle courier for all deliveries.
COMMUNICATION
Digital communication saves tons of paper. Beirut Design week communicates with participants partners and the audience mostly through email, website, and telephone. This includes the registration process and follow-up. Online copies of all publications are also provided to be downloaded from the website.
LOCAL RESOURCES
The development of all aspects of renovation is provided through local craftsmen, designers, architects, and construction workers. All the food vendors are also 100% local businesses.
COLLABORATIVE
Beirut Design Week is above all a truly collaborative process involving students and local partners in every step of development.
SOCIAL
All the leftover food that is not consumed during the event is sent to food charities across Lebanon.
REVIVING THE AREA
We hope that with the initiation of KED as a cultural hub, the local authorities will start appreciating the value of Karantina as an important part of Beirut with flourishing communities. We also hope that more people will visit the area and actively support a ban on polluting Beirut River with the country’s waste, which causes irreparable environmental damage to the entire area.