The ancient Lebanese port city of Tripoli is home to an unlikely futuristic fairground designed by Oscar Niemeyer, one of the founding fathers of modernist architecture.
Lebanon's futuristic fairground —
The ancient Lebanese port city of Tripoli is home to an unlikely futuristic fairground designed by Oscar Niemeyer, one of the founding fathers of modernist architecture.
S. Jane Kim
The park was never finished. Civil war halted construction in 1975. Buildings -- like this convention hall -- have largely been deserted ever since.
Deserted park —
The park was never finished. Civil war halted construction in 1975. Buildings -- like this convention hall -- have largely been deserted ever since.
courtesy S. Jane Kim
Tripoli is known for its centuries-old mosques and traditional architecture, which makes it an unlikely location for an experimental sound dome and other cutting-edge structures.
Radical vision —
Tripoli is known for its centuries-old mosques and traditional architecture, which makes it an unlikely location for an experimental sound dome and other cutting-edge structures.
courtesy S. Jane Kim
Apart from some damage inflicted during the civil war and Syrian army occupation in the 1980s, the site remains largely intact. But few people visit the park except evening joggers and occasional tourists.
Few visitors —
Apart from some damage inflicted during the civil war and Syrian army occupation in the 1980s, the site remains largely intact. But few people visit the park except evening joggers and occasional tourists.
courtesy Julie Singer
Niemeyer's helipad is shaped like a lotus flower, with a bright red spiral staircase leading from the landing surface to ground level. A subterranean space museum was originally planned underneath the helipad.
Helipad —
Niemeyer's helipad is shaped like a lotus flower, with a bright red spiral staircase leading from the landing surface to ground level. A subterranean space museum was originally planned underneath the helipad.
courtesy Adam Jayme
The Lebanese Pavilion is another highlight of the park. Inspired by Lebanon's traditional architecture, it's the only major departure from Niemeyer's signature space-age design style.
Lebanese Pavilion —
The Lebanese Pavilion is another highlight of the park. Inspired by Lebanon's traditional architecture, it's the only major departure from Niemeyer's signature space-age design style.
courtesy S. Jane Kim
The theater is the focal point of the park. It hosted ballets and rock concerts in the 1990s, but these days typically attracts only skateboarders.
The theater —
The theater is the focal point of the park. It hosted ballets and rock concerts in the 1990s, but these days typically attracts only skateboarders.
Courtesy Tony Collins
The concrete stage with its sail-shaped sound amplifier (Niemeyer called it a <em>voile acoustique</em>, or acoustics veil), and the white seats added in the '90s are perhaps the most photographed sites in the park.
Most photographed sites —
The concrete stage with its sail-shaped sound amplifier (Niemeyer called it a voile acoustique, or acoustics veil), and the white seats added in the '90s are perhaps the most photographed sites in the park.
S. Jane Kim
Niemeyer is known for his futuristic design style, like this lamp in the parking lot.
Space-age design —
Niemeyer is known for his futuristic design style, like this lamp in the parking lot.
courtesy S. Jane Kim
The Experimental Theater is a huge dome with thick concrete walls rising at an extreme angle from the ground. "It's not easy to make such a form without concrete, so in the '50s and '60s it was considered extremely modern," says local guide Mira Minkara.
Experimental Theater —
The Experimental Theater is a huge dome with thick concrete walls rising at an extreme angle from the ground. "It's not easy to make such a form without concrete, so in the '50s and '60s it was considered extremely modern," says local guide Mira Minkara.
courtesy Lea Sfeir
Intended as a performance space, the dome has a central stage powered by a hydraulic jet to adjust the height. There's also a stage behind the audience area to allow for a surrounding effect.
The Dome —
Intended as a performance space, the dome has a central stage powered by a hydraulic jet to adjust the height. There's also a stage behind the audience area to allow for a surrounding effect.
courtesy S. Jane Kim
The entrance to the park, or the Gate, is an eight-meter high structure. Its open design gives viewers their first view of various sites in the park.
The Gate —
The entrance to the park, or the Gate, is an eight-meter high structure. Its open design gives viewers their first view of various sites in the park.
courtesy S. Jane Kim
The center's 750-meter concrete awning, which Niemeyer called <em>la grande couverture</em> (the big cover), is a testament to the architect's fascination with limits and edges. "The site has no vertical abstractions," says Minkara, to disrupt the aesthetic of limitless space.
Exhibition Center —
The center's 750-meter concrete awning, which Niemeyer called la grande couverture (the big cover), is a testament to the architect's fascination with limits and edges. "The site has no vertical abstractions," says Minkara, to disrupt the aesthetic of limitless space.
courtesy S. Jane Kim
There's a skylight shaped like a pointed oval in<em> la grande couverture</em>, which some believe is a reference to a specific part of the female anatomy.
Inspired by nature —
There's a skylight shaped like a pointed oval in la grande couverture, which some believe is a reference to a specific part of the female anatomy.
courtesy Ghaleb Hawila