community empowerments craft center

Beirut Arab university, Faculty of Architecture, Design & Built Environment, Tripoli Campus

Project idea

The project reimagines the former Khiam Detention Center, a site deeply associated with trauma, conflict, and collective memory, as a Community Empowerment Craft Center dedicated to healing and social recovery.

Inspired by the resilience of the people of South Lebanon, the project transforms a place once defined by suffering into a platform for creativity, education, and cultural exchange. Through craft-based healing therapy, the center empowers local communities—particularly youth and women—by providing spaces for learning, production, exhibition, and social interaction.

The architectural concept is derived from the metaphor of a thorn emerging from a scar. Just as a thorn grows from harsh terrain, the project symbolizes resilience, identity, and regeneration. It creates a new narrative where memory is preserved, trauma is acknowledged, and healing becomes an active community process.

The goal of the project is to reconnect people with their land, history, and cultural identity while fostering social cohesion, psychological recovery, and sustainable local development.

Project description

The Community Empowerment Craft Center is a multi-functional cultural and educational facility located on the former Khiam Detention Site in South Lebanon.

The project combines memorial, educational, cultural, and community functions within a unified architectural framework. The program includes a memorial and exhibition zone documenting the history of the site, craft workshops, training and educational spaces, community gathering areas, multipurpose halls, exhibition galleries, a cafeteria, outdoor cultural spaces, and administrative facilities.

The spatial organization guides visitors through a journey from remembrance to empowerment. Memorial spaces preserve the collective memory of the site, while creative workshops and community facilities support learning, skill development, and social interaction. Open courtyards and gathering areas encourage dialogue and collective participation, transforming the site into a living cultural destination.

The project aims to strengthen community resilience, preserve heritage, support local craftsmanship, and create new opportunities for cultural and economic development.

Technical information

Project Type: Community Empowerment and Cultural Center

Location: Former Khiam Detention Center Site, Khiam, South Lebanon

Site Context: Post-conflict heritage site with significant historical and cultural value.

Main Functions:

* Memorial and remembrance spaces
* Craft therapy workshops
* Cultural exhibition galleries
* Educational and training facilities
* Multipurpose community halls
* Social gathering and event spaces
* Cafeteria and support facilities
* Administrative offices

Design Concept:
The architectural form is generated from the transformation of a scar into a thorn, symbolizing resilience emerging from collective trauma. Fragmented geometries are integrated into a unified composition that represents healing, identity, and community strength.

Structural System:
Reinforced concrete structural framework combined with long-span steel roof elements to support the angular cantilevered architectural forms.

Environmental Strategy:

* Passive daylight integration
* Natural ventilation opportunities through courtyards and voids
* Optimized solar orientation
* Landscape integration with the surrounding topography
* Preservation of existing site character and memory

Project Objective:
To transform a former detention center into a community-driven cultural landmark that promotes healing, empowerment, education, and social resilience through craft-based engagement and collective memory.