RECLAIMING THE PUBLIC DOMAIN: The Case of Ramlat AL-Bayda Public Beach

Private appropriation of the waterfront is a major problem of the Lebanese coast. Private encroached on the public domain continues because of the inability of public authorities to confront market forces and influential business enterprises. The outcome threatens to overtake the entire Beirut Waterfront depriving public usage and accessibility to the sea on the one hand and destroying natural marine and coastal systems on the other. Ramlat al-Bayda is a particular case of this ?anti-social? waterfront development trend which is based on private efforts to control, exploit and benefit from public lands. The case of Ramlat al-Bayda requires alternative urban design strategies that enable private schemes to develop under precautionary measures that ensure public accessibility and use. The aim of the research work is to develop urban design guidelines to control and direct private development to benefit the public and enhance the ecological well being of the waterfront.