Syria Projects

[Dammam]

[Icymaniac]

I was in Damascus over the summer and some of the taxi drivers were talking about the new subway system. Of course if only the taxi drivers are talking about it it means it probs isn't happening. Does anyone know the status of the new subway or about any other projects going on in Syria?

[iMike]

http://www.damascus-metro.com/contac.../lang-pref/en/

The massive use of cars in Damascus, coupled with the lack of a reliable public transport system and the dense urban environment of Damascus, has led to traffic congestion on major roads and in downtown Damascus. As a result, the pollution, noise and visual impacts due to this traffic congestion seriously diminish the quality of life in Damascus. These elements are a major concern for the population of Damascus.



The Metro project is often called the miracle solution for Damascus, and yet until now it has also been considered a mere dream.

As cities grow in size, the number of vehicular trips on their road systems goes up. This necessitates a pragmatic policy shift to discourage private modes and encourage public transport.
Introduction of a rail based (MRTS) Mass Rapid Transit System is called for. Mass Rapid Transit Systems are capital intensive and have long gestation periods. It has been observed that in developed countries, planning for mass transit systems starts when city population size exceeds 1 million; the system is in position by the time the city population is 2 to 3 million and once the population exceeds 4 million or so, planned extensions to the Mass Rapid Transit Systems are vigorously taken up. Damascus population is today approaching 4 millions; this is why it is crucial to implement the first Metro line.

Why the metro?
Several systems of transport have been considered (tramway, light rail system, metro), but only the heavy metro will have the capacity to respond to the transport demand (690,000 to 860,000 passengers per day according to the patronage forecasts).

How has the Green Line been identified?
Preliminary analyses have highlighted the strengths of the Green Line corridor:

The Green Line will connect dense residential areas (Moadamiyeh, Mezzeh) with major centres of activity (universities, city centre).
It is the busiest corridor, and follows the major road axes.
It will link major transport hubs (Sumaria bus station, Qaboun Pullman station, the future Hijaz railway station).
Thus the Green Line has been identified as the logical first step of the future transport network. More than 80% of the people who participated in the first phase of consultation also consider that the Green Line path is the most relevant.

The Green Line: first step of the future public transport network
The Green Line will be the first step of development of the future public transport network. Feasibility studies carried out by international consultants in 2002 have designed what could be the future Metro network, whose first stage will be the Green Line, between Moadamiyeh and Qaboun.

The other means of public transportation (bus, microbus, train) will also be integrated to this future network, to optimise the synergy between these various modes.


http://www.damascus-metro.com/

[daniellle]

metro in Damascus?? Too good to be true

[midotoria]

any updates about damascus metro

[Syria]

Named after the Phoenician name for Tartus, Antaradus is a major waterfront development project.




The ancient legendary Phoenician city of Antaradus is about to reborn. A new tourism and leisure resort will be built on the Syrian coast following the signing of an agreement in that respect between the municipality of Tartous (the second largest costal town in Syria) and a number of Syrian and British private investors.
In 2004, a contract had been signed although the original scope of the project was much smaller with estimated investment put, then, at around USD 500 million, and in April 2006 the city celebrated the laying of the Anatardus foundation stone

Wahoud Group, the company that will carry out the project, Antaradus, is a joint stock company with a capital of SYP 10.3 billion (USD 200 million).
The partners are the Municipality of Tartous (30%) which is contributing by giving the land on which the resort will be built, the Wahoud Group Ltd (UK-10%), Junada (25%), Dr Wahoud (as an individual-10%) and Kerwood Investment. Besides his own personal contribution and that of his group (The Wahoud Group), Mr Mohammad Wahoud is also a shareholder in Junada. The Antaradus project was officially approved and licensed by the Higher Council of Tourism.

The leisure and tourism resort will be built on a total area of 450,000 sq meters and involves the development of 1.5 km of the sea front of Tartous (Cornish). The resort will consist of a 5-star 200-room hotel erected like a nautical lighthouse in a island (with initial agreement with Intercontinental Hotels as operator), a 4-star 200-room hotel (with initial agreement with the Holiday Inn as operator), 100 residential apartments, 200 chalets, a theme village including 10 different clubs, a green park, a marina, and a tourist village with cafes, shops and restaurants. The existing marina and ferry port will be rebuilt 300 meters along the coast. The total number of beds in the project is about 5,000.

[Syria]

Syria

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAfXUAeJvhA

[Syrian]

I LOVE YOU BALADI!
MAY U PROSPER WITH PEACE, BEAUTY, AND COEXISTANCE!

[asif iqbal]

I visted in 2004 and Syria really needs to open its borders to the outside world

[Syrian]

Originally Posted by asif iqbal

I visted in 2004 and Syria really needs to open its borders to the outside world

There has been a lot of positive economic and tourism change in Syria in the last 6 years. And it is still ongoing, one day they will get there!

[midotoria]

any information about this project

http://worldarab.net/image/tid/478

[maartens]

^ I have added the Massar Children's Discovery Center project to Urbika. I could not find the exact location though. Can anybody help?

[LordMarshall]

since i will be moving to Syria in a few months for a few years i was wondering why their section is so small here. is there so little interest in urbanism in Syria or is it due to conectivity.

[Koobideh]

Originally Posted by LordMarshall

since i will be moving to Syria in a few months for a few years i was wondering why their section is so small here. is there so little interest in urbanism in Syria or is it due to conectivity.

Yeah there is like no Syrians here at all!!! You should make a thread with pics of Syrian cities though, it would be really interesting to see what it is like there.

[bubidu]

Due to open in July, 2011.

[bubidu]

Due to open in early 2011

[bubidu]

Opening: 2012

Promotional Video

[bubidu]

Article:
Link to Article

Dramatic discovery centre leads way for Syrian educational programme

As one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Damascus represents discovery all by itself. Evoking the necessity to embrace this spirit are the statistics - 40% of the Syrian population is under the age of 14. Embarking on a revolutionary project for the historical city are Henning Larsen Architects, Martha Schwartz Partners and engineers Buro Happold who will work together to create the dramatic Massar Children’s Discovery Centre and public park in the heart of Damascus.

The Massar project’s ambition is to create better educational opportunities for young people. The centre will comprise various scientific thematic exhibitions for children aged 5-15. The discovery centre – designed by Henning Larsen Architects - is located on a 170,000 sq m river bed site. It is located centrally in walking distance from Damascus’ historic city centre with the Umayyad Mosque and university, national opera and national museum in close proximity.

Louis Becker, Design Director of Henning Larsen Architects, said: “The discovery centre’s form is inspired by the unique Damascus rose. The shape provides shade and natural ventilation in the building. Its centre forms a large communal space. This is where the children will meet, share their knowledge and develop new ideas together. The idea of the project is to create a park which features a quilt of activities interwoven with the discovery centre. The visitors will be led through several intimate spatial experiences addressing all the senses. Water will be current theme – both as activity and as a visualisation of sustainable measures and educational media.”

Martha Schwartz Partners Ltd will provide the public realm and landscape design for the project. Based on the site of the old international fairground, the public realm acts as a ‘culture corridor’, connecting the public space of the Discovery Centre with nearby cultural venues. Lorraine Landels, Senior Principal at Martha Schwartz Partners, said: “This is a landmark project as the park and the discovery centre will be the focus for a new Syrian educational programme, and one that will help us develop our portfolio as we work in the unique cultural climate of Damascus”.

Tom Hay, Buro Happold’s project leader said “This project is unique in that it gives the children of Syria the means to view the world around them through Syria’s incomparable cultural heritage. This is a milestone that will empower the children of Syria, and the Buro Happold Massar team feels proud and privileged to take part in this process.”

[bubidu]

Development by Bena Properties

Opening: 2014

[bubidu]

Completion: 2014