Since the end of its civil war (1975-1990), the Lebanese people have not been offered a chance to reconcile as a united nation. Sects and religions are still segregated in the city of Beirut, along with the rest of the country, along invisible sectarian boundaries. The lack of public space in the city's historic centre has delayed the natural process of reconciliation, leaving Lebanon a divided nation.

The derelict pre-war concrete structure, once a popular shopping centre, offers a void within the city waiting to be given back to the public in the form of open spaces allowing markets, memorials and dialogue to take place on site. Its concrete dome is a familiar landmark amongst every generation and aims to serve as symbol for unification. The design sits within the abandoned site, resting against the derelict structure, allowing the scars and memories of the war found throughout it to be celebrated and observed in a new light. 

Through a curated sensory experience, the project aims to evoke nostalgia and remembrance amongst a divided public as well as unify the sites’ past with a future vision for a united Lebanon.