Abstract
Nature for Cities? Cities against nature? This thesis calls for an understanding of nature and the city as a shared habitat. Nature serves urban residents with a wide range of benefits. Simultaneously, the massive consumption in cities and the predominant anthropocentric planning practice cause a substantial strain on biodiversity and natural ecosystems in cities. This thesis, therefore, elaborates on the dichotomy between nature and the city. Based on three case studies in Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, the goal is to examine good practice concerning nature-based solutions (NBS) in the Global South. The Greater Beirut Metropolitan area is prone to a severe lack of green urban space and dysfunctioning waste infrastructure while facing the most severe economic crisis in the country’s history. At once handicapped by a failed state, Beirut is invigorated by the dynamism of its residents. Such dynamism also applies to the three cases discussed in this thesis. Initiated by non-governmental stakeholders and at a small urban scale, the cases include a green organic rooftop garden for the empowerment of Palestinian women (Soufra Kitchen), an Urban Forest planted along the Beirut River (BeirutRiverLess), and finally, a prototype for off-grid, self-sufficient architectural design (LIFEHAUS). The discussed case studies are informed by a theoretical body that introduces definitions, concepts, and benefits around NBS as an umbrella term for applying nature in cities. In addition, the theoretical frame draws upon three pillars of criticism, which address: a. Hybrid infrastructures; b. Social equity and inclusion; and c. The integration of local and city contexts in the Global South. In this respect, the thesis culminates in discussing the three cases from an in-depth scholarly perspective. The goal is to provide evidence showing that the three cases represent exemplary NBS, and may therefore serve as ‚Good practice ‘ or a future roadmap for applying NBS in the Global South: Toward an understanding of nature and city as a shared habitat.
Key Words: Nature-Based Solutions, Hybrid Infrastructure, Social Inclusion, Lebanon, Good Practice