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Martyrs’ Square Underground Car Park: Expanding Mobility in Beirut’s Historic Core
Martyrs’ Square in downtown Beirut is one of the city’s most symbolic public spaces, but its surrounding area has long suffered from a shortage of parking. To address this, the Council of Development and Reconstruction (CDR) commissioned K&A to design a large-scale underground car park in Beirut that meets modern needs while respecting the heritage and public function of the square.
K&A’s role covers concept design, preliminary design, final design, and tender documents, linking to our expertise in concept design and design for complex urban infrastructure.
Designing Below a Historic Landmark
The project provides four underground levels with capacity for around 1,600 cars. In addition to parking, it includes a green car wash, a commercial area, and an underground pedestrian connection to the future Beirut Site Museum.
The design had to complement the award-winning landscaping by Renzo Piano while navigating layers of archaeological significance beneath the site. This required an approach that balanced functionality with sensitivity to the cultural and urban context.
Tackling Engineering and Urban Challenges
Several challenges defined the project:
- Managing a natural soft water stream beneath the site
- Addressing utilities and infrastructure integration in a constrained urban setting
- Avoiding “street clutter” from ventilation shafts, chimneys, and emergency staircases above ground
K&A’s solutions included embedding these elements underground to minimize visual impact, ensuring that the public square remains uncluttered and accessible. Access and exit ramps were carefully designed to avoid congestion, while multiple pedestrian entry points improve connectivity and usability.
Preserving Heritage While Enhancing Mobility
Martyrs’ Square Underground Car Park project delivers critical infrastructure without compromising the square’s cultural or urban value.
- Enhanced urban environment: An underground solution that preserves the open character of the square above ground
- Improved mobility: Much-needed parking capacity paired with user-friendly pedestrian access and efficient traffic management
- Innovative engineering: Solutions for water management and integrated systems that minimize surface impact
- Heritage preservation: Sensitive design that respects archaeological layers and complements existing landscaping
The project strengthens Beirut’s urban fabric and supports mobility in one of its most historic districts.
