Tourism investment axis from Al Arbeen mosque to Al Arbeen shrine
Al Arbeen shrine is one of the most interesting locations to visit in QUSEOUN mountain.However the way to access the shrine is challenging due to the step topography in addition to the slum areas bellow the shrine which have been facing unsurmountable challenges such as: high gross density, unemployment ,lack of green areas, unsafe playing environments for kids, lack of services, constant traffic jams due to narrow roads, and many other problems that affect locals' daily life. Although QASEON mountain is facing many problems it has its bright side too as it includes important tourism attractions such as AL Arbeen shrine. Taking this into consideration we tried to utilize the shrine to invest in locals and solve the problems of the area and rise its importance as one of Damascus`s visual scenery. The project aimed for specializing a main axis for visitors to facilitate the access to the shrine by building a funicular trial and cable car that leads to the shrine and adding a workshop building and commercial building to help the locals get new jobs and reduce the unemployment rate.
location and roads analysis
Region analysis was a must to understand clearly the area and accessibility. The analysis took in consideration many different aspects such as: population statistic. Studying transportation and its density pedestrian's movement and the routes that leads to the Shrine.
we monitored the physical state of the buildings. Most of the buildings were built by locals which have no required knowledge in building`s structure. In addition to that the area has 2 seismic faults. Which make it exposed to dangerous collapses in case of a sudden earthquake. As a result, we spotted the damaged buildings that have to be evacuated and replaced with other functions such as workshops and cable
car station.
workshops center + funicular station
This building aims to solve the lack of appropriate working spaces and qualify locals and provide them with an interactive workplace to make and sell various goods such as: clothes, bags, souvenirs for tourists, and display them in a show hall that connects the workshops function with the funicular start station. the concept ensures the visual connection between the multiple workshops by using glass walls and floor shafts. And provides an interactive terrace connected directly with the landscape.
cable car station
Due to the very steep slope in this area (55%) and to insure the requested high for cable car cabinet start-up. The building was risen up from the ground creating interactive social areas and vegetation above. using metal structure mixed with modular glass openings to show the brilliant Damascus views.
building the funicular station and the cable car station facilitates the access to the shrine by abbreviating total of 964 stairs and about half an hour duration from the start of the axis at Al Arbeen mosque to the end of it at Al Arbeen shrine.
