This central Beirut garden aims to rebuild the city both physically and metaphorically, in the wake of the Lebanese Civil War. It presents a balance of archaeological conservation approaches between selective reburial and display for educational purposes. The arrangement of the North Entrance Garden recalls the Paradise Gardens which inspired the Renaissance and 17th-century gardens that once occupied the site. Terraced groves of different trees reflect the varied Lebanese landscape. A series of Roman and Hellenistic remains culminates in a Roman street strikingly lined with column bases. Fragile paving is protected by new stone, with traces of the underlying archaeology made visible through subtly contrasting colours and textures.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
