Following three months of perpetrations in the Placemaking course (ARP 570) instructed by Rony al-Jalkh, students in the Ramez G. Chagoury Faculty of Architecture, Arts and Design (RCFAAD) at Notre Dame University-Louaize Shouf Campus (NDU-SC) presented their project concepts on Thursday, December 7, 2017, in the University Conference Room.
Attending the presentation were Municipality of Deir el-Kamar representative Municipal Council Member Elie Renno, Deir el-Kamar Technical School Director Issa Haidariyeh, Maroun Ghattas (along with a group of students from the institute), and Laila Abu Nassif and Raneen Abdul Samad (along with a group of students from Mar Abda School) as well as lecturer at NDU Claudine Chamoun and Coordinator at NDU Dr. Maroun Kassab.
In cooperation with the Municipality of Deir el-Kamar, Mar Abda School, and Deir el-Kamar Technical School, and using many participatory tools, three public spaces were identified where a participatory assessment was conducted to identify the needs and aspirations of the local community.
Students highlighted the importance of Placemaking, as an approach that aims to involve the community in re-shaping their public spaces and focuses on projects aimed at revitalizing and activating public spaces through various activities. At the end of the presentation, the municipality took the proposals for further review.