Announcing an open competition in 2012 for redesigning Bab al-Azizia. Architects, landscape architects, designers, planners, artists, horticulturalists, students and community members are invited to create visionary, inspired design proposals for the space's reuse as a public, open space for all. The competition will culminate in a major exhibition in Tripoli, Libya, accompanied by a publication and website. We hope the rebirth of Bab al-Azizia will come to powerfully symbolize the rebirth of the new Libya, and serve as an inspiration to the Libyan people, and all free people around the world.
Bab al-Azizia is a 6 square kilometer (2.3 square mile) former military stronghold, bunker and palace of Moammar Gaddafi. Occupying prime real estate in the heart of Tripoli, for decades the site was a symbol of fear and oppression. Residents driving by even avoided looking in the direction of the towering walls and guard posts, worried of being questioned or detained. Now, with the culmination of the February 17th Revolution, Bab al-Azizia is being razed, and has already become home to families on picnics and weekly markets.
Bab al-Azizia is nearly double New York's Central Park in size. The cultural impact of the site is potent, and redesigning the space as an open space to be enjoyed by the public will be a powerful symbol of a new, free Libya.
The competition is not meant to result in awarding of actual contracts to formally design the new site. This is a preliminary call for open ideas, not sponsored by the Libyan government, to help shape inspire citizen participation and creative investment in the future of the country. We hope as the government is formed and elections take place to build systems to properly begin reclaiming Bab al-Azizia, raising funds and preparing a formal call for design submissions. We look forward to your participation!
For further information please visit:
http://www.designlibya.org
