IRIS sea pods make energy and a social statement in Beirut

Remember the old days in Beirut when you could actually see the Mediterranean Sea? The crew over at Najjar & Najjar Architects remember, and they want it back! Their Kinematic IRIS sea pods are designed to not only provide refuge for residents living in the shadow of urban regurgitation, but to generate energy as well.

Before Beirut exploded into the concrete jungle that it is, people bought single level homes that overlooked the Mediterranean Sea. Now those people no longer have access to their spectacular views because of all the high-rises standing like a wall along the coast.

Najjar & Najjar Architects want to restore access not just to the views, but to the ability of locals to connect with their natural surroundings.

When most people move to the coast, it’s because they feel drawn somehow, because there is something about the sounds of the ocean and the fresh air that makes them happy. Overdevelopment has deprived that of Beirut residents of late – indeed of coastal people all across the globe.

Secured to a cliff, the pods are shaped like a cat’s eye flipped vertically. Users reach a spacious wooden platform via a tall metal ladder in order to engage with the sea. This can be a private, meditative space, or perhaps one for intimate gatherings.

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IRIS sea pods make energy and a social statement in Beirut