The Landscape architecture 2nd year students, under the supervision of LDEM instructors Dr. Beata Dreksler and Mr. Wissam Melhem, implemented a construction project as part of the Site Engineering III: Design Implementation course (LDEM 249).
The project was realized in collaboration between LDEM, the Archeology Department and AUBotanic, supporting EduBioMed - an NCC (Nature Conservation Center) project that aims to strengthen, involve, and upgrade academic activity at Lebanese Higher Education Institutions such as AUB in the context of Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves. The project goal is to create a shelter for safe storage of archeobotany research samples. The shelter, located near the floatation unit platform funded by EduBioMed, will be used by the Archeology Department to process samples extracted from the Shouf Biosphere Reserve archeological sites. Dr. Claire Malleson, Archeology Department, coordinated the location of the project site with AUBotanic and expressed her needs in term of size and activities that will take place. Due to the current situation and lack of the funds, landscape students were challenged to create a stable and creative construction from recycled materials found in the AUB campus junkyard.
The Physical Plant's workshop staff assisted in completing the students' requests and helped with basic welding. Students used old door frames, curtains, bamboo, and other recycled materials. Students were introduced to the processes of procuring materials, transportation, and construction.
