Khan Antoun Bey

Urbiágua developed the design of the dry fountain for the Khan Antoun Bey development, in the historic centre of Beirut, Lebanon. The square is part of a commercial complex, on a site where a harbour once connected the old market to the sea.

That relationship with water was central to the project. The competition for the outdoor spaces was won by the PROAP studio, with a water landscape at ground level. The project explores water’s capacity to produce microclimates — mist and clouds of water — and to reduce local temperature through a misting system.

The square is divided into two parts: an upper area for circulation next to the commercial spaces, and a lower area with the fountain and an amphitheatre. Urbiágua worked with PROAP on the concept and design and, later, on the supply of equipment and supervision of the installation carried out by Watermaster.

The fountain consists of 48 pavement grilles, each with a programmable jet for the water displays, two LED light projectors and three atomised nozzles for mist. At the client’s request, the electrical panel has a touch screen, with software developed by Urbiágua, to programme the water displays and jet sequences.