Beirutopia: Could Lebanon's capital become a garden city?

By George Webster, for CNN

Updated 0936 GMT (1736 HKT) April 10, 2012

Beirut has a chronic lack of green space. In search of a solution, Lebanese architect Wassim Melki has proposed covering the city's rooftops with trees. This computer generated image shows what Beirut's skyline would look like.
Photos: The Beirut Wonder Forest
Beirut 'Wonder Forest' – Beirut has a chronic lack of green space. In search of a solution, Lebanese architect Wassim Melki has proposed covering the city's rooftops with trees. This computer generated image shows what Beirut's skyline would look like.
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View of Beirut at dusk from the district of Gemmayzeh, taken in June 2009. The World Health Organization recommends 12 sq/m of green space per capita in urban areas. It estimates Beirut has only 0.8 sq/m per person.
Photos: The Beirut Wonder Forest
Beirut 'Wonder Forest' – View of Beirut at dusk from the district of Gemmayzeh, taken in June 2009. The World Health Organization recommends 12 sq/m of green space per capita in urban areas. It estimates Beirut has only 0.8 sq/m per person.
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This artist's impression of the "Wonder Forest" shows individual trees planted in pots, sitting on the rooftops in Beirut. Melki says that even with just one tree per rooftop, there would be as many trees as in New York's Central Park.
Photos: The Beirut Wonder Forest
Beirut 'Wonder Forest' – This artist's impression of the "Wonder Forest" shows individual trees planted in pots, sitting on the rooftops in Beirut. Melki says that even with just one tree per rooftop, there would be as many trees as in New York's Central Park.
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A bird's eye view of the projected impact. A recent United Nations Development Program report said that Beirut will add 300,000 new buildings in the next decade, leaving the already crowded city with virtually no public spaces.
Photos: The Beirut Wonder Forest
Beirut 'Wonder Forest' – A bird's eye view of the projected impact. A recent United Nations Development Program report said that Beirut will add 300,000 new buildings in the next decade, leaving the already crowded city with virtually no public spaces.
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Artist's impression of a sapling Savior tree in a basic tin pot. Melki claims that this simple method will avoid the need for complicated drainage systems.
Photos: The Beirut Wonder Forest
Beirut 'Wonder Forest' – Artist's impression of a sapling Savior tree in a basic tin pot. Melki claims that this simple method will avoid the need for complicated drainage systems.
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Aerial view of Beirut today. The largest park, the Horsh al-Sanawbar -- seen in the bottom right of the image -- has been mostly closed to the public since the mid-1990s, according to the Beirut Green Project.
Photos: The Beirut Wonder Forest
Beirut 'Wonder Forest' – Aerial view of Beirut today. The largest park, the Horsh al-Sanawbar -- seen in the bottom right of the image -- has been mostly closed to the public since the mid-1990s, according to the Beirut Green Project.
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