Botanical garden in Horsh Beirut

Botanical garden
in Horsh Beirut

The Municipality of Beirut has launched studies into the establishment of a 20,000 square meter botanical garden in Horsh Beirut, the largest green space in the city. Its expected budget is $10 million.

“We have signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Geneva, which is known worldwide for its botanical gardens,” said Nadim Abu Rizk, Deputy Mayor at the municipality. Experts from Geneva will share their knowledge and experience with the local committee tasked with the study.

The municipality has appointed the Georges Battikha Office as the project’s consultant. The design of the garden will be jointly drawn with Battikha and the Swiss experts. “The space dedicated for the garden might be extended in the future to 40,000 m2,” said Abu Rizk.

The idea was first suggested during the visit of Geneva Mayor Patrice Monnier in 2007. Philippe Bustros, Chairman of the Garden Committee at the municipality, said: “The garden will include indigenous plants from coastal areas and up to 500 meters in elevation.”

Battikha will work with representatives of the Lebanese University and the American University of Beirut as well as the Swiss experts to decide on the species of plants to move to the garden, according to Bustros.

Horsh Beirut is a 133,000 m2 public space that was restored in cooperation with Ile de France Provence.

A botanical garden is a green space where plants are grown for the purpose of study and public display.