Tripoli Rachid Karami International Fair (Tripoli City)

 fair, exhibition centre

www.lebanon-fair.com/
en.unesco.org/fieldoffice/beirut/RKIF-CMP/aboutRKIF
www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanon-hopes-unesco-...
Oscar Niemeyer's gift to the people of Tripoli and Lebanon. This was supposed to originally be the pavilion that would host the 1976 World Fair Expo. The plan was conceived by Niemeyer as part of the natural expansion of Tripoli and was coupled with recommendations by the architect to eventually be at the heart of a social housing and transport project. This was never adopted and instead the area surrounding the fair became an upper class neighborhood of Tripoli during the economic boom years of the 90s.

Original plans included a hotel, a revolving sky restaurant, and train links to transport people between venues. Most of the structures were built near to completion, however the start of the civil war in Lebanon in 1975 put a permanent halt on the project, and its been in turmoil ever since.

A striking representation of Niemeyer's modernist vision of the time with an emphasis on form over function, the fair has dominated Tripoli's skyline since its development. The structures cover a wide array of uses including but not limited to:

- An open air theater
- A floating museum
- A permanent exhibition center
- A planetarium (doubles as a swimming facility or a velodrome)

After the war ended, several governments attempted to re-purpose the grounds. Most of the projects have ended in failure due to lack of funding and some local objection due to the destructive nature of these plan's to the fair's already existing structures.

As it stands, the fair hosts several annual exhibitions in the main building, and is one of many venues to host Tripoli's annual cultural festival (including the amphitheater).

The car park(s) are often used by the public for non-traditional functions, such as driving tests and/or barbecues and picnics.

The site was also occupied by the Syrian Arab Army during the days of Syrian occupation over Lebanon. Since then it has also housed a tiny UN contingency in the 'UN Compound' building in the southern part of the complex. The fair is closed the public most of the days, however operates a lenient policy towards curious tourists or locals who often use the grounds for jogging or leisurely strolls.

As it stands the future of the large complex is unknown. An illegal 'karting course' occupies part of the grounds - however due to local governmental corruption this is tolerated. Plans to house a permanent Chinese trade exhibition have failed in 2006. This was the last serious attempt to re-purpose the large grounds.

Surface Area: 1000000 m2