Rafik Hariri Memorial Shrine, Beirut

The Rafik Hariri Memorial Shrine in Beirut serves as both a commemorative site and a public space designed to honor the memory of the late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and his bodyguards. Located next to the Mohammad Al Amin Mosque—which Hariri himself had built—the shrine is a poignant tribute set in Martyrs' Square, near the very site of his assassination by a car bomb on February 14, 2005. The attack, which killed Hariri and seven of his bodyguards, occurred along the Minet el-Hosn street and dramatically impacted the cityscape.

Designed by architect Marc Barani and completed in 2018, the shrine is conceived not as a traditional building but as a "sculpted ground." It stands 1.6 meters high and is designed to resemble a stage set, facilitating contemplation and reflection. Barani emphasizes the shrine as a monument that "holds on to the status of a monument," integrating a void within the design to symbolize and underscore absence.

Visitors to the shrine can engage in a reflective journey along a spiral path that offers diverse views, from the sea to the mountains, and from Roman ruins through the historical layers of the city to the modern skyline marked by sparkling towers. This path allows for a comprehensive experience of Beirut's rich history and its ongoing narrative.

The Rafik Hariri Memorial Shrine is more than just a place to remember a national leader; it is a statement of communal memory and a testament to the resilience of the Lebanese people. It stands as a symbol of the freedom and openness that characterize public spaces, truly embodying the local saying that these places are "free because they are ‘under the sky’."