Beirut: The Embassy of Italy in Lebanon and the Italian Cultural Institute in Beirut are honoured to present the exhibition ‘Cities on Stage. Urban Regeneration: the Italian way to a sustainable future’, an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and realised by ANCE, Associazione Mecenate 90 ETS, and Fondazione Musica per Roma.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, at a critical juncture for Lebanon, where the question of reconstruction is at the forefront of the national agenda, this undertaking transcends the purely cultural sphere: it constitutes a tangible contribution by Italy to the re-imagining of models of growth and development, providing a platform for public debate and policy proposals, whilst offering for adoption replicable Italian experiences in the urban and territorial domain.
The concept of urban regeneration is not just about building but transforming, weaving together memory and innovation, space and community. In both Italy and Lebanon
, regeneration serves as a lever of social cohesion and sustainable development. The exhibition in Beirut showcases over one hundred and thirty Italian practices, initiating a dialogue on governance, public-private partnerships, sustainable finance, adaptive reuse of heritage, mobility, and proximity services.
Hosted at the historic Abroyan Factory, the exhibition will feature panels and materials narrating Italy’s regeneration stories. The Cinema Royal will serve as a venue for a series of public encounters conceived as open policy-labs, fostering dialogue among institutions, enterprises, universities, and civil society, with the aim of translating ideas into actionable proposals.
Key events include PRINCIPIA, highlighting a new paradigm of urban regeneration from Expo Milano 2015 to MIND, and RIGENERA, a public talk on architecture as a tool for reconstruction and cohesion. Additionally, a round table discussion will focus on civic urban regeneration in Beirut, with exchanges between civil society and aca
demia on grassroots practices and tactical urbanism.
Another significant presentation will cover the restoration and enhancement project of the former Mar Mikhaël Station, financed by the Italian Government through AICS, in cooperation with UNESCO, UN-Habitat, and local authorities, emphasizing governance and long-term sustainability.
Through ‘Cities on Stage’, Italy shares expertise and exemplary cases, providing Lebanon with a toolbox of practices, regulatory frameworks, and partnerships for regenerating neighborhoods, valorising heritage, and fostering new economic and social opportunities.