THE SITE OF THE INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF TRIPOLI

In the modern city of Tripoli, criss-crossed by large palm-tree streets where part of the wealthy tripolitan society resides, you can see the futuristic buildings of the Tripoli International Fair, built from 1968 to 1974 and designed by the famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer (the founder of Brasilia, among others). The complex covers an area of one million square metres. With these prestigious signs of modernity, Tripoli had to take on the role of a metropolis at the forefront of the latest economic and technological challenges. Unfortunately, with the outbreak of the war in 1975, the buildings could never be completed. Located in a superb setting near the sea, the project was part of an oval, a characteristic of the architect. A large curved roof had to be opened and under which the various international pavilions were planned, a square floating on a lake intended to house the Lebanese pavilion, a theatre... From time to time, shows and conferences are held under the wide coverage. Normally, the site cannot be visited, it is necessary to be satisfied with a summary view from the car park or the road. But don't hesitate to ask the guard at the entrance, you never know!

In 2004, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tripoli launched a project to transform the site into a leisure park (60,000 m² exhibition spaces, 200,000 m² leisure and play areas, 170,000 m² nautical space, three hotels, a shopping centre, restaurants). The cost of the project is estimated at US$ 230 million. Indignant, the associations Patrimoine sans frontière and ASFIT (Association pour la sauvegarde de la Foire internationale de Tripoli) denounce a real massacre of Niemeyer's architecture, militate for the preservation of this area and recommend a revaluation of the site in a sustainable development perspective. In 2005, a new free zone project for Chinese products was proposed by local manufacturers in collaboration with Chinese partners. We will have understood it, everyone is looking for solutions to make the best use of this place. In 2017, a request was submitted to UNESCO to save this space.