The project of the cultural heritage and urban development (CHUD) comprised the rehabilitation and urban infrastructure improvement of the historic city core. The project includes among others the phase no.1 which includes the restoration of the northern souks in the old city of Tripoli.

There are 38 facades to be restored with a length of 20-50 L.m each and a total length of 1010 L.m. The intervention is in an urban area subject to heavy pedestrian traffic.

This project is financed by the World Bank. Bitar Consultants is the expatriate consultant working in joint venture with Team International of Beirout on the supervision of construction and restoration works.

The works comprise the construction of the following main elements:

• Dismantle all protruding elements like metallic, awnings, shops signs, shop curtains, panels, floor tiles at shops entrance and steps for removing.
• Dismantle with care for restoration if necessary existing awnings, spandrels, doors, and windows, balusters. Dismantle with care for further relocation existing AC units, all existing electrical or others.
• Demolish masonry or illegal elements parapets, shops walls additions, etc…
• Repair and consolidation of the structural system, and masonry damages before any Finishes treatment.
• Restoration of iron or wood structural elements (I beam, wood beams into walls or slabs). - Treatment of wood structure into a wall or protruding elements like kiosks shall be made before finishes.
• Restoration or replacement of different types of plaster, with special care for historic plasters n general and with design in particular.
• Restoration or replacement of wood and metal doors and windows, with the insertion of a new metal box for shops signs location.

The work also includes the restoration works of the famous Khan Al Askar.