Green Belt Tripoli

The Tripoli Green Belt is a major urban development initiative located in Tripoli, Libya, designed to address the pressing need for green and public spaces after decades of unplanned growth. It aims to establish a natural boundary separating the historic center from peripheral areas and offer a diverse array of landscapes and activities.

The project envisions Tripoli as a “sustainable and high-quality urban environment,” with a focus on enhancing green spaces and public areas. The Tripoli Green Belt project prioritizes accessibility, environmental sustainability, and quality of life.

To implement these objectives, the Green Belt Project integrates parks, pedestrian paths, and green corridors, spanning 700 hectares across 4.5 million square meters. Key components include:

• A large-scale park system that combines diverse landscapes and habitats to support biodiversity and provide recreational spaces.
• A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to improve urban mobility, with stations designed to optimize accessibility to the city center.
• Redesigned ring roads and pedestrian-friendly areas, including Martyrs Square, to enhance both connectivity and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Residential and recreational zones with community spaces and green infrastructure.

Sustainability measures in the project include daily treatment of 40,000 cubic meters of wastewater for irrigation, creation of an ecological corridor to preserve natural habitats,xi and integration of modern water conservation techniques and landscape restoration practices.xii Furthermore, it employs 700 workers to maintain these green spaces.

Developed through\ collaboration between the Engineering and Consulting Office for Utilities (ECOU) and renowned international designers, including Gilles Clément, Coloco, Zaha Hadid, and Rem Koolhaas, the project integrates expertise in urban planning, traffic management, and sustainable infrastructure.

Construction began in 2009 with the completion of the 132-hectare Gabat al Nasr forest park in 2011, followed by partial development of Suq al Tulata arid park. Four additional parks are under study, with two in detailed design.