Sannine Zenith Lebanon
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The Sannine Zenith Lebanon is a project that will cover a surface area of approximately 96 million square meters nearly 1 percent of Lebanon will be located in the area of Bidnayel and Sulugi, which begins east of Faraya and ends in the Bekaa. According to Jean Abou Rached, the chairman of As-Salam company and the real estate developer behind the project, Sannine Zenith would cost $1.4 billion. The environment will be the main theme behind Sannine Zenith, since 70 percent of the land will be completely free of construction and some one million trees will be planted. The project as planned is comprised of three different villages the International Sports Village, the Eco Farm Village and the Lake View Village; each will be architecturally distinctive from the others. The Masterplan brings together a comparative analysis of program ideas from other similar international destinations and provides a product mix study. It also involves an analytical study of the site topography that determines the areas that can be developed with those needed for other activities or for preservation requirements.
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[edit] Project
Located within Lebanon’s most majestic mountain range, Sannine Zenith Lebanon is the premier four season resort destination in the Middle East. The community harbors a variety of family and sports activities geared for all seasons. By harnessing the synergy between natural and man-made snow the project produces the largest and skiing facilities, encompassing 59 skiing slopes levelled towards professionals as well as leisure skiers, but also a ski resort with stunning scenery. The mountain peaks vary between the summits; ranging in altitude between 2000 meters and 2600 meters and will contain a high altitude golf course.
[edit] Location
Mount Sannine is geographically placed in the centre of Lebanon. The name resounds with the magnificence of the country and is synonymous with its historic grandeur. Sannine’s peaks enveloped in crisp mountain air rise to prominence in the Lebanese skyline. The site of Sannine Zenith Lebanon covers approximately 50 million square meters of the Western and Eastern peaks and plateaus of Mount Sannine.
The site spreads over a variety of altitudes that range between 1400 meters to 2600 meters above sea level. Sannine Zenith Lebanon is strategically located minutes away from the picturesque village of Baskinta and only 20 minutes from Zahle, the Bekaa and Baalbeck.
[edit] Development
The Master Plan brings forth a study of both environment and water management, a detailed study of ski slopes with an area requirement study, and a pair of golf courses and area requirement study. A market study and a feasibility study have been concluded while additional market studies are continuously conducted to update data and follow market trends in real estate as they emerge. A sizeable portion of the land will be treated as a natural reserve zone for reforestation and will be equipped with various outdoor activities such as hiking, tracking, mountain climbing, camping, activities for scouts, cycling and many other activities.
The Central Hub
The main hub of activities takes place at the very heart of Sannine Zenith Lebanon. Geographically located in the centre of the site, this area is planned as the project’s prime public attraction, and a first-rate destination for non-residents. Housing a series of small hotels, commercial facilities, restaurants, nightclubs, bars, and movie theatres. The central hub will assure parking facilities within touching distance of the main ski lifts. This in turn confirms the center as the project’s most prominent public destination.
The Villages
Responding to the call of the project several villages will be developed each with a particular and distinctive character; in contrast, with the main node these villages will ensure more privacy, a higher degree of exclusivity and seclusion to the residents. All villages will contain a center affording common activities to ensure as much dynamism and self-sufficiency as possible. The villages are strategically located to forever capture the breathtaking views of the surrounding areas.
Infrastructure
Right from the very onset of the project the infrastructure studies conducted were aimed at ensuring that infrastructure items could be constructed, as well as developing a budget for feasibility studies. In addition, the project is equipped with one central heliport located witin the Mountain Village vicinity and is designed to maintain comfort and practicality for project users.
Equipment
Sannine Zenith Lebanon will be equipped with a snow clearing station and snow clearing trucks with clearing blades for snow clearing operations. This is in line with other ski resorts in the area and where procedures laid down by the Ministry of Public Works for the clearance of snow from public roads and private resort roads in winter are carried out in full accordance.
Skiing Slopes
The Northern part of the site equipped with the most appropriate skiing slopes, will be completely dedicated to skiing activities and preserved as virgin land. Offering a variety of skiing activities the ski slopes will extend their pleasures with slopes ranging from those for beginners to those for advanced skiing, for cross-country skiing and for snowboarding and from elevations ranging from 2000 meters of altitude to 2500 meters of altitude.
A technical study was conducted to test the viability of the ski slopes and to assess the technical feasibility of skiing on the site. These studies also revealed that the length and slope variety of Sannine Zenith Lebanon are comparable to international ski resorts worldwide.
[edit] Advantages
- Large size of the ski resort.
- Multiple road access leading to the ski area.
- Proximity of the project site to Beirut.
- Site visibility and exceptional views from most parts of the it.
- Large and wide land surface.
- Real estate development.
- Snow-making machines to stretch out the skiing season.
- Possibility of hosting the Winter Olympics on Sannine's slopes in 2010.
