Sannine Zenith Lebanon
Encyclopedia
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 includes three separate 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.
. 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
.
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 Zahlé
and Baalbeck.
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
, trekking
, 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 snowplow
s. 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.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
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
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
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 includes three separate 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.
Project
Located within Lebanon’s most majestic mountain range, Sannine Zenith Lebanon is the premier four season resort destination in the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far 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
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
resort with stunning scenery. The mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
peaks vary between the summits; ranging in altitude between 2000 meters and 2600 meters and will contain a high altitude golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
.
Location
Mount SannineMount Sannine
Mount Sannine is a mountain in the Mount Lebanon range. Its highest point is 2,628 m above sea level in Lebanon. Mount Sannine, which has a base of limestone, is the source of many mountain springs.- External links :*...
is geographically placed in the centre of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. 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
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. Sannine Zenith Lebanon is strategically located minutes away from the picturesque village of Baskinta
Baskinta
Baskinta is a Lebanese village situated at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. It is renowned for its natural beauty and moderate climate. It is the birth place of Mikhail Naime....
and only 20 minutes from Zahlé
Zahlé
Zahlé is the capital and largest city of Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon. With around 50,000 inhabitants, it is the fourth largest city in Lebanon, after Beirut, Tripoli and Jounieh...
and Baalbeck.
Development
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
as they emerge. A sizeable portion of the land will be treated as a natural reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
zone for reforestation and will be equipped with various outdoor activities such as hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, trekking
Backpacking (wilderness)
Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...
, mountain climbing, camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, activities for scouts, cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
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
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
, 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
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
items could be constructed, as well as developing a budget for feasibility studies. In addition, the project is equipped with one central heliport
Heliport
A heliport is a small airport suitable only for use by helicopters. Heliports typically contain one or more helipads and may have limited facilities such as fuel, lighting, a windsock, or even hangars...
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
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
clearing station and snowplow
Snowplow
A snowplow is a device intended for mounting on a vehicle, used for removing snow and ice from outdoor surfaces, typically those serving transportation purposes...
s. 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.
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.
Advantages
- Large size of the ski resort.
- Multiple road access leading to the ski area.
- Proximity of the project site to BeirutBeirutBeirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. - Site visibility and exceptional views from most parts of it.
- Large and wide land surface.
- Real estate development.
- Snow-making machines to stretch out the skiing season.