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Minecraft Builds Real-World Beirut Stairs
25 Jul
Summary
- Youth used Minecraft to redesign damaged Beirut stairways.
- Redesigned stairs now feature slides, seating, and ramps.
- Gaming is a key tool for youth engagement in urban planning.
Young residents in Beirut have revitalized public stairways damaged by the 2020 port explosion by using the video game Minecraft for urban design. After the blast, the Vendome and St. Nicolas stairs near Georges Zahar's home became unusable and neglected.
Participating in workshops led by the Block by Block Foundation and U.N.-Habitat, Mr. Zahar and 45 other children redesigned three stairways within Minecraft. Their virtual creations included slides, unique handrails, and shaded seating, which informed the final blueprints for real-world construction.
Since their renovation, the St. Nicolas stairs are now lively spaces with features like a slide, first imagined in the game. This approach has been globally applied, with over 150 urban structures built in 55 countries since 2012, using Minecraft to engage over 30,000 citizens in design.
While the Block by Block Foundation concluded its operations in 2025 due to funding cuts, its methodology continues under U.N.-Habitat's new initiative, Games for Urban Futures. This ensures the continued use of gaming for community-driven urban development, empowering youth to transform their environments.
