Research plan for MEXT scholarship -Japan

（別紙） 専攻分野及び研究計画 Field of Study and Research Plan Name in full, in your native language （姓名（自国語））

‫ﻣﺤﻤﺪ‬ (Surname)

,

‫ﻋﺒﺪاﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ‬ (Given name)

‫ﻣﺤﻤﻮد‬ (Middle name)

MOHAMMED (Surname)

,

ABDULRAHMAN (Given name)

MAHMOOD (Middle name)

Name in Roman capital letters (姓名（ローマ字）)

Nationality （国 籍）

YEMEN

Proposed study program in Japan (Outline your field of study on this side and the specifics of your study program on the reverse side of this sheet. This section is one of the most important references for selection. This form must be typewritten or written in block letters. Additional sheets of paper may be attached if necessary. If plagiarism or fraud is discovered after selection, the selection will be cancelled retroactively.) 日本での研究計画；この研究計画は、選考及び大学配置の重要な参考となるので、表面に専攻分野の 概要を，裏面に研究計画の詳細を具体に記入すること。記入はタイプ又は楷書によるものとし、必要 な場合は別紙を追加してもよい。なお、採用後に不正、盗用等が判明した場合は遡って採用を取り消 す。 If possible, please write in Japanese. １

(相当の日本語能力を有する者は日本語により記入すること。)

Present field of study（現在の専攻分野）

During my previous study in Architecture at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in Saudi Arabia. I have always been compassionate about helping my home country, Yemen within my capacity. I have organized two workshops for architectural students to tutor them in BIM fields and the need of it in contemporary architecture. In my graduation project, I took a bold step towards supporting my home country. I have chosen to deeply research and design a prototype Health center to provide primary health care in remote areas of Yemen that is, villages and countryside. This can be replicated across Yemeni regions. Since 75% of the population live in rural areas, consequently, designing a large general hospital in the city centers like Aden or capital Sana’a will only serve the city and surrounding regions.

Instead of that, creating healthcare outreach programs for remote and isolated areas form a health care system that will have a significant impact on the health status in Yemen and will eventually help alleviate the ongoing health crisis.

The prototype health center has to be designed once as a generic model. It is based on modular system extracted from people’s use of space, equipment’s, and medical requirements. Moreover, design ensures future expansion, upgradability and serviceability based on the need of each region. The two main techniques are using local resources and materials as well as appropriate technology and passive cooling systems.

The research and the project are in pilot stage and hasn’t been implemented previously in the country. The ultimate goal of this project is to address and highlight the health situation in Yemen and propose an innovative approach to reduce the crisis. My Master’s research will add up to my knowledge and modern practices in the field of Architecture and planning to continue improving the Yemeni community and infrastructure overall in this critical stage.

２

Your research topic in Japan: Describe articulately the research you wish to carry out in Japan. （渡日後の研究テーマ：日本においてどういった研究がしたいかを明確に記入すること）

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Approaches to sustainable building design in Yemen: Learning from sustainable building design practices in Japan.

This study will look in depth at Japanese sustainable responsive architecture whether small scale buildings or urban scale, vernacular or modern. The study will analyze the information collected in Japan and outline a proposal to adapt those in Yemen taking into account low-cost, sustainable, context-aware aspects as basis of the research. The study aims to give a detailed practical scheme to help rebuild future Yemen especially in destroyed areas as a result of war and floods.

３ Research plan in Japan: (Describe in detail and with specifics — particularly concerning the ultimate goal(s) of your research in Japan) （研究計画：詳細かつ具体に記入し、特に研究の最終目標について具体的に記入する こと。） Japan is a country that is well known for its disaster risk prevention methods as a result of the large number of natural disaster occurring in the country. Along the time, Japanese architecture has developed a number of sophisticated architectural advancements evolved from cumulative natural disasters to become the world leader in this field. On the other side of the spectrum, Yemen is struggling from stagnant war and its poor infrastructure even before the war is demolished. Buildings, schools, hospitals, and other facilities needs to be reconstructed with the minimum amount of available resources.

Japan and Yemen’s architecture has its similarities and differences. The wooden in traditional houses of japan and the inward courtyards inside are example of such similarity. Both have tendency to construct with low cost materials understanding the properties of available resources to suit the climate while diverting from architectural iconography.

These two types of architecture didn’t get affected by the modern, post-modern and deconstructive trends but kept innovating by developing the existing concepts instead of creating a whole new type of architecture. On the other hand, the materials and topography differ as does climate condition. Yemen is known for stone and mud theme while the Tatami module and wooden structures in Japan. These differences and similarities which will be researched in depth can be combined and reconfigured to form group of sustainable models inspired by traditional architecture to be used in the Yemeni environment.

Furthermore, the current situation of cities and neighborhoods in Yemen is devasting and doesn’t meet the minimum standards of living. Wooden structured Buildings of the British colonial period (in Aden are still inhabited without any maintenance. 60% of the houses in Yemen are in danger to collapse as a result of poor structure. Besides that, building and construction ideology has shifted from bioclimatic architecture (passive cooling, shading, mud bricks) that Yemen is rich in and of which responds to nature, to blindly follow current western architecture (concrete, glass, mechanical equipment) as symbol for modernism. This has escalated the problems in the urban scale. In Shibam ,Hadhramaut, the first multistory building in the world located in Yemen, is an example of bioclimatic architecture which was completely built from existing mud bricks and can be 5-11 story high.

In addition, Japan is the pioneer in responsive architecture and low cost affordable buildings. After each disaster, Japanese cities are growing with more sophistication taking into account different factors like flexibility, adaptability, fragmentation, safety and environment.

Moreover, during my stay in Japan, I am willing to learn about Japanese history and architecture more in depth by using theoretical and practical means. Secondly, I will start to collect information about cities that has previously been exposed to natural disaster like Tohoku, Toyko, Natori, Yokohama…etc. Then investigate the new buildings in Japan which has been improved for better suitability to prevent the effects natural disasters especially those with low cost materials and technology.

Finally, I have chosen Japan to conduct my research plan due to the rich architecture in terms of disaster-related construction techniques, flexibility of structures, usage of different materials and the multiuse of spaces. The study in Japan will give me the opportunity to conduct field research to collect samples for previous case studies on modern and traditional buildings in Japan as well as making surveys and interviews related to users about the history, construction methods and period, cost, resources needed of the chosen buildings to be studied.

Year First year

Second year

Month Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12 Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7

Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12

Task Gather information on traditional and modern Japanese architecture found in urban and rural areas which have been subjected to natural disasters and investigate those of high level of sustainability low cost systems.

Evaluate the information and form detailed conclusions about architecture, construction, materials quantity, cost, structure, labor, equipment’s and HVAC systems.

Build simulation models based on the given data that accommodate the Yemeni environment and implement them in one region. After evaluation of the building models. They will be improved and prototyped.

Implement the building models compare the existing ones with the new to measure the differences in efficiencies and suitability.

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami hit northeastern of Japan

Ongoing Task Study the current situation in Yemeni cities and collect available information from • Local and international NGOs studies • Government ministries particularly: o Yemen Ministry of Public works & Highways o Ministry of Planning & International Cooperation • Recommendations and studies of Local professionals.

Filtering and analyzing the relevant information regarding what specific regions needs to be studied in depth and start implementing the models resulted from my research in Japan to determine its functionality and practicality while continuing developing them.

Ruins of Cyclone Mekunu hit Yemen’s island of Socotra destructing a majority of buildings and Roads on 24-05-2018

Chapala Cyclone hit Almukalla city, Yemen. In Nov 2015 causing

Kids Playing football in Aden-Yemen, the picture shows the

the destruction of more than 70 houses, damaging at least 100

poor condition of the buildings that is nearly to collapse with

other homes and flooding a large area city,

poor or no hygienic environment.

Research Goals • Propose a study that will shape future Yemeni cities.

• Find common connection between Japanese and Yemeni architectural disciplines.

• Determine the current situation needs and assess future studies related to this field • Find a practical and feasible architectural methods based on Japanese research to achieve sustainable buildings in Yemen.

• Come up with functional construction and architectural models to improve the current Yemeni standard of construction.

• Upon completion of my Master study in Japan, I intend to present my research to international organizations and government officials.

• Improve Yemen traditional and vernacular architecture to suit the contemporary needs.

Prepared by: Abdulrahman Mahmmod Mohammed Bachelor of Architecture Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University

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