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DES NG I NEW CAIRO
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DES NG I AENG 454 FALL ’15
ARCHITECTURE CATALOGUE - VOLUME THREE STUDENTS WORKS FOR DESIGN STUDIO IV THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO
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CONTENTS
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08 INTRODUCTION
12 RESEARCH EXPLORATIONS
78 MASTERPLANS
96 INDIVIDUAL EXPLORATIONS
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- INTRODUCTION -
WHAT IS THIS PLACE ? EXCAVATIONS INTO NEW CAIRO NEW CAIRO … What is this place? We drive through this place every day. Most of us become very aware of the difference it represents because our trip starts from a far older part of the mother city. Yet we rarely think about it and even less, name it. New Cairo is planned to occupy an area close to half the current size of Greater Cairo, hence it is an important component of the city’s future … it is into this desert setting and its ensuing language that we are expanding with our new lives! How can we afford not to understand it, analyze what is happening, project where it appears to be going, and consequently decide how we can intervene to try to make that trajectory lead to a better place.
- W H AT I S T H I S P L A C E -
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New Cairo - Cairo Divided. Credits to Jason Larkins.
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“
Throughout the Road 90, there are three main nodes where people gather for different purposes and activities. The first node is in front of Downtown. Cars gather to access its parking or its drop off zone. The second node is created by the microbus station in front of El Ahli bank. And the final node is created by the gas station in front of the Air Force Hospital. “
“
Since road 90 is the central point of the fifth settlement, the means of transportation are plenty such as taxis, buses, microbuses and motorcycles. By this, people tend to rely on them rather than walking under the poor conditions of the road.”
“
one feels a strong contrast between the modular minimalistic modern office buildings on one side and the heavily decorated two storey villas on the other which gives of a sense of imbalance between them. “
A WALK FROM DOWNTOWN TO AIRFORCE HOSPITAL INITIAL PERCEPTIONS
“
On the opposite side of 90th road, a stack of residential buildings were united to create a row of classical apartments and villas along the length of the street. From street’s view, there were no visible inhabitants, as though the buildings were abandoned. “
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“
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Then comes the sidewalk filled with people standing in make shift bus stops or running after a moving microbus in a suicidal attempt to jump into the moving vehicle. “
“
Walking along the unshaded path, one had to beware of a few obstructions: lamp posts that divide the width of the path into two; making it impossible for more than two people to walk side by side, bricks laid out at random, and occasionally a number of steel rods.
a sensation of utter abandonment for human needs and services was received.”
“
There is also the occasional termes or dorra cart, although most of them have now moved into an empty plot of land that has randomly turned into another bus stop and what seems like a small sooq.”
“
The street is clearly distinct with the residential buildings on one side and the commercial on the other, completely segregated.
Gated Communities, New Cairo.
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RESEARCH
UNRAVELING NEW CAIRO EXPLORATIONS
- U N R AV E L I N G N E W C A I R O -
I. WHAT IS THIS PL ACE? … A DEEP DIG
To unravel we need to dig, so five teams jump into its world each using a different set of lenses to see through its layers: •
Place and place making
•
Territoriality and boundaries
•
Nodes and centers
•
Mobility and walkability
•
Archetypes and language
The groups seek answers to questions such as: •
What are the main architectural typologies making up the city?
•
What is the architectural language materializing for each of the typologies?
•
What are the organizational (planning) rules they follow?
•
What does each typology appear to be saying in the symphony of the new emerging city?
•
What is the outcome of all of them saying what they are saying together?
•
What is the meaning of territoriality in this city and how are boundaries defined?
•
Where are the nodes and centers and how are the connected?
•
How is mobility expressed in this city, what are the channels and their relationship?
•
How is place made here, and what is the narrative created?
•
Is there a clear message, a melodic symphony, a spirit, an identity?
•
If there is something (and there is always something – good or bad) what is it? And where is it going?
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II. BUT FIRST, WE CHOOSE FIVE LENSES FOR OUR DIG...
First we dig, we look, we disentangle … we try to make the parts speak individually then collectively. Then we attempt to make sense from all the disparate messages … we take a stand … we express what we understood … we take a stand. To test if we make sense we try to make others understand our understanding … does it make sense? To test further we resort to building our ideas, maybe if we see them they speak to us louder! We build in scale then we build in full … if we inhabit our creations it is possible that our dialogue is complete!
Cardboard Explorations of New Cairo.
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- R E S E A R C H E X P L O R AT I O N S -
PLACE & PLACEMAKING ALIA SHERIF - ARIJ NABIL - MARWA MOHAMED - NADA GEMIEI
“
Placemaking is adding value to public places through shaping the built environment in a way that evokes a sense of place, belonging and identity, with the ultimate aim of providing functional and comfortable places conductive to human activity and interaction.” - An Investigation of Placemaking in Downtown Tucson -
- PLACE & PLACEMAKING -
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RESEARCH DISCOVERIES
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- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
- PLACE & PLACEMAKING -
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- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
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THE OVERLY STRUCTURED CEMENTED MOLD THAT TRIGGERED THE PARADOXICAL COEXISTENCE OF AN EXPLOSIVE DYNAMISM DRIVEN BY NEEDS, AND A STAGNANT STIFFNESS LACKING AN IDENTITY.
Mantaining Perpendicularity
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Attempt at Integrative System The structure works as a whole. This is a result of two connections that work together to oppose forces applied on it and allow the structure to move as a single unit. Using the Same Unit
BUILDING IDEAS
Using slits in the cardboard with locks as a means of holding the sheets in place. Adding triangles to hold the sheets at 90 degree angles. The structure needs to be designed to work together to counteract lateral and axial loads as a closed integrated system. The first model succeeded in keeping a rigid connection between its units but failed when it came to mantaining perpendicularity. The second model maintained perpendicularity but failed to work together as an integrative system.
These two models were interpretations of integrative systems. The first model worked more as skin rather than structure. The second model did not sustain a strong connection between its units and was more aesthetic than structural.
- PLACE & PLACEMAKING -
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- BUILDING IDEAS -
The Unit
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The unit size is of size 40 x 40 x 40 cm with two slits on each side.
Means of Growth
The size of the slit is relative to the size of the side of the triangle. The lock was used to hold two triangles together.
Triangles are held together at the edge with the locks. This allows for the propagation of the triangles in two forms, the prism and the pyramid, allowing for a diverse composition.
- PLACE & PLACEMAKING -
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- R E S E A R C H E X P L O R AT I O N S -
ARCHETYPES & LANGUAGE FARIDA TAL AAT - OMAR EL FEKI - REEM KHALIL - TAREK SHERIF
“
It is simple in that the general thesis is a notion that anything has its opposing force. It is complex in that there are nearly endless varuety of these dualities. The theory of dual natured architecture is itself a duality. ” - Walter Gropius -
- ARCHET YPES & LANGUAGE -
CONSTITUTING
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- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
RESEARCH DISCOVERIES INITIAL PERCEPTIONS
1 ADMINISTRATIVE
DIFFERENT OVERALL FORM REPETITIVE FEATURES FORMAL LANGUAGE [MATERIALS] CONTEMPORARY SYMBOLISM SUITABILITY OF MATERIALS
- ARCHET YPES & LANGUAGE -
2 RESIDENTIAL HIGH CLASS
VS.
NEOCLASSICAL TO MODERN SYMMETRICAL HIGHLY DECORATIVE ELEMENTS ECLECTICISM
4 COMMERCIAL HIGH CLASS
DESIGNATED LOCATIONS OVER CROWDNESS POOR LEGIBILITY MATERIALS COMMUNICATION
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3 RESIDENTIAL LOW CLASS
REPETEIIVE GRID USE OF COLORS IN BALCONIES BLAND FACADES
VS.
5 COMMERCIAL
LOW CLASS
GROUND FLOOR RESIDENTIAL CREATES COMMUNITY PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY
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- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
UNDERLYING DUALITIES
SECLUSION VS. PROXIMITY This duality is about the residential buildings in relation to their surroundings. In the upper average communities, the residential districts are very secluded whereas in the lower classes, the buildings are often multipurpose.
ECONOMY VS. ARCHITECTURE There are two main approaches regarding architecture in new cairo. the first deems it unimportant in order to decrease costs. the second utilizes it to create exclusive high quality spaces available for the extremely wealthy.
- ARCHET YPES & LANGUAGE -
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COMMUNICATION OVER DESIGN
DESIGN OVER COMMUNICATION
This approach choose to stand out and represent themselves through big flashy signs, and they only have one elevation. If the signs are removed, the buildings are very boring and have no specific architecture.
This approach use smaller signs that abide by a designated space and size. The emphasis is more on the architecture of the building and its main signs rather than on ads invading the walls. Also, the buildings abiding by this approach have four elevations.
IDENTITY VS. BELONGING This is a question posed by most of the residence of New Cairo, whether to belong to the continuous design of the district or stand out and have a unique identity. This question is also posed by the adminstrative buildings in road 90.
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- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
- PLACE & PLACEMAKING -
REINFORCEMENT OF IMITATIONS, THAT ARE BASED ON FALSE CONCEPTIONS, IN AN UNCOORDINATED MANNER LEADS TO CHAOS.
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BUILDING IDEAS
- ARCHET YPES & LANGUAGE -
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- BUILDING IDEAS -
- ARCHET YPES & LANGUAGE -
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- R E S E A R C H E X P L O R AT I O N S -
MOBILITY & WALKABILITY FARIDA YOUSSEF - GEHAN KAMEL - MAHA EL YATAFT Y - SANDY SHEHATA - YASMINE ESMAT
Mobility is the capability of moving or of being moved readily from place to place while walkability is a measure of how friendly an area is to walking. It has many health, environmental, and economic benefits. Factors influencing walkability include the presence or absence and quality of footpaths, sidewalks or other pedestrian rightsofway, traffic and road conditions, land use patterns, building accessibility, and safety, among others. Walkability is an important concept in sustainable urban design.
- MOBILITY & WALKABILITY -
VILLAS
VILLAS VS VILLAS
VILLAS
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Narrow sidewalks mostly planted with side bushes. 3 Lanes on each side of a big island. More greenery visible generally.
VILLAS VS SOUQ
More cars parked and moving in comparison to the lower income areas.
Wider sidewalks on the side of the low income buildings allowing street vendors to stand there and for people to maneuver more easily and flexibly. Narrow sidewalks on the side of the high income with lots of planted bushes in the frontage.
SOUQ (LOW INCOME)
VILLAS
Smaller islands separating both entities.
VILLAS VS CENTER
Medium car movement in the streets.
VILLAS
A main island with a smaller island on each side separating the main street from the service lanes. A lot of cars moving. Narrow sidewalks with planted bushes on the villa side
CENTER
ROAD 90
- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
RESEARCH DISCOVERIES
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This employee must be walking to get his lunch.
EXPECTATIONS I wouldn’t go anywhere without my car
REALITY
I go to school by bus or car I wonder if a suzuki gets her here.
EXPECTATIONS MEET REALITY We like to go sometimes out together
EXPECTATIONS The people I work for pick me up. Suzukis don’t reach here
REALITY
A map was created to show the island effect of the different zones studied and how they connect together according to the study of the several scenarios creating the movement patterns of inhibitors. The comics shown above were related to the characters located on the physical map in locations where they were interviewed and characters were moved to show the mobility behaviour. It was obvious that social class played a major role in the disengaged patterns since high income were found to use the car in everything while low income created more intricate forms of transportation.
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HIGH INCOME HOUSING AND SCHOOL
- MOBILITY & WALKABILITY -
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s
doe ere Wh live? he
ne yo an alk t b w is t ou ld th cu I d wou ugh hort o s thr ked ec r w
3
EXPECTATIONS
s? s he ood doe t his g w r o H nspo tra
EXPECTATIONS I live in Katameyya, and I rent a car everyday
COMMERCIAL ZONE
woah !!
REALITY
REALITY
Since she works for us in 6th of October. She must be living nearby.
EXPECTATIONS
. o3 am o ag ide t 90. T in r t. ve e a s I li I tak from re he
He must have problem in transportation. He can’t walk in the streets in the sun. EXPECTATIONS
Transportation is hard. I take two rides to come here.
REALITY
REALITY
Does she live here?
EXPECTATIONS I live in Katameyya. I take a microbus
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CENTER
4
LOW INCOME HOUSING
Then, I walk to here.
REALITY
- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
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LOW INCOME VS HIGH INCOME
LI (Y)
LI (F)
HI
LI (Y)
C
LI (F)
C
LI (Y)
LI (F)
HI
HI
C
A comparison between the low income, high income zones and center was made taking into consideration different aspects including obstructions, distances, traffic and transportation.
- MOBILITY & WALKABILITY -
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LI (Y)
LI (F)
LI (Y)
LI (F)
HI
C
HI
C
LI (Y)
LI (F)
HI
LI(F) Low Income - Families LI(Y) Low Income [Youth] HI
High Income
C
Center
C
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- P R E FA C E -
ATTRACTIONS CREATE TERRITORIES FOR DIFFERENT USERS WHO DEVELOP THEIR OWN MOBILITY NETWORKS BASED ON THEIR NEEDS THUS DETERMINING THE OVERALL CONNECTIVITY OF THE CITY.
- MOBILITY & WALKABILITY -
BUILDING IDEAS
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STATEMENT DEVELOPMENT
- BUILDING IDEAS -
1. Attractions create territories for different users who develop their own mobility networks based on their needs thus determining the overall connectivity of the city. 2. Adaptation of mobility networks according to people’s needs achieved functional connectivity. 3. The island effect of the city’s design causes a paradox in adaptation, leading to disengaged mobility layers, one of which is considered monochrome, while the other is multichrome. 4. A paradox of a city’s disengaged networks Monochrome vs Multichrome.
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- R E S E A R C H E X P L O R AT I O N S -
NODES & CENTERS NOHA RATEB - NOHA SAAD - OMAR KHALIFA - SAMAR KHALED - PASSANT SALEM
Nodes are not designed to be used in the way they’re used, but they are created due to human activity. While centers are designed for a specific human activity, where a lot of activities take place in creating a dense area.By concentrating on the centers, the human nodes are ignored until it is too late to define them properly. As a result, human activities have to fit into a pre-existing built matrix (Center) that can never hope to accommodate them. For this reason, they tend to be ignored whenever a building or city is planned in visual terms.
We began by taking a tour through New Cairo’s streets, and we started spotting around the different nodes and centers which exist. Different nodes were found in New Cairo which were classified in terms of planned and unplanned, attractors and emittors. Nodes of nearly the same functions were located in the same area and were not evenly distributed and the same applies for centers. They were also clearly uneven and had the same activities.
- NODES & CENTERS -
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ROUTE 1 | DOWNTOWN, MICROBUS STOP, GAS STATION
Traffic in front of Downtown, intersection of paths, unplanned drop-off points, flyers distributed at U-turns, downtown as center. Microbus Stop, congestion of people, buses and microbuses - a node created beside the banks, where the users were mainly workers either at the banks or the residential area. Vendors selling Dora mashwy and 3er2 soos for people waiting for a ride. Shell Gas Station was a center for many reasons. First, many cars don’t just put gasoline and leave. Many of them park in front of the station and get coffee from Cilantro or take lunch from McDonalds while others wait to wash their vehicles.
ROUTE 2 | SEVEN STARS, SILVER STARS, COURT
Seven stars mall can be considered one of the most important centers -The social standard of this area is for the lower class people. The center creates a node in front of it, where you can find corn and termes stands. Silver Star Mall - easily spot the difference in social standard between people in both places. different types of activities have allowed different types of users to use the area.
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- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
ROUTE 3 | REHAB CITY
Unplanned nodes like ‘mshtal zr3’ in every square and street vendors also created nodes along the way in various spots. They set their spots right in the middle of the street which creates chaos
ROUTE 4 | MEETING POINT, CONCORD PLAZA
The Square of Mountain View, a node because traffic was formed due to the intersection of paths Concord Plaza is the first commercial district to be constructed on the right side of the road. It is one of the many critical centers in New Cairo city which is filled with crowd, mainly the intermediate/upper class people On the way, there was a bus stop on my left corner right in front of Meeting point mall. People were standing in that area on the sidewalks. They were mainly workers waiting to catch a bus to their desired destinations. Moving on, this bus stop is considered as a node that was unplanned yet it was there due to the existence of a critical center which is meeting point mall. meeting point mall.
- NODES & CENTERS -
RESEARCH DISCOVERIES We classified the nodes according to: Typology [planned vs. unplanned] Functions and Time Factor Typology [Attractors vs. Emitters] Apperance as Archipelago
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- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
T YPOLOGY [PL ANNED VS. UNPL ANNED]
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PLANNED UNPLANNED
FUNCTION PAT H S MASHTAL MEETING POINT MICROBUS STOP CONCORD PLAZA
MICROBUS STOP DOWNTOWN
GAS STATION
F U N C T I O N A N D T I M E FA C T O R
NODE SEVEN STARS SILVER STARS
MOUNTAIN VIEW
D A I LY N E E D S R E C R E AT I O N A L
NODE INFRONT NODE INFRONT
SEASON PERMANENT TEMPORARY
APPEARANCE AS ARCHIPELAGO
T Y P O L O G Y [ AT T R A C T O R S V S . E M I T T E R S ]
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AT T R A C T O R S
EMITTERS
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- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
IMBALANCE OF NODES Reasons 1. Uneven growth 2. Nodes are monotonous 3. No Connectivity
There is an important fact that we came up with is that centers & nodes are not evenly distributed among the city, there was very dense areas with the whole theme while others don’t have any, meaning that the theme is concentrated at small parts of the city not related to each other making the map as separate islands.
- PLACE & PLACEMAKING -
AN ARCHIPELAGO OF ISOLATED NODES DUE TO UNEVEN MONOTONOUS GROWTH
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BUILDING IDEAS
- NODES & CENTERS -
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- R E S E A R C H E X P L O R AT I O N S -
TERRITORIALITY & BOUNDARIES DONNA EBEID - HEND ABADA - IMAN EL SOKARY - NOURHAN KHALED
Territoriality is a social interaction with the environment where human beings tend to define spaces, mark them for specific uses, create visible and invisible boundaries in order to defend them against the possibility of intervention and maintain its safety. This concept of territoriality is more than the demand for a regional, spatial and physical, but also emotional and cultural needs. Boundaries are the means of expression for the sense of territoriality. They act as one parametric entity, if the boundaries are altered the sense of
territoriality is simultaneously affected. Boundaries are set for the sake of maintaining, controlling and defending the territoriality. People tend to show signs of defensible attitude. Hence, the defensible space theory is raised.
- TERRITORIALIT Y & BOUNDARIES -
W H AT W E S AW
W H AT W E F E LT
Fences: around every house and apartment.
Scared, detached El Narges - Petrified forest
Trees, plants: around houses, gated communities
Uncomfortable, uninvited - North investors
Solid high walls, gates, security men: around gatedcommunities like el Rehab, Katameya heights and Arabella.
Strangers, odd - Third district Distant south investors - El Narges
Permeable walls, gates, security men: AUC, GUC Welcomed - Cairo Festival Empty areas: on the periphery of the compounds and around the petrified forest Crowded areas: in commercial zones and meeting points like Seuodi area, meeting point, concord plaza
Interested, intimate - El Rehab
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- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
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SIGNAGE No Parking, signs and Objects
LANDSCAPE
FENCES
DISTANCE
defining territories
demarcation of ownership
diminishing sense of intimacy
TOPOGRAPHY
CONTROL GATES
raised topography as barrier
security control of people flow
RESEARCH DISCOVERIES Different detached territories and each territory is surrounded by a distinct boundary that affects its quality. These territories are barely connected to each other. Thus, we made a classification to the different kinds of boundaries and markers that we perceived.
- TERRITORIALIT Y & BOUNDARIES -
T YPES OF BOUNDARIES
Physical Boundaries Permeable, Semi-Permeable , Impearmeable Intangible Boundaries Cultural, Behavioral
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- RESEARCH DISCOVERIES -
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WHY THOSE ISLANDS?
Desire of Ownership
Evolution of Defensible Mechanism
Creation of Boundaries
Self-Interest & Exclusive Isolation
Detached Islands
Population in Old Cairo is denser in comparison with New Cairo. Thus the amount of occupancy there helps diminishing boundaries. New Cairo was considered an escape area from Old Cairo. People started to create their own segregated zones making New Cairo an isolated world from the old one.The markers used in New Cairo to define boundaries are very sharp, well defined and collectively used. While in old Cairo, the boundaries are intangible and the difference between two territorialities is washed-out.
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- P R E FA C E -
A NUMBER OF ISOLATED ISLANDS ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE CITY THAT ARE GROUPED TO BUILD UP ONE BIG ISLAND, WHICH IS NEW CAIRO.
- TERRITORIALIT Y & BOUNDARIES -
BUILDING IDEAS
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- BUILDING IDEAS -
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STATEMENT DEVELOPMENT S TA G E 2 DIVERSION TO LARGER SCALE A remote island built to escape the informalities creating new segregated communities within the isloated island.
CONCLUSIONS Sea to island relation express the boundaries surrounding the territoriality as the sea torrents surrounding the islands small islands within a one remote island
THINKING ON LARGE SCALE
C O M PA R I N G N E W C A I R O TO OLD CAIRO
GOING BACK TO THE SMALL SCALE
EXPRESSING NEW CAIRO AS ONE BIG ISLAND
A GROUP OF ISLANDS WITHIN AN ISLAND
- TERRITORIALIT Y & BOUNDARIES -
S TA G E 3 INTRODUCE BOUNDARY AS TORRENT A group of islands fiercely surrounded by torrents within a remote congregational one.
CONCLUSIONS A group of islands (fiercely) surrounded by torrents within a remote (congregational) one.
INCORRECT CHOICE OF WORDS
S TA G E 4 F O R M U L AT I O N O F K E Y W O R D S A group of islands unequally attached by torrents within an island.
CONCLUSIONS The small islands are set as separated worlds grouped in one island Each world is separately demarcated by its own boundaries. The boundaries are overpowering New Cairo which helped the creation of detached worlds
S TA G E 5 C O N D U C T F I N A L S TAT E M E N T An island of separated worlds demarcated by overpowering boundaries
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CAN WE REALIZE WHAT WE ASPIRE TO? The story we read falls short of our aspirations, we cannot resist playing experts. We can make a better story … but can we make it together? The site is in the heart of the New city, touching the paradoxes on all sides. This is our collective stage, the one we build together to set our collective and individual statements on and play them against each other. Each group with its lens specific statement presents their take on the whole … the groups negotiate a unifying stand, one that brings
them all together into the folds of one strategy with which to face the city. Then internally within the boundaries of their own part of the site, each group negotiates a group strategy that brings their individual interventions together within one melody. The statements are physical … masses that express concepts and intentions … then they continue to attempt experiences and stories.
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COLLECTIVE
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES MASTERPL AN
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- I N T E R V E N T I O N S T R AT E G I E S -
PL ACE & PL ACEMAKING
-COLLECTIVE MASTERPLAN -
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ARCHET YPES & L ANGUAGE
THERE ARE TWO APPROACHES FOR THE PROBLEMS
SECOND APPROACH IS MORE FAVOURABLE The core of the problem is related to BLIND IMITATION. Therefore, providing the people with the solution without intellectually challenging them in the process would hinder more than help, as it would only provide a template for future imitations. Creating this challenge would help keep the problem in mind and will always puzzle people, even those who will only visit the place once. In short, it will break the IMITATION CYCLE.
OBJECTIVE : BREAK THE IMITATION CYCLE Through creating stimulating intervention that shows flaws and challenges the existing mentalities, without providing a definitive solution. Opening up the possibility of more creative interventions, thus breaking the cycle
CREATE MEANINGFUL ARCHITECTURE THAT HAS VALUE.
SOCIAL VALUES ECONOMIC VALUES
VALUES THAT LINKS BETWEEN ALL ARCHETYPES
BUILDING HONESTY
- I N T E R V E N T I O N S T R AT E G I E S -
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MOBILIT Y & WALK ABILIT Y
PROBLEMS
DISENGAGAED NETWORKS
LACK OF OPTIONS
ABSENCE OF WALKABILITY
/
/
/
PROVIDE WALK ABLE SHADED DISTANCES
CREATE SCENERY [L ANDSCAPE & ARCHITECTURAL] TO ENGAGE PEDESTRIANS TO THE BUILDINGS
BETTER ORGANIZATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROUTES [EX. BUS STOPS]
-COLLECTIVE MASTERPLAN -
NODES & CENTERS
PROBLEMS
1 2 3
ARCHIPELAGO ISOLATION OF NODES
UNEVEN GROWTH
MONOTONOUS
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- I N T E R V E N T I O N S T R AT E G I E S -
TERRITORIALIT Y & BOUNDARIES
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GROUP
THE MASTERPLAN NEGOTIATIONS
-COLLECTIVE MASTERPLAN -
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NODES & CENTERS EDUCATIONAL
ARCHETYPES & LANGUAGE ENTERTAINMENT
TERRITORIALITY & BOUNDARIES COMMERCIAL
- I N T E R V E N T I O N S T R AT E G I E S -
MOBILITY & WALKABILITY CULTURAL
PLACE & PLACEMAKING SPIRITUAL
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-COLLECTIVE MASTERPLAN -
- I N T E R V E N T I O N S T R AT E G I E S -
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-COLLECTIVE MASTERPLAN -
- I N T E R V E N T I O N S T R AT E G I E S -
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-COLLECTIVE MASTERPLAN -
- I N T E R V E N T I O N S T R AT E G I E S -
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-COLLECTIVE MASTERPLAN -
- I N T E R V E N T I O N S T R AT E G I E S -
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INDIVIDUAL
ATTEMPTING ARCHITECTURE EXPLORATIONS
- AT T E M P T I N G A R C H I T E C T U R E -
IV. IT IS TIME TO ATTEMPT ARCHITECTURE!
We start with the skeleton that gives form to the logic: structure. The challenge is in identifying that system that speaks our language, the one that naturally allows our individual story to materialize and take form. Is it possible to bring it together with the earlier story of the experience? That is another challenge. It is another set of models … but also it is the first set of two dimensional explorations … can they be made to speak the same language, tell the same story … that is yet another challenge! Take one … take two … take three … slowly the architecture comes to life, it too unfolds. Design is truly a process of discovery.
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- I N D I V I D U A L E X P L O R AT I O N S -
- PLACE & PLACEMAKING -
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PLACE & PLACEMAKING SPIRITUAL
SENIOR HOUSING AND CHILD CARE
CONVENTIONAL TRAINING CENTER THE HUB RESEARCH CENTER WELLNESS CENTER
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ALIA SHERIF
CONVENTIONAL TRAINING CENTER The building is designed to be the gateway to the side that serves the community and is completely permeable allowing for activities to spill over into the site to create a coherent interactive environment. One of the hardest stages of the design process was figuring out the experience the user should go through in the building and how to express that deeply thought experience in the form of a model. We were used to start with traditional bubble and zoning diagrams, never really thinking whether these zones add anything to the richness of the experience. We tend to forget that every line drawn on a plan or a section actually represents something real that is experienced by the user of the building,
The structural concept of the design is based on how the users, whose goal is to acquire skills that would make them more developed functional individuals, experience the truss structure during the different learning stages of their journey. They start off by experiencing the traditional 1 meter deep truss above them. The structure, like the individuals still hasn’t reached its full capabilities. As the person progresses in the learning process and starts to reach his/heWWr full potential, so does the structure which is pushed to its limits using the cantilever box structure. The users stand inside the structure and experience it all around them.
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Services
N
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3
Gym open to above
Services
skills kitchen
storage
Services
group critique lounge
Critique dining Area
A-07 Sixth Floor Plan 01 1:200
Alia Alaa Sherif 900120542
VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER
AENG 454 FALL '15
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ARIJ NABIL
SENIOR HOUSING & CHILD CARE The main issue elderly suffer from that affects their health, is loneliness. A new program has recently been incorporated to better facilitate eldery residents. The program incorporates a child care facility which occasionally interact with them decreasing the depression they usually endure and enhancing their health simultaneously. The program is a hybrid incorporating 2 dichotamies: senior housing and child care facility.
The residential area for the elderly expressed the nature of that age, hence, rigid frames are used. Also, the spaces created by these frames are intimate and has potential of creating the experience of comfort. The space frames expresses two folds: they mirror the dynamic nature of children, hence the child care facility. It also expresses the public pockets that are created by the rigid frames. The two structures overlap at multiple events with the corporate area acting as a transitional area between those two extremities.
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MARWA MOHAMED
WELLNESS CENTER In the busy daily routine we are immersed in, one tends to forget to cater for his/ her own needs that feed the BODY, MIND, &SOUL. We tend to take for granted our bodies, and move forward with their daily tasks, day after day, merely getting through the day. We also forget that we need to feed our minds and souls in order to be healthy members in the community. In order to challenge people to face their weakness, the program offers many facilities/ services that cater to indiviual needs, that would force the user to come into contact with the realization that he/ she does have the power to overcome their own weaknesses.w
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Ground Floor Plan
cale 1:400
Section A Scale 1:400
Elevation Scale 1:400
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NADA GEMIEI
THE HUB RESEARCH CENTER The building starts with 4 separate experiences entering into the building, one responding to each of the surrounding buildings. As we enter the building, it turns into a hustle and bustle of sharing information and knowledge with hints of discoveries in wood and aluminum along the way. Then we travel back to the community using the corporate that sells and informs the community of these new discoveries. The external facade gives off the impression that the building is regular, but once the user enters the building, the hidden gem is unraveled. This had to be achieved through creating a sense of intrigue for the users. The structure used had to be able to allow for permeability, create a sense of intrigue and be flexible enough to create dynamism.
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ARCHETYPES & LANGUAGE ENTERTAINMENT
AUTOMOBILE EXHIBITION
MULTIPLEX THEATERS
OMAR PARK
AUTOMOBILE SHOWROOM
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FARIDA TAL AAT
AUTOMOBILE EXHIBITION I wanted to design an exhibition where everyone can find a suited space for themselves. Each floor would consist of a different exhibition so that it accomodates different users’ needs. Later on, i decide to use the tree structure because it was more appropriate to the message i wanted to send as well has the different experiences in the building. It was accompanied with a space truss as a roof to the project.
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OMAR EL FEKI
圀栀礀 䄀洀甀猀攀洀攀渀琀 倀愀爀欀㼀 圀栀礀 䄀洀甀猀攀洀攀渀琀 倀愀爀欀㼀 圀栀礀 䄀洀甀猀攀洀攀渀琀 倀愀爀欀㼀 吀漀 䌀爀攀愀琀攀 䄀渀
吀漀 䌀爀攀愀琀攀 䄀渀 䄀吀吀刀䄀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀伀䤀一吀 吀漀 䌀爀攀愀琀攀 䄀渀 䄀吀吀刀䄀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀伀䤀一吀 䄀吀吀刀䄀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀伀䤀一吀
圀栀礀 䠀漀琀攀氀㼀 圀栀礀 䠀漀琀攀氀㼀
圀栀礀 䠀漀琀攀氀㼀
䌀伀一吀刀䄀匀吀 䌀伀一吀刀䄀匀吀
䌀栀愀氀氀攀渀最攀猀 漀昀 瘀攀爀琀椀挀愀氀 瀀爀漀樀攀挀琀椀漀渀㨀 䌀栀愀氀氀攀渀最攀猀 漀昀 瘀攀爀琀椀挀愀氀 瀀爀漀樀攀挀琀椀漀渀㨀
⸀ 吀爀愀渀猀瀀漀爀琀愀琀椀漀渀 ㈀⸀ 圀愀礀昀椀渀搀椀渀最 ㌀⸀ 匀攀爀瘀椀挀椀渀最 㐀⸀ 一漀椀猀攀 愀渀搀 䠀漀琀攀氀 ⸀ 吀爀愀渀猀瀀漀爀琀愀琀椀漀渀 ㈀⸀ 圀愀礀昀椀渀搀椀渀最 ㌀⸀ 匀攀爀瘀椀挀椀渀最 㐀⸀ 一漀椀猀攀 愀渀搀 䠀漀琀攀氀
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1 4
2
3
Tower for vertical 1 Indoor Skydiving behind reception desk. 2 Drop 3 transportation for hotel and park
Bumper Cars playing area for waiting kids
4
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Section B.B
Section A.A
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REEM KHALIL
MULTIPLEX THEATERS In order to implement our intervention strategy by creating new Archteypes, I ended up merging three forms of theatres to fom a new Archetype. While the theatre represents dynamism, the movie theatre represents statisism. It was important to bridge the gap and create a communal space in between hence the open air theatre. the entrance blends in with the circulation space with no gateway. As one traverses more, the human eye is able to see past the open theatre to the central plaza The ramp merges with the building to create a direct access to my building and other buildings as well. The form of the theatre represents dynamism and extends on to the open theatre. it also merges between the megastore and acts as an outdoor area
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TAREK SHERIF
AUTOMOBILE SHOWROOM The building starts with 4 separate experiences entering into the building, one responding to each of the surrounding buildings. As we enter the building, it turns into a hustle and bustle of sharing information and knowledge with hints of discoveries in wood and aluminum along the way.
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MOBILITY & WALKABILITY CULTURAL
CONVENTION CENTER
HOTEL OBSERVATORY
MIXED-USE OFFICE BUILDING
ARCHITECTURAL MUSEUM
MIXED-USE OFFICE BUILDING
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FARIDA YOUSSEF
ARCHITECTURAL MUSEUM Situated in a city that is sIll growing, I wanted to create a museum that would educate people about architecture, its importance, how different urban experiences within a city affects its idenIty and spirit. The building would fit in the world of professionalism, our concept as a group for our plot, addressing decision makers and builders while at the same time a public building that attracts all types of visitors.
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GEHAN KAMEL
MIXED-USE OFFICE BUILDING A mixed use office building with retail floors in the bottom. the function and approach were all related to our interventions in the overall masterplan and thus the whole site was connected from within and with the outside.
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MAHA EL YATAFT Y
CONVENTION CENTER The convention center hosts events that can include conferences, exhibitions and galleries all serving to host professional events in the context with the site. So a large amount of exhibition spaces and preoccupation zones had to be included to accommodate the gatherings of large amounts of people. An auditorium with all of its service rooms and complimentary spaces was also needed to host events that engages the community. Other spaces include a food court and seating spaces as well as VIP lounge for professionals and speakers.
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The main factor of interest in the user experience of this type of building is the hierarchy formed in intermediate spaces, since the most interesting discussions always take place after attendees exit the event and start discussing what they have been seeing. My experiential model aimed at tackling this hierarchy and conveying the types of transition between these large scale areas .
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SANDRA SHEHATA
HOTEL OBSERVATORY Viewing my building as a microcosom of a city, most of research findings were taken into consideration. The change from one floor to another was to create a space (center) where it is open for public use creating a dialogue between private and public spaces (placemaking). The centers of the hotel were to spread up ending with the observatory deck on the top, instead of having grouped centers at the ground floor or lower floors, which enhances the mobility and way finding in the building. A stiff mould was used to create rooms (territories) which were used to generate the form using rules. Centers were then added or subtracted from the form according to their functionalities.
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Verindeel cantilever girder was chosen according to the two limitations: 1) Free plan to allow for floor changes with no projecting columns, 2) Sharp/edgy outline to emphasize the stiff mould.
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YASMINE ESMAT
MIXED-USE OFFICE BUILDING I wanted to create a different experience to the daily routine boring life of a regular employee or a regular business man staying at the apartment hotel. The different experience was achieved by creating different activities in the center of the building connecting the two sides of it. Using frames, I started playing with the orientation in order to create a different form to express my idea while the other two sides were as rigid and organized as an office building is.
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NODES & CENTERS EDUCATIONAL
CONVENTION CENTER
ARTS CENTER
THE LIBRARY DIGITAL MEDIA CENTER
BUSINESS SUPPORT CENTER
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NOHA RATEB
ARTS CENTER The project is inspired by the experience an artist undergoes through his creating his own of art. as a dancer, he/she will go through a series of experiences as the lighting changes from bright to dim and as the sound changes from low to high pitch. as an artist, he/she will go through a series of experiences as starting in the art and the feeling they get while wraping it up. Hence the driving force of this project will be transition spaces, whereby a user will walk through a series of different experiences as he moves from space to space.
The center is meant to provide an engaging and lively environment in which to work and study. the front door of the arts center will lead to an exhibition leads to a series of open loft spaces on the first floor, which flow horizontally until the space is broken by core circulation elements, including the main stair, elevator, and mechanical core. The highlt flexible space not only stores a portion of the center’s art collection but also functions as a studio fore arts students.
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Studio 5 Art Shop
Studio 2
Art Gallery
Studio 6
Studio 3
Studio 7
Storage
Studio 4
VIP PEOPLE'S ENTRANCE AND WAITING AREA
Security Room
Security Room
Storage
Section B-B
Storage
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Detail of the Frame with the Slanted Roof Scale 1:5
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NOHA SAAD
BUSINESS SUPPORT CENTER Proposed project was a business support center, which strives to advance financial literacy in New Cairo’s city by helping and financially supporting incubators improving their financial wellbeing so that they can eventually grow and work on their own. Banks feed & financially support incubators in order to grow. As those incubators grow, they are in need of boosts in middle to speed up their growth rate (Educational area : financial learning programs which enhances employees skills) until they reach a peak (Offices). Through the building, users move from a very formal space to a less formal and a more vibrant, playful, high-energy space as they reach upper floors.
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Banks: User senses formality / place is systematic / ordered / professional Incubators: A more Collaborative environment , less formal Educational Area : A more Collaborative, vibrant , transparent environment Offices: A high-energy & positive atmosphere. One unit, working toward a set of shared goals, and that makes employees closer and more like a family. I chose the core system with girders and trusses perpendicular to lift the loads of cantilevers and I illustrated the following structure using a Structural model.
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OMAR KHALIFA
DIGITAL MEDIA CENTER
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PASSANT SALEM
THE LIBRARY
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SAMAR KHALED
ADULT EDUCATION CENTER Educational institution aims at creating a flexible and diverse learning environment. Therefore, I wanted to focus on creating a building with specialized, yet diverse environments, where students can find spaces and setting that match their own preferred learning style. The design creates transparent and various specialities around central atirum- a duality that creates interaction and versatility. The levels of activity decrease gradually from the Agora and outwards with the most calm and private spaces located along the building’s outer edges. At the same time, this organizational
principle is transferred from plan to section with the highest levels of activity and transparency at the bottom and spaces for contemplation at the top. The Agora’s central gathering point consists of a sculptural, cone shaped staircase. Besides functioning as a social and visual point of reference, the staircase also is a point of orientation towards the rest of the building.
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TERRITORIALITY & BOUNDARIES COMMERCIAL
AGRICULTURAL CENTER
FASHION CENTER
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TECHNOLOGY CENTER
FURNITURE CENTER
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DONNA EBEID
FASHION CENTER My building concept is to create a new language to promote the fashion industry. The building is a hub for all fashion designers as well as people interested to learn about fashion design. It incorporates offices for renowned fashion designers, a fashion school which provides education to young fashion designers, and a department store including fashion designers’ works, fabrics and accessories. As clients enter the building, they take a tour through the showrooms with a professional assistant where they can have a look at the work displayed and the catalogues. They choose fabrics and color as well as accessories needed. Afterwards, their body measurements are taken, and they meet with the fashion designer.
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HEND ABADA
FURNITURE CENTER The building applies the main concept of the group which is self integration. It is a hub for all interior designers and those who are interested in the industry of furniture. As people get into the building, they start walking on a spiral ramp that takes them gradually to the upper floors while they are having a look at the furniture shops. The upper floors comprise of offices for renowned interior designers as well as exhibitions that displays their recent works.
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IMAN EL SOKARY
TECHNOLOGY CENTER
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NOURHAN KHALED
FOOD CENTER The building is based on the idea of self integration. The program was generated determining the commercial functions needed and the need for stand alone stores and shops. It targets the food industry where it includes the food making process starting from growing the basic nutrients until serving cooked meals in the cafeterias. To grow the crops, a hydroponics system is installed in the building where the vegetables and fruits are grown without soild in a water-based system that utilizes a mineral nutrient solution. This helps in providing a local growth with no need for transportation or shipping.
The building is composed of greenhouses and corporate offices which are located at the higher levels. While in the ground floor, there are different restaurant, grocery shops and bakeries. The tallest space of the building represents the offices where they look like one united space, and then the green houses surrounds them. On the ground level, the restaurants and groceries extend from the core.
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V. WE LOOK BACK ... TO UNDERSTAND THE UNDERSTANDING
The trip ends but what sense does it make? What did we really understand? Was it about New Cairo or was it about ourselves?
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STUDIO TEAM
DR. AMR ABDEL KAWI An educator since 1981 in the schools of architecture of Ain Shams University, the Arab Academy of Science and Technology, and now at the American University in Cairo since 2010. Professionally, he practices architecture and interior design, and now is MD of Rhimal Design Management. Also Editor in Chief of Medina and Magaz, both architecture & design magazines.
AHMED BORHAM An independent urban researcher, practicing architecture and teaching in the Arab Academy for Science and Technology & the AUC. Holds a MSc degree with a thesis on Resilient Rules: Culture & Computation in Traditional Built Environments. Cofounder of Cairo from Below and Madd, initiatives encourage inclusive urbanization in Cairo. Maintains the Drawing Parallels blog drawing comparisons between urban conditions in Cairo and other cities in search for emergent patterns.
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MALAK MAHER An architect and artist based in Cairo, with interests in combining art and architecture. Involved with teaching different fields to different age groups: art and sports for children and architecture at university level. Holds a Masters of Architecture titled “Astronomical Space: Experiencing the Beyond Within� from Oxford Brookes University, UK.
KAREEM NEMS Kareem Nems is a practicing architect, Teaching assistant and independent researcher. His main research interests are in the area of intersection between architecture as a functioning typology and the city as a set of Images, behaviors and qualities. He also has some trials for what might categorized as a visionary architecture.
HADWA YOUSSEF Hadwa Youssef, an architect and teaching assistant, graduated in Spring 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from The American University in Cairo. She has an interest in digging for the narratives told by decayed architecture and forgotten spaces. She is currently exploring different trials in the field of graphic design.
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©RHIMAL DESIGN 2014 BOOK DESIGN BY HADWA YOUSSEF
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