HELIOPOLIS:
HUMAN POWERED PUBLIC PLACES: REVISIONING THE URBAN
SPACE
EXPLORING ARCHITECUTURE POTENTIAL THROUGH SUSTAIN-
BLE PUBLIC SPACES AND SUSTAINBLE TRANSPORTATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR LIVERPOOL,MY TEACHERS HERE AT UNIVERSTY OF LIVERPOOL AND THE ESTABLISHMENT ITSELF. I HAVE LEARNED A LOT, AND WHILE PERSONALLY IT WAS A TOUGH YEAR FOR ME, I STILL HOPE I MANAGED TO DO SOMETHING I CAN BUILD ON FOR MY REST OF MY LIFE. DEEP DOWN MYSELF I AM SURE I DID. , AND TO INSPIRE OTHERS LIKE I WAS INSPIRED. I WILL ALWAYS CARRY THOSE GOLDEN MOMENTS I MADE AS MEMORIES IN MY HEART FOREVER.
BRIEF
UNDERSTANDING THE DOWNFALL OF HERITAGE AND PUBLIC SPACE IN CAIRO
SITE ANALYSIS
CONCEPT
DESIGN DEVOLPMENT PLANS , SECTIONS
URBAN RELATIONSHIOPS
CONTEXT
VISUALS
CAIRO AS A METROPOLITAN CITY HAS A SPANNING HISTORY OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ARCHITECTURE THAT REPRESENT EVERY TIME PERIOD.
ITS GEOGRAPHICAL AND POLITICAL POSITION ALLOWED ITS SKYLINE TO BE SHAPED AND INSPIRED WITH A UNIQUE AND DIVERSE ARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTIONS FROM ANCIENT EGYPTIAN TO GREEK AND ROMAN, COPTIC , JEWISH, ISLAMIC AND OTTOMAN ARCHITECTURE; IT INSPIRED POST MODERNISM IN CAIRO AFTER THE 19TH CENTURY UNTIL 1950
CAIRO ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
MOEZ STREET ,10TH CENTURY
HANGING CHURCH,3RD CENTURY CINEMA EL SHARQ, 1947
MOEZ STREET ,10TH CENTURY
UM KALTHOUM HOUSE. 195
BUT AFTER 1900 THE PUBLIC SPACE IN CAIRO SPECIFCALLY STARTED TO TAKE SOME OF THE FOCUS JUST LIKE ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN FOCALITY STARTED TO BECOME A FACTOR AND MERGE IT COHESEIVLY WITH ARCHITECTURE . THE DESIGN OF NEW PLACES SEEMED TO FOCUSE ON MAKING IT MORE WALKABLE AND LIVABLE.
BUT AFTER 1952 REVLOTUTION AND THE POLITICAL CHANGE IN EGYPT FROM A KINGDOM TO A REPBULIC, AND BECAUSE OF SECURTIY REASONS, CREATING NEW PUBLIC SPACES WERE ALWAYS A CHALLENGE IN FEAR OF PEOPLE PROTESTS.
STILL, FAMILES WOULD GO OUT DURING SPECIAL HOLIDAY DAYS OR DURING RAMADHAN ,EID ,CHRISTMAS OR EASTER HOLIDAYS IN EXISTING GARDENS OR SPACES DESGINED BEFORE.
BUT WITH MANY THINGS CHANGING SINCE THE 1950S, SO DID THE WAY POPULATION WAS DISTRUBUTED IN EGYPT. THE CENTERALIATION OF CAIRO AS EGYPTS CAPITAL OF COMMERCE , BUSINESS , ART AND MEDIA ATTRACTED MANY PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND AND THE GOVERNMENT WASNT PREPARED WELL YET TO DEAL WITH THE SUDDEN CHANGES DUE TO THE 1956 SUEZ WAR, 1962 WAR IN YEMEN ,THE 1967 AND 1973 WARS WITH ISRAEL. THE ECONOMY WAS CHALLENGED ANDTHIS LED TO AN INFORMAL SETTLMENT ON THE RISE SINCE THE 70S AND CAIRO STARTED TO CHANGE URBAN WISE, AND EVEN AGRICULTURE LANDS WERE BEING BUILT ON THOUGH HISTORICALLY IT NEVER HAPPEND ON A REGULAR WAY.
AS SHOWN IN THE DIAGRAM BELOW AND AFTER OF THE CAIRO URBAN SPRAWL.THE DIFFERENCE OF POPULATION MORE THAN TRIPPLLED IN A VERY SHORT TIME SPAN COMPARED TO OTHER MEGA CITIES LIKE LONDON.
CAIRO ON THE LEFT COMPARED TO LONDONYOU CAN SEE HOW LONDON COMPARED TO CAIRO HAS A MORE STEADY CONTROLLED POPULATION GROWTH IN THE SAME TIME SPAN. IN 1950 CAIRO WAS 5 MILLION AND LONDON WAS 8 MILLION. IN 2023 ITS NOW ALMOST 25 MILLION COMPARED TO LONDONS 10 MILLION.
POPULATION NUMBERS SOURCE: UNITED NATIONS WORLD POPULATION PROSPECTS
As a result of this urban sprawl and overpopulation. the architecture and urban fabric of Cairo especially and in Egypt in general started to fade out and get demolished to make space for more.
but it came at an expense of the heritage and unique architecture and urban public space, as you can see right here in the pictures.
The first picture on the right shows a building from the 30s next to a huge newly built building left on brick with no plaster. The right two picture are for buildings
PHOTO CREDITS : MICHEL HANNA,CAIRO
because of the overcroweded lots of debates about the overuse of cars and giving car use more priorty to public transportation which made debatable decisions such as building more car roads widening them and creating car bridges for more traffic flow, it even happened over graveyards.
PHOTO CREDIT : SOURCE
THE CONCEPT OF CARDEN CITIES
Qubbah Garden on a partial map of Cairo in 1920. It shows the small land development indicated as “Qubba Garden City.” Source: (Library of Congress)
Garden-City” on a partial map of Cairo in 1920.
BUT WHY I CHOOSE HELIOPOLIS ? HELIOPOLIS IS ONE OF THE GARDEN CITIES DESIGNED IN EARLY 1900S IN CAIRO FOR THE OVERGRWOING POPULATION AT TIME ALONG WITH ZAMALEK ANDGARDEN CITY IN DOWNTOWN AND MAADI AND HELIOPOLIS AS GARDEN SUBURBS.
Urban land development projects around Cairo in 1920.
Source: Adapted from a 1920 map of Cairo from (Library of Congress).
MAADI WAS CONNECTED AT THE TIME BY A RAILWAY STATION WHEN IT WAS BUILT. UNLIKE HELIOPOLIS WHICH WAS COMPLETELY PLANNED IN THE OUTER DESSERT AND NEEDED A CONNECTION WITH THE CITY, SO THE BARON EMPAIN , FOUNDER OF HELIOPLOLIS SUGGESTED CONNECTING IT WITH THE TRAM LINE TO CREATE A MORE CLEANER SUSTAINBLE AND HELPED IN GROWTH OF USE OF IT.
A blueprint of an apartment building plan in Heliopolis
Letchworth
diagram CREDITS : Ahmed el ezazzy , cairo
COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERENT GARDERN CITIES AND HELIOPOLIS COMPARED TO LETCHWORTH IN ENGLAND, TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF HELIOPOLIS AND ITS SISTER ONES IN CAIRO.
The legacy of Cairo’s homegrown architects who shaped its landscape and culture, particularly from the 1920s to the 1970s, has been effectively forgotten, impacting the ways in which Egyptians view their modern and contemporary histories.
HISTORYICALLY , MEMPHIS WAS THE CAPITAL OF ANICENT EGYPT AND GEOPGRAPHICY ITS IN THE SAME CONTEXT AS CAIRO.
THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY SAW ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING BOOM IN EGYPT ; PARTICULARY IN CAIRO BECAUSE IT WAS CONSIDERED THE CAPITAL .
THE PLANNING OF NEW NEUIGHBORHODS AND THE EXPANSION OFCAIRO MEANT TRYING TO CREATE A NEW LANGUAGE OF DESIGN TO REPRESENT THE CURRENT ERA AND VISION .
HELIOPOLIS
THE BIRTH OF A SUBURB GARDEN CITY
BARON IMPAN OF BELGIUM FOUNDER AND ENGINEER OF HELIOPOLIS
HIS PLACE OF ACCOMODATION WAS INSPIRED FROM INDIN TEMPLE HOUSES FROM
picture credit : bishoy samuel images : B. Livadas & Coutsicos - Cairo - Boulevard Ibrahim in Heliopolis Rare Books and Special Collections Library; The American University in Cairo
HELIOPOLIS IMPORTANT LANDMARKS
THAT SURROUND THE SITE IN GREEN
USED TO BE A HOTEL WHEN OPENED IN EARLY 1910s, it is now the main Presidential palace after Egypt became a rebpublic
BASLIQUE CHURCH WHERE THE FOUNDER OF HELIOPOLS IS BURIED, 1913 BY Alexandre Marcel.
NORMANDY CINEMA , 1950 AND ONE OF THE FIRST OPEN AIR IN HELIOPOLIS AL Ittihadiya Palace
TO UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT; WHICH IS ABOUT REUSING PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND PEDESTRIANSING THE STREET , ESPECIALLY A STREET IN A THE HEART OF HELIOPOLIS, ITS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE TRAM THAT WAS REMOVED ON HOW IT HAD A STRONG IMPACT UNITIL IT WAS REMOVED FOR THE CAR. THE TRAM NETWORK USED TO COVER ALL OF CAIRO. YOU CAN TAKE THE TRAM FROM THE AIRPORT UP UNTIL THE PYRAMIDS. AND IT PASSED BY HELIOPOLIS AND MANY OTHER HISTORIC PLACES. SO IT WASNT JUST A USE OF A FRIENDLY AND CLEAN TRANSPORTATION BUT YOU HAVE A HISTORIC TOUR SEEING CONTEMPERORY CAIRO, MEDIVEL CAIRO, DOWNTOWN CAIRO AND ANCEINT MEMPHIS . IT WAS A TRIP DOWN HISTORY LITERALLY.
THE INTERESTING FACT THAT THIS WAS VERY CHEAP AND WOULD COST AT THE TIME BETWEEN 50 PIASTERS TO 1 EGYPTIAN POUND UP UNTIL THE 1970S WHEN THE TRAM LINE TO THE PYRAMDS WAS REMOVED.
BUILDING IN THE DESERT WAS NOT SOMETHING
COMMON FOR EGYPT AS ALL CIVILISATION WAS INSPIRED TO BE CLOSE TO THE GREEN AGRICULTURAL AREA AND NEAR THE NILE WERE IT WAS IMPORTANT AS A LIFE FACTOR.
HELIOPOLIS WAS BUILT 13 KM FAR FROM CAIRO
IN THE DESERT PART .
map : ALmadaq website
HELIOPOLIS : THE BIRTH
HELIOPOLIS
:
THE BIRTH OF A GARDEN CITY
Moorish Revival styles
It’s meant to integrate the functional and aesthetic benefits of these styles when developing a building.
Heliopolis Architectural Style
Across the suburb of Heliopolis, situated in the east side of Cairo, the building style used is referred to as Heliopolis style.
Heliopolis style synthesizes different architectural elements, including traditional Arabic, Neoclassical, Persian and
HELIOPOLIS FABRIC CHANGED THROUGHPOUT THE YEARS.
EVERY HISTORIC PERIOD FROM THE BRITISH UNTIL THE CURRENT STATE HAD A REFLECTION ON ITS URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN
source: mahy moruad
diargram
AFTER 2019
MAIN SITE IS IN GREEN , THE ROAD NAME IS IBRAHIM STREET AND ITS A POPULAR STREET IN KORBA AREA IN HELIPOLIS AS SEEN IN THE PICTURES.
ITS RE MAKING CAIRO AND IN THIS CASE HELIOPOILS
HUMAN WALKABLE FRIENDLY NOT CAR DOMINATED LIKE IT USED TO
WITH MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INFRSTRUCTURE
THE NIGHT LIFE IS ALWAYS BUZZING DURING FESITVELS SUCH AS RAMADHAN OR CHRISTMAS BUT EVEN WHEN ITS NOT. BUT IT SHOWS THE POTENTIAL OF SUCH AREA IT COULD BE WHEN ITS PEDESTERNISED.
PHOTO
A VERY TIGHT STREET CONGESTET BY CARS . SHOWS HOW CAR BECAME THE DOMINANT IN THE PAST YEARS AND ITS BEING CENTERED DEISGN INSTEAD OF THE HUMAN.
ARCHITECTURE AND THE CITY AND SPACE SHOULD BE CENTERED AROUND THE HUMAN THATS HOW HELIOPOLIS WAS DESIGNED, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINBILTY , AND TO HELP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.
PHOTO CREDITS : EYAD ALFEKY ,2023
THE DECISION TO USE TROLLEY ELECTRIC BUSES IS IT IS VERY EFFICENT LIKE A TRAM AND DOESNT REQUIRE TO BUILD A SPECIFIC INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IN EGYPTS ECONMIC COMPLEXITY WOULD REQUIRE A LONG TIME TO FUND AND BUILD . THIS ALSO GIVES THE LOCALS A SENSE OF NOSTALGIC FEELING TO THE PAST DAYS OF THE TRAM.
SO IN A WAY ITS A WIN SCENARIO FOR THE LOCAL GOVERENT POLICY AND THE PEOPLE.
IMAGE SOURCE : ARTICEL ON ELECTRIC TROLLEY BUSES FROM INTELLIGANT TRANSPORT WEBSITE
THE DESIGN LANGUAGE WAS INSPIRED FROM THE CONTEXT LINES.
I USED THE STREET NETWORK AS A GRID FROM EVERY ANGLE TO HELP CREATE A UNIQUE DESIGN LANGUAGE THAT REFLECTS UPON THE UNIQNESS OF HELIOPOLIS BUT WITH A CONTEMPERORARY APPROACH THAT REFLECTS THE SOUL OF THE SPACE .
THE GRID IS ALL THE SAME IN SIZE , ITS 4.5 X 4.5 IN SIZE FOR THE SIZE IT TAKES FOR A TABLE WITH A 4 CHAIR. THE REASON FOR THIS AS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE USAGE OF THE STREET ALREADY FOR PEOPLE GOING TO CAFES AND RESTURANTS AND SPENDING TIME. SO MOST OF THE TIME THEYRE SITTING. THIS EXPLAINS ALSO WHY THE CENTRE IS THE SEATING AREA.
as shown in the sketch im comparing the different section of the road in cairo . and to my proposed design
LOCALLAY SOURCED MATERIALS SUCH AS GRANITE
MARBLE LIMESTONE AND SANDSTONE ARE THE SELECTION FOR THE FLOOR TILES AND FLOWER BOXES.
THEY ARE VERY DURABLE AND STRONG MATERIALS AND IT HAS BEEN USED LOCALY THOUSAND OF YEARS AND HAS PROVED TO CAN WITHSTAND TIME. IT HAS NATURAL COLOUR PIGMENT WHICH I CONSIDER THE WAY OF LAYING IT OUT TO GIVE AN INTERESITING VIBE TO THE PLACE AND CREATE A MORE ENGAGING SPACE.
USING COLOUR AS A FACTOR OF
How materials in can improve the mental wellbeing in architecture in relation to other aspects like natural daylight?
Updated studies and research indicate the human spends most of the average human age (around 70-80) that 90% is indoors. There are aspects of outdoor activities; but the indoor role has a huge factor. This has an enormous impact on the human health; wellbeing, emotionally and mentally. All features that from contemporary standpoint of view was not just available in Heliopolis but found in the medieval architecture of Cairo in particular.
Factors such as ventilation,associated with building orientation and relation to wind direction, openings, materials used have a significant impact on indoor contaminants and with the right strategy it can be minimised. But choosing nontoxic sustainable building materials have direct impact more than using plants, or just ventilation in construction, finishes, insulation, and furniture.
However, with right developed design strategies; architects can develop better strategies to cope better.
As with the case of my site in Heliopolis; the dominant material was sandstone and concrete. However, the most important aspect is understanding the climate of Egypt; in particular, Cairo.
The dry climate, low rainfall, and strong sunshine in summer, have a profound impact on how buildings are shaped. But to understand better, as Heliopolis was heavily inspired from Mamluk and Cairo Islamic architecture along with Moorish architecture from Spain and Morrocco, it is important to understand the building methods of the traditional residential and public or mixed-use architecture.
In this case and continuing the tradition of using sandstone and limestone, light coloured materials were in general selected to make sand coming from sandstorms less appear and thus not always appearing in surfaces and lessoning the need for cleaning. This was made to give impression that surfaces appear less dirty which can always have an impact on the wellbeing. Wood was also common for window openings coverings, known as mashrabiyas for the windows. Mud or red bricks were used for vaults, domes and load bearing walls which were also common. Sound insulation was based on the horizontal arrangement of spaces and thick bearing walls to stop outside noise and create internal courtyards that give comfortability to users/residents.
From this , its clearely observed the material strategy that will be implented in my designs, with the relation to the landscape factor and urban approach with the relation to street. Because I have a residential part and mixed-use public building the idea of separation with a courtyard for better sound insulation will be looked for.
AXNOMETRIC VIEW OF PEDESTERNISED STREET
LIGHTING AND SEATING
LIGHTING AND SEATING
CANOPY
BUS STOP A
BUS STOP B
THE RED COLOUR REPRESENTS THE CIRCULATION OF THE PEOPLE IN RED AND YELLOW REPRESENTS SEATING AREAS.
acasiya wood for cladding and steel frame for structure, instead of concrete as it has less carbon footprint
THough wood is expensive in egypt especially for importing it like oak or timber which are popular in use for building, acasiya wood is a very oak like storng wood material and can be planted locally in egypt but requires maintaince more but is very cheap. ALso it helps in keeping the place cool all day thus not needing air condintion and with the passive air cooling it makes it sustainble.
The figures above demonstrate how use of wood material in masrhbiyas in medieval Cairo helped in privacy and cooling air temperatures for a humid dry hot climate
|My inspiration from it is the technique here. the side faceades are in glass to allow people see the coming buseses.
AIR CIRCULATION
relationship with context
THE STRUCTURE IS THE SAME AS IN THE FIRST BUS STOP BUT INSTEAD OF WOODEN CLADDING I USED HERE SANDSTONE CLADDING FOR THE WALL AND THE FLOOR. ALSO GREEN ROOF FOR HELPING KEEPING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN. IT ALSO HAS PASSIVE COOLING JUST LIKE THE ABOVE. THE LOUVERS INSPIRED FROM ITS USE CAN BE OPENED AND CLOSED TO SEE UPCOMINGBUSSES AS THERE IS NO NEED FOR GLASS HERE, ITS ALL ABOUT BALANCING TO GAIN MAXIMUM COOL HEAT
STAGE AND THE CHRISMATAS TREE:
AS SEEN IN THE UPPER PICTURES, IN EVERY FESTIVEL THIS PLACE HAS A CHRISMATS TREE OR THEY MAKE A TEMPORARY STAGE.
MY IDEA WAS TO HAVE A PERNEMANT ONE FOR A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND THE OPPURTUNITY TO PLAY OR DO ANYTHING. ITS ABOUT CREATING A SPACE
THE IDEA OF THE CANOPY IS TO HELP PEOPLE USE MORE THE SPACE DURING DAY TIME.
IT CAN BE PULLED BACK DURING THE NIGHT TO ALLOW PEOPLE ENJOY THE VIEW OF THE BUIILDINGS AS WELL
SECTION ELEVATION 1
SECTION ELEVATION 2
THE IDEA OF THE CANOPY IS TO HELP PEOPLE USE MORE THE SPACE DURING DAY TIME.
IT CAN BE PULLED BACK DURING THE NIGHT TO ALLOW PEOPLE ENJOY THE VIEW OF THE BUIILDINGS AS WELL.
THE CANOPY IS USED
SECTION ELEVATION 1
SECTION ELEVATION 1
the main reason for this 2 big 3d section to show the relation between the surrounding context and the pedestrian road and the relation with the urban mass and architecture.
trying to capture the spirit
