Final research 351

Table of contents I‐ Mission statement …………………………………………………………………………………….2 II‐ Clients’ profile ………………………………………………………………………………………….3 a) b) c) d)

Type of family Transcription to interviews Proposed lifestyle Needs

III‐ Local case study: Degla Gardens………………………………………………………………5 1‐ Site analysis a) Location and accessibility b) Facilities and services 2‐ User group 3‐ Exterior image of the buildings 4‐ Sun consideration 5‐ Floor plan analysis a) Components of apartment b) Space organization 6‐ Study analysis: Pros and Cons IV‐ International case study: B‐99 House………………………………………………………12 1‐ 2‐ 3‐ 4‐

Type and aim of project Analysis of floor plans Environmental aspects Eco‐friendly? a) Electricity b) Water c) Construction 5‐ Space organization 6‐ Conclusion V‐ General information on shipping containers………………………………………………21 1‐ 2‐ 3‐ 4‐ 5‐

Benefits Process of construction Insulation Costs Standard size

VI‐ Design proposal………………………………………………………………………………………24 1‐ Target User 2‐ Components of home 3‐ Activity program

4‐ Pie chart for relative areas 5‐ Bubble diagram for proposed design 6‐ Relationship matrix VII‐ Proposed site and site analysis………………………………………………………………40 a) Choice of site b) Analysis of site 1‐ Accessibility 2‐ Surroundings and facilities 3‐ Surrounding views 4‐ North and wind direction 5‐ Sun orientation 6‐ Heat/climate analysis 7‐ Noise analysis 8‐ Area of land VIII‐ Inspirational images………………………………………………………………………………48 IX‐ Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………53 X‐ References ……………………………………………………………………………………………….54

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I-Mission Statement

Designing a building or a housing project in Egypt will never be the same after January 25th. This revolution was eye opening in all areas of life. While revealing a new and unpredictable side in the young generation’s mentality on one hand, it also dramatically changed them in uncountable ways. The past few days have shown us how people can change when they have hope and an optimistic vision for the future. People from all areas in Egypt, especially in Cairo started cleaning the streets, and painting sidewalks, which was a beautiful event to witness, because now it is obvious that these small gestures will be the first step, the motor of a brighter, cleaner, and healthier Egypt. I think that designing residential units for this generation should follow a whole new path that would convey an image that rightfully displays a unique identity, and at the same time suits their needs and aspirations. For that reason the keyword that I saw most relevant to this analysis was the word rebirth. The rebirth of a new age in architectural buildings, that still maintains the Egyptian culture in their design.

This keyword or main concept behind the project would be accompanied by a number of keywords that would reinforce it.

Awareness: I want my project to show that not only can the design of the buildings be environmentally aware, but also that the users are aware. I want to engage them in the process of construction, show that they are the bases of the project, and that without them and their awareness of their impact, the project will not be possible.

Responsibility/Sustainability/ Environment‐friendly: these three words are in my opinion strongly related. The revolution showed us and showed the whole world that we have a responsibility towards our country. We are responsible of its well‐being and its future. This word is therefore a major aspect to consider while designing a project, especially for the young generation. Moreover, when being responsible in design, to me, means taking into consideration not only its impact on the environment and its sustainability, but how it will affect its users, which role they will have in the process of construction, and how they will continue being responsible of its sustainability.

Finally, since the target user I have chosen is composed of a young couple with young children, the main point that would guide me is the implementation of the concept of awareness and rebirth in my design. I chose to make my project built entirely of recycled materials, and the main idea of the project is to engage the clients in the process of construction. They (see IV‐ paragraph on target users) will be the ones who will provide the waste and the materials that will be used in the houses. This way, they will be aware that “they can build themselves by themselves”, exactly like what we all witnessed in the revolution; the people took the matter into their own hands, because they finally realized that they have a role in the country, that they have the right to choose a brighter future. The concept in the project will be very similar; I want the clients to know that there is a better way of living that does not necessarily cost a lot of money, but on the contrary, helps them save money by their own choice and will.

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II‐ Clients’ profile

a) Type of family: My target users will be mainly employees and engineers working in ports and factories in Suez. They are updated on what is happening in their working environment and will be able to provide the shipping containers as well as the other materials (steel…) for construction. I have interviewed families that are very similar in lifestyle to my target users, since it wasn’t possible for me to reach the users in Suez.

They are mostly composed of a young couple, with 2 small children (from 4 to 10 years old). The husband is an engineer working in a factory or a port, and the wife is in some cases a teacher or a nurse and in others a stay at home wife.

b) Transcription to interviews: The families I have interviewed have provided me with a lot of useful and interesting information concerning their needs and aspirations in a home.

First of all, when I asked them about their general complaints or dislikes in their home, most of them answered that they feel that the spaces are not well distributed in relation to each other. For example, in many cases, their home was allocating unnecessary space for the bedrooms, and thus compacting the public area and cramping everything in a relatively small space, and this made them uncomfortable in spending time in the semi- public area of the house (living…).

Others felt that they should have the opportunity to communicate together from one place to another, and most of the wives felt that they wanted to have the kitchen connected somehow to the living area but still having its own delimited zone for privacy.

The majority of the cases mentioned the fact that they wanted a separate space to study and practice other activities in, without feeling isolated or disconnected from the rest of the house.

Moreover, what was surprising was that practically all of the interviewees asked for a better way of energy systems in the house. They said that

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they need an inexpensive way to promote natural lighting and ventilation in the house to save energy and also money.

In most cases, the families also asked that there would be some kind of open space like a terrace or a balcony, because they like to feel like there is an open space they can spend time in at the end of the day.

Since all the families have small children, their major aspirations were to have a garden or an open space for the children to play in, and at the same time benefit from the relaxing view of the greenery.

When I asked them what it meant for them to feel like they were “home”, they all responded with practically the same answers; feeling at home means feeling like this place is where they feel comfortable the most, more than any other place. Being home means most importantly connecting and communicating together at different times of the day.

They dream of living in a place that truly represents them, that fits not only their needs, but also their character and personalities, and none of them felt that way about their current home, because they mainly felt excluded from the home, as if they had to adapt to the space, and not otherwise.

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c) Proposed lifestyle: The husband is usually working all day from 9 am to 5 or 6 pm, his wife returns early from work, and picks up her kids from school at around 3. When home, she cooks dinner for them and waits for her husband to come home to eat together. In the afternoon, the husband watches some television, and then joins his wife in helping the children with their homework. The wife has hobbies like sowing and reading in her free time. d) Needs: - Private area separated from public area - Facilities around them - Cooking area close to living area - An open space (balcony or terrace) - A study and activities room - A living area for quality time, socialization and relaxation

III ‐ Local Case Study: Degla Gardens, a residential project by Memaar Al Morshedy

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1‐ Site analysis a) Location and accessibility The location of the site is suitable for the type of project, as the city of 6th of October is becoming a more and more developed area that attracts the installation of companies and major firms in Egypt. Therefore, it would be convenient for the residents who will be working in this area to live near their job locations. As seen in the following map, the project is surrounded by two main roads, Wadi el natroun and el fayoum desert road that lead to the major areas in Cairo.

b) Facilities and services

Figure 1‐ Map showing the location of Degla Gardens

The residential buildings will occupy 18 Acres when completed, and the rest of the land area (85% of the 100 Acres) will be occupied by a social club, retail and service facilities, a school, medical facilities, and green areas. The buildings are composed of 5 floors and most of them have a private garden on the ground floor.

Figure 2‐ Site layout

Services area

2‐ User group

Degla Gardens is a residential compound in 6th of October city, and targets the young middle‐income generation and families. It was being developed in support of former President

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Mubarak’s National Project for Youth Housing. When completed, Degla Gardens would offer 6,840 residential units.

3‐ Exterior image of the buildings The buildings’ outer facades are identical, the same materials and colors are used. Rectangular in shape, and dominated by fades of beige, they all appear a bit too simplistic and plain, which leaves no room for character and identity, two of the most important factors that should affect design, especially if the target user is the young generation.

Figure 3‐ Exterior shot of the buildings

4‐ Sun consideration The buildings have horizontal shading devices that do not serve their entire purpose. In fact, we can see that they are all located in the same area, and there are very few vertical shading devices, that are obtained by recessing some parts of the building inwards.

Even though the buildings are positioned on different angles, which means that they receive sunrays from

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different angles, we can see that the shading elements remains exactly the same in all the buildings. This means that the designers did not take into consideration the orientation of the sun in Egypt.

Same shading devices

5‐ Floor plan analysis

Figure 4‐ Apartment plan

a) Components of apartment

There are several types of apartments. This is one of the types of plans provided.

The apartment occupies 80 m2, and consists of: ‐ Bedroom 1: 3.45x3.65 m2 ‐ Bedroom 2: 3.35x3.45 m2

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‐ 1 bathroom: 1.95x2.65 m2 ‐ A kitchen: 3.10x3.35 m2 ‐ A living room ‐ A dining room

Kitchen Bath

b) Space organization:

‐ Bubble diagram

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Dining

Living

‐

Relationship matrix

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Entrance

6‐ Study analysis: Pros and Cons

Positive points Negative points Location and accessibility of the site Design of the buildings does not have a character or identity Recreational areas and facilities show that the project takes into consideration the residents’ needs by providing opportunities for socialization, and easy access to different services like schools and hospitals Green areas and the fountains: a great way to encourage residents to spend more time outside and interact.

Moreover, they serve as cooling systems in the hot weather in Egypt

Apartment plans: the dining is close to the kitchen, which makes the circulation easier for the residents

The shading devices show a poor study of the orientation of the sun

Organization of the space does not allow privacy for users (dining in front of entrance) As opposed to the western society, Egyptian families like to gather on Fridays and eat and spend time together at home, thus the small space does not give them this opportunity

No cross‐ventilation in the kitchen because there is only one window

Since this project was designed approximately 2 or 3 years, ago, it targeted a young generation that was very much different in needs and aspirations than the one that witnessed the revolution and made the historical changes in Egypt happen.

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IV‐ International case‐study: B‐99 House by Dada & Partners 1‐ Type and aim of the project

This project is a family house located in India, consisting of 3 separate floors. The upper floors are for architect couples and the basement serves as their studio.

The goal of the designers is to design a house representing a fusion between traditional and modern values of architecture, while still keeping the essence of the country’s traditions and values.

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2- Analysis of floor plans Basement:

Study area

Entrance to basement

As seen in the plan, the entire basement is dedicated to the study area/ studio. This shows that the designer greatly took into account the identity of the users, and responded to their needs and aspirations by providing a whole area that represents them, and allows them to practice their work and daily activities within their home environment. In fact, the users being architects, the designers knew exactly what they needed in their home.

Â

13Â

Ground Floor:

Bedrooms

Courtyard

Dining Kitchen

Entrance Living

The ground floor is divided into clear separate zones, with the public or formal living in front, and the private living at the back of the house . Â

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This is a good zoning system that allows the users to have privacy in the house whenever they have guests, etc… The courtyard is at the center of the house, and has many purposes (see II-3- b).

First Floor:

Private area

Bedrooms

Public area Dining Kitchen Entrance Living Study

The plan of the first floor is very similar to the ground floor except that there is a study area provided next to the living area. First of all the study area is not very well located because it is next to a noise

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producing area. Second, it is facing south, and so receives all the unnecessary sunlight and glare in an area made for reading. The architects solved this problem with adjustable motorized louvers, but the organization of this particular space could have been more efficient if the living area was in the place of the study area.

Second Floor:

Bedroom

Bridge

Living Entrance

The same organization of the space is again seen on the second floor, but with only one bedroom, and the living replacing the kitchen. There is no dining area in this floor.

Moreover, there is a bridge connecting the living Â

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room (public area) with the bedroom (private area).

3- Environmental aspects a) Sun: Horizontal shading devices take into consideration the orientation of the sun and prevent summer rays from entering while allowing the winter rays to pass through the windows. Moreover, for large windows, a two-feet deep wall acts as a shading device.

b) Ventilation Use of courtyards: In India the use of courtyards in houses is essential, as it has a double purpose: a climate modifier, and a social gathering space. In this house, the courtyard is at the center of the space and the functions are organized around it.

In fact, as seen in the plans (see II-2), there are a number of other smaller courtyards, marked as voids, that continuously promote ventilation and lighting to all floors.

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17Â

4- Eco- friendly?

Stack effect

a) Electricity: With the use of series of voids, the architects have facilitated natural ventilation by stack effect, which results in having a cooler space in the summer and thus decreasing the use of the air conditioner.

Moreover, the use of larger window openings is a major factor in helping save energy, as they provide natural lighting inside the rooms during the day. The

b) Water Solar collectors are installed facing the south and heat the water in winters, which has dramatically reduced the electric costs. c) Construction Use of recycled materials: the use of recycled materials like timber and aluminum is a major contribution to making this house sustainable and ecofriendly.

Double-height atrium Lower courts with water

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18Â

5‐ Space organization ‐

Bubble diagram

Public area Private area

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6- Conclusion:

This house being built in 2006 tells a lot about the mentality behind it. The designers have first of all succeeded in combining modern and traditional architecture, in considering the identity and needs of their clients while managing with traditional but unique ways to solve the climate problem in India. By using open courts and a double-height atrium, the designers have not only promoted ventilation and thus reduced the consumption of energy in the house, but they have also created a house that appears modern and new but at the same time maintaining the traditional values in India. The natural lighting and ventilation that are obtained by the series of interconnected courtyards are in my opinion a beautiful way of attaining a modern and relaxing atmosphere in a house. Moreover, the use of recycled materials shows the important consideration of the environment, and this is a feature I want to emphasize in my project, as well as the modernistic image of the exterior.

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20Â

V- General information on shipping containers Today, 90% of the world’s trade moves in containers. The problem is that after they are used for several times their life cycle ends and they are melted down and reformed into steel beams, or they are just left unused in the shipyards and ports, which takes up a lot of space and makes them a potential source of pollution.

1-What are the benefits of building with shipping containers? a) Readily available b) Economic benefits - Cheap to buy - Generally cut overall construction cost by 20-50% c) Strong: they are built to resist the “not so friendly environment in the oceans” -Structurally: made of tough corrugated steel and tubular steel frames. They are designed to carry extremely heavy loads, making them from 2 to 8 times stronger (depending of the size and the material) than normal building codes - Security wise: they have vandal-proof locking steel doors - Water- resistant welded seams - All-weather paint - 1.5-inch thick marine grade plywood floors d) Environmental benefits Cut on carbon footprint in a building project by as much as 40 %. In fact, reusing shipping containers saves much more energy than liquidating them and reforming them into steel beams. e) Sustainable Shipping containers are very durable when used in buildings; they can be used for a very long time. Since they are recycled, they cause no environmental damage, and they can also be equipped with environmentally friendly systems (solar panels and green roofs for optimum energy use, underground water pumps, etc.…) that make them even more sustainable. f) Speed of construction Building with shipping containers takes relatively less time than building with normal building codes mainly because most of the construction can be done offsite (prefabricated modules) and do not require a lot of time. g) Highly flexible Shipping containers are very flexible in construction, as the spaces do not necessarily have to be limited to the standard container size. Moreover, they

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are versatile and come in different sizes, giving more freedom to stack them in many different ways.

2-What is the process of construction when using shipping containers in a building?

(Basics) a) Build foundation: shipping containers are very strong but they still need a foundation to avoid the corrosive effect of moisture over time. The containers need to be set up above ground level b) Cut corrugated steel sides of shipping containers for installation of doors and windows. c) Shipping containers are generally made of steel, which is a very good thermal conductivity material, thus insulation needs to be greatly taken into consideration. d) Install interior decks, supports, and roof framings.

3-How can they be insulated?

After doing some research on the different types of insulation that can be used in metal shipping containers, the one with the most benefits is the use of the Multiceramics product on the external surface of the containers to prevent heat gain and keep the external surface cool. As for the interior surface of the containers, the use of a different type of ceramic insulation is required, named EZHOT/COLD.

Multiceramics insulation product

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Comparison between EZHOT/COLD and polyurethane foam

EZHOT/COLD

Polyurethane foam

Prevents surface condensation

Very porous which traps moisture gained through condensation thus endorsing mold growth and corrosion

Fire resistant

Very toxic material

Contains no known carcinogens

If burned, the fumes generated are extremely poisonous

Produces no smoke if burned

Extremely flammable and the speed of propagation is very quick

4- Costs The cost depends on the source, size, and condition of the container.

The total construction cost also includes: -

Transportation and handling Modifications like cutting, insulating, connecting to the electrical and water infrastructures

In general, a new standard 12m – container is sold at around 1500 to 2000 US dollars.

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5-Standard sizes of shipping containers Internal length (m)

2.28

2.80

5.87

8.93

12.00

Internal width (m)

2.10

2.33

2.33

2.33

2.33

Internal height (m)

2.04

2.35

2.35

2.35

2.35

Floor area (m2)

4.78

6.69

13.93

21.09

28.33

Weight (tons)

1.02

1.52

2.44

3.25

4.06

VI- Design Proposal

- Who is my target user?

• • • • • •

Engineers and employees working in the ports and factories in Suez.

Composed of a young couple, and one or two small children.

Working wife (most cases) Age group: 25 – 38 Wife: teacher, and in some other cases a nurse. Some of the activities / hobbies practiced at home are: sowing, cooking, writing…

Needs: a place to relax and enjoy some quality time together. An efficient and affordable place that represents them, that fits their personalities and their values and norms. A place they feel comfortable in more than any other place on earth.

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- Components of the home: 1- Master bedroom

6- Kitchen

2- Children’s Bedroom

7- Living room

3- Bathroom

8- Terrace or balcony

4- Study/ Activity room

9- Guest toilet

5- Dining room

10- Entrance

1- Master bedroom

Main functions Sleeping

Molecular functions Relaxing

Who uses Environmental the space requirements Husband

Security requirements Natural lighting

Dressing

Meditating

Wife

Skylight for sense of openness and also instead of big windows, for better privacy

Hair and make up

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Privacy from neighbors and surrounding buildings done by placement of windows facing the view rather than the sides Secure place for expensive possessions (jewelry…) and money done by ensuring an empty corner in the closet for a built in safe

Private zone: strong spatial relation between 2 bedrooms and bathroom 1.

Master bedroom

Bath

Children Bedroom

Inspirational images for master bedroom:

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Furniture used in space Bed Double Closet Night tables (2) Coiffeuse

Dimensions (in m) Width: 1.55; length: 1.90 Depth: 0.60; length: 2.50 Depth: 0.40; length: 0.55 Depth: 0.50; length: 1.20

Area of space: 2.80 x 3.30 = 9.24 m2

Sketch of master bedroom with furniture arrangement:

2- Children’s bedroom Main functions Sleeping

Molecular functions Playing

Who uses the space 2 young children

Dressing

Environmental requirements Natural lighting

Personal space for each child

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Security requirements Place to put toys, by providing a separate corner with shelves and drawers for each child to put his toys and things in Privacy from neighbors

Private zone: strong spatial relation between 2 bedrooms and bathroom 1.

Master bedroom

Bath

Children Bedroom

Inspirational images for children’s bedroom:

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Furniture used in space Single bed 1 Single bed 2 Closet Desk

Dimensions (in m) Width: 0.90; length: 1.90 Width: 0.90; length: 1.90 Depth: 0.60; length: 2.50 Depth: 0.50; length: 1.20

Area of space: 3.10x 3.40 = 10.54 m 2 Sketch of children’s bedroom with furniture arrangement:

3- Family Bathroom Main functions

Molecular functions

Who uses the space

Environmental requirements

Security requirements

Showering

Daily hygiene

Husband

Window for ventilation

Privacy achieved by proper location of window

Daily excretory process

Wife 2 Children

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Inspirational images for family bathroom:

Furniture used in space Toilet Sink Corner shower

Dimensions (in m) 0.60x0.70 0.60x0.70 0.50x0.50

Area of space: 2.20 x 2.40 = 5.28 m2 Sketch of family bathroom with furniture arrangement:

4- Study room/ Activity room Main functions Molecular functions Studying Playing

Reading Writing

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Who uses the space Entire family

Sowing Games

Environmental requirements Quiet area

Avoid glare

30Â

Spatial relations Should be connected to living room, and next to dining room as well as bathroom

Inspirational images for study room:

Furniture used in space Desks (2) Book shelf

Dimensions (in m) Width: 1.20; Depth: 0.50 Width: 1.50; Depth: 0.35

Area of space: 2.15 x 2.60 = 5.59 m2 Sketch of the study/activity room with furniture arrangement:

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5- Dining room Main functions Molecular functions Eating Playing

Who uses the space Entire family

Receiving guests

Guests

Chatting

Environmental requirements Natural lighting

Relatives

Inspirational images for dining room:

Furniture used in space Dining table (6 seats) Buffet

Dimensions (in m) Width: 1.0; length: 2.0 Width: 1.50; depth: 0.60

Area of space: 3.00 x 4.20 = 12.60 m 2 Sketch of the dining room with furniture arrangement:

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32Â

Spatial relations Away from entrance view Next to kitchen and bathroom Connected to living room

6- Kitchen Main functions Cooking

Molecular functions Eating

Who uses the space Wife

Baking

Children

Washing clothes + dishes

Inspirational images for kitchen:

Â

33Â

Environmental requirements Crossventilation for odor Natural lighting Pleasant view (window above sink)

Spatial relations Next to entrance Connected to dining

Furniture used in space Counters Oven Refrigerator Washing machine Sink Storage cabinets

Dimensions (in m) Depth: 0.60 Depth: 0.60; Width: 0.60 Depth: 060; Width: 0.70 Depth: 0.60; Width: 0.60 Depth: 0.55; Width: 1.20 Depth: 0.60

Area of space: 4.95 x 3.30 = 16.335 m 2 Sketch of the kitchen with furniture arrangement:

7- Living room Main functions Molecular functions Gathering Chatting Watching TV

Playing Reading Receiving guests

Who uses the space Entire family Guests

Environmental requirements Natural lighting Natural ventilation Pleasant view (balcony)

Inspirational images for living room:

Living room connected to adjacent spaces

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Spatial relations Next to dining Next to study room Next to balcony

Sustainable double height living room

Furniture used in space Couch 3 seat Couch 2 seat Coffee table Television shelf

Living room connected to study area

Dimensions (in m) Width: 2.65; Depth: 0.95 Width: 1.85; Depth: 0.95 Width: 0.76; Length: 1.22 Width: 2.65; Depth: 0.35

Area of space: 4.75 x 5.27 = 22.03 m2 Sketch of the living room with furniture arrangement:

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8- Balcony Inspirational images for balcony:

Furniture used in space Couch 2 seat Coffee table

Dimensions (in m) Width: 1.85; Depth: 0.95 Width: 0.76; Length: 1.22

Area of space: 4.56 x 2.10 = 9.80 m 2 Sketch of the balcony with furniture arrangement:

9- Guests’ bathroom Main functions Molecular functions Daily Daily excretory hygiene process

Who uses the space Guests

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Environmental requirements Window for ventilation

Inspirational images for guest bathroom:

Furniture used in space Toilet Sink

Dimensions (in m) 0.6x0.7 0.6x0.7

Area of space: 1.60 x 1.40 = 2.88 m2 Sketch of the guests’ bathroom with furniture arrangement:

10-

Entrance

Area of space: 2.26 x 1.00 = 2.26 m 2 Sketch of the entrance with furniture arrangement:

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Table of total areas: Area of space (in m2) 9.24 10.54 5.26 22.03 12.60 16.34 5.59 2.88 9.80 2.26 96.54

Name of space Master bedroom Children’s bedroom Bathroom Living room Dining room Kitchen Study room Guest bathroom Balcony Entrance Total area

Area % of total space 9.57 10.9 5.45 22.82 13.05 16.92 5.79 2.98 10.15 2.34 100

Pie chart of relative areas:

3%

10%

6%

Bedrooms 21%

Entrance Bathroom 2% 5%

17%

Living room Dining room Kitchen Study room

23% 13%

Guest bathroom Balcony

Pie chart analysis: •

As seen in the pie chart, the biggest space of a unit would be the living room, occupying 23% of the total space; I have made it spacious because I want this space to be the center of the home, where all the activities, social, and family gatherings will occur.

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•

Both bedrooms occupy in total less space than the living room (21%), because I want to encourage a better lifestyle for my users, where the use of the bedroom would be minimal, and encourage them to do everything together in the rest of the semipublic area of the house.

•

The kitchen occupies 17% of the total area of the house, and this is because I want it to be spacious and inviting for the whole family to gather and cook together, while still being connected to other spaces in the house.

Bubble diagram for design proposal:

Relationship matrix for design proposal:

Strong relation Medium relation (neutral) Weak relation

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VII‐ Proposed site and site analysis

Hurghada- Al Ismaileya Road a) Choice of the site I have chosen a site located in Suez, mainly because I think this city was one of the cities that were affected the most by the revolution of January 25 th.

I want to build a project that would truly make a difference in raising awareness in this city, and thus continue the process of rebirth that is happening in Egypt. The site is located near a residential area, and is relatively close to Port Suez, Suez steel company, Suez cement company, and many major factories in Suez, that can help in providing waste for the construction of the project.

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b) Analysis of the site 1- Accessibility Site location: a few kilometers outside Suez city, overlooking the beginning of Hurghada- Ismailiya Road.

Can be accessed by 3 main roads surrounding the site, thus the transportation of the shipping containers by the trucks will be practical.

2- Surroundings and facilities

Mountains -

-

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Suez Canal

The site is surrounded by a number of companies and factories, and many of which can be useful to the project itself. Most importantly, the port is situated very close to the site, which is a major advantage when it comes to the transportation and the construction of the shipping containers.

The steel companies (The Egyptian Company for Steel, Al Comy Steel, Metal Misr, Suez Steel Company) surrounding the site are also a major advantage as

41Â

-

they will be the main providers of the recycled steel that will be used for the beams and trusses in the houses.

Some of the landmarks surrounding the area are a shipyard (SanMar) and a ship breaking company (Tartour).

The rest of the landmarks are: oil companies, a plastics company, and a residential area.

3- Surrounding views:

Suez canal on the east of the site, and mountains view at the south.

Metal Misr factory (next to the site)

View of the passing ships in the port

View of the mountains at south of site

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4- North and wind direction The prevailing wind direction in Suez is North and the Northwest direction. Since the site is facing two nice views (sea and mountains), the wind direction will not be a major concern when it comes to the orientation of the units. The sea is in itself a source of wind, as seen in the wind rose diagram below.

Wind rose diagram in relation to site

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5- Sun Sun path diagram of Suez:

Sun path Today June 21 December 21 Annual variation Equinox (March and September) Sunrise/sunset Sunrise Sunset Time 00-02 03-05 06-08 09-11 12-14 15-17 18-20 21-23

Winter sun path

Summer sun path

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Sun path diagram analysis: The sun rises from the southeast direction and sets in the southwest direction during summer; during winter, the sun rises from the northeast direction and sets in the northwest direction. During the summer, the sun forms an 81degree angle with the North axis, while it forms a 36-degree angle with the North axis during the winter.

Sun intensity at different times of day

The sun intensity diagram shows the different sun intensities at different times in the day where in the early morning the sun intensity is not too high, while it gets higher and more direct during midday (from 10 am to 3 pm).

Therefore, proper use of shading devices shall be taken into consideration to prevent excessive direct sunlight penetration while in the same time allowing natural light to penetrate the house. This is especially important in the southern facades that are exposed to the sun in the most intense hours.

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6- Heat/ Climate analysis As seen in the climate graph below, the average temperature in Suez is generally high, especially in the summer season, and relatively warm during wintertime. Thus, the houses should mainly taking into consideration heat insulation.

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7- Noise analysis The site is located in a relatively quiet area, but there is a major noise producing area that is located on the north side of the site, mainly caused by the companies and factories located there.

Noise producing area

Quiet area

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8‐ Area of the land

The land can be considered a rectangular area, where: Length = 230 m Width = 200 m Total Area = 46000 m2

Site with boundaries showing built area

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VIII- Inspirational images

This home is located in France, and is made of 15 shipping containers.

This is a great example showing that a house can be inexpensive and good for the environment while still looking unique and modern.

Mote-silo house in woodland, Utah is a house made of 2 unused grain silos. They are eco-friendly and are durable, and inexpensive.

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Containing Green: project proposed for the USGBC 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition The project is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a neighborhood damaged by hurricane Katrina. The house aims bringing the highest quality of safety for its users, while still giving the residents of New Orleans an inexpensive, durable, and disaster resistant house. There were 3 main approaches that the designers took to reduce the costs of the project. First of all, it was designed so that most of the construction could be done offsite, the use of recycled materials, and so that it fits in shipping containers.

Consideration of sun and wind in the design

The house is elevated 10 feet above the ground level for safety against floods

Elevation 1

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Section

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Interior shot of the house

Exterior shot of the house

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Garbage artwork done in Brazil by Vik Muniz and landfill workers

This house inspires me in the fact that it is located on a higher level that the street, which in my case would help in emphasizing the view of the sea from the houses.

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This cross‐stacked home design is very inspiring in the way the containers are stacked together. The cross stacking is a new way of joining the containers together and it creates interesting spaces in the roof.

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The use of double height ceiling in the public area of this house is a great way to make the users feel comfortable and give a sense of openness since the shipping containers have a very small height which gives a sense of enclosure of the space.

IX‐ Conclusion Containing life is a project that represents the rebirth of a new age in Egypt through the reuse of shipping containers and the promotion of “value‐cycling”.

The project not only preserves the environment, it also engages the users in the process of construction by making them the main providers of the materials and the shipping containers that will be used in the buildings. By doing so, the clients will thus be experiencing something that they have never witnessed before in Egypt, they are literally building their own future not only because they’re providing the containers, but also because they will be aware of the direct impact they have on their environment. Moreover, by living in a “recycled” home, the whole concept of re‐using, the birth of something new from something old will eventually be introduced in the mentalities of the coming generations. They will be positive and confident that they can “build themselves by themselves” just like what all the Egyptians realized after the revolution of January 25th.

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X‐ References

http://www.containerarchitecture.co.nz/portfolio/index.html http://www.containerhome.info/shipping-container-cross-stacked-homedesigns.html http://www.containerhome.info/shipping-container-apartment-building.html http://www.google.com.eg/search?client=safari&rls=enus&q=buildings+from+shipping+containers&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF8&redir_esc=&ei=IrKATdnQLIu1hAeA0ImLBw http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/articles/containers.htm http://weburbanist.com/2008/05/26/cargo-container-homes-and-offices/ http://home.comcast.net/~plutarch/ http://www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/containerbayhome.htm http://www.sjonescontainers.co.uk/dimensions.htm http://www.gbs-gpc.com/ last few: http://home.comcast.net/~plutarch/ http://weburbanist.com/2008/05/26/cargo-container-homes-and-offices/ http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/articles/containers.htm http://www.google.com.eg/search?client=safari&rls=enus&q=buildings+from+shipping+containers&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF8&redir_esc=&ei=IrKATdnQLIu1hAeA0ImLBw http://www.containerarchitecture.co.nz/portfolio/index.html http://zigloo.ca/stac-haus-a-san-francisco-container-development/ http://home.comcast.net/~plutarch/ http://www.shipping-container-housing.com/ http://www.google.com.eg/search?client=safari&rls=enus&q=process+of+construction+of+house+with+shipping+containers&ie=UTF

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-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=YVaDTZPtMYPLtAbL06ieAw http://www.containerhome.info/shipping-container-cross-stacked-homedesigns.html http://www.flickr.com/photos/homecontained/show http://www.architectureandhygiene.com/main.html http://www.architectureandhygiene.com/12conHouse/12con_main.html http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/articles/containers.htm http://blog.greenhomebuilding.com/2007/09/building-with-shippingcontainers.htm http://www.greenworldstructures.com/assets/articles/Insulating_Containers.pd f

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