Magda Mostafa Zeina Enaba Shrouk Mohamed Omar Mostafa
Mayar Abdelghany Mahinour Ahmed Edited by Shahd Omar
Dissertation 2020 Architecture Department The Amercian University in Cairo
CONTRIBUTORS ARCHITECTURE + BIOPHILIA OMAR MOSTAFA ARCHITECTURE + FIlM MAHINOUR YASSER ARCHITECTURE + LEARNING MAYAR ABDELGHANY ARCHITECTURE + INCLUSION SHROUK MOHAMED ARCHITECTURE + URBANISM ZEINA ENABA EDITING: SHAHD OMAR
Magda Mostafa is an Associate Professor of Design in the Architecture Department of AUC, where she leads Design Studio II, which focuses on the vocabulary of contemporary Egyptian architecture. She is also currently the Co-Director of the UNESCO-UIA Education Commission and Validation Council, which is a global thinktank tasked with setting architectural education policy and practices as well as upholding threshold standards of excellence.
She is a Design Associate at the Cairobased practice, Progressive Architects where she specializes in autism inclusive design. She is the author of the Autism ASPECTSS™ design guidelines, the world’s first researchbased design framework for autism worldwide. ASPECTSS™ has been presented at the United Nations as a framework for international autism design policy, as well as showcased in lectures and keynotes at Harvard’s GSD, the National Autistic Society in the UK, Ireland’s AsIAM and the World Autism Organization. It was
It was awarded the UIA International Research Award in 2014 and was the subject if her well-received TedTalk in 2015. Her work on autism is widely published worldwide, and she has been called “one of the world’s pre-eminent researchers in autism design” by the international architectural media. To date, the ASPECTSS Design Index has informed 12 architectural, urban and artistic projects in 4 countries, been a key resource for 10 policy papers, guidelines and regulatory documents at national and regional levels and has informed the research of dozens of graduate and undergraduate students in 18 countries. Through various consultancies
ASPECTSS™ has been used to design projects spanning five continents and ranging in scale from interior classroom retrofits to urbanscale neighbourhoods in Europe, the US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Australia and the UAE. Information about her work can be found at http://www.autism.archi She has recently joined the New Yorkbased think-tank and inclusive practice MIXDesign as a member of their MIX Neurodiversity Initiative and as part of their team as an autism expert (https://www. mixdesign.online). Their work together includes, among other topics, intersectional reflections on their ethos and areas of expertise with the architecture for the pandemic world of
Covid-19, which was the subject of a recent NYTimes Magazine article (https://www. nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/09/ magazine/architecture-covid.html) Her other field of research looks at another form of marginalization through the study of informal settlement, and in 2015 she published the Juxtopolis© Pedagogy, a studio based research/design methodology. The Juxtopolis© Pedagogy’s resultant work has been presented and exhibited worldwide, including at Columbia University’s GSAPP; Durban, South Africa; and most recently at the 2016 Venice Biennale. It is also an integral part of her studio teaching at AUC. She is co-author
of the book “Learning from Cairo” and her Juxtopolis Pedagogy was featured in Columbia University’s book series on Architecture and the City “The Arab City: Architecture and Representation” by Amale Andraos and Nora Akawi.
Architecture + A Philosophy
Architecture is only powerful to the extent of its intersection with multiple domains. As an act of socio-spatial production, its efficacy- from the functional through the full spectrum of engagement to the philosophical- lies in how entrenched and layered those intersections are. The entanglements produced as a natural result of these intersections, if not mindfully deconstructed, and thoughtfully navigated, invariably produce one of two outcomes:
architectures that have escaped the complexity of the process and divorced themselves from the socio-econo-ecolo-cultural-spatial context entirely, or architectures that have dissolved themselves so completely in the intersectional domains as to have lost boundary and definition. Neither of these processes exploits the intersectional strength of architecture which is to hold space at the fulcrum of equilibrium between its domains of intersection- perfectly navigated and mediated spaces of environmental consciousness,
community drivenness, historical continuity, economical feasibility, cultural responsiveness and political awareness. The path to such equilibrium is best reached through the dissection of these multiple intersections, a process of research and a mindful investigation of these layers. Architecture is more than just architecture, and is only truly rich when examined at these intersections. This volume explores such examinations and presents a series titled “Architecture+”. The series explores the socio-spatial relationships of architectural intersections with such constructs as: film, urbanism, education, inclusion and nature. The projects showcased here were developed through a 15 week series of dialogue, structured investigation and concept curation, supported by customised resources and debate during the Spring of 2020. At a time of global pandemic, shifting worldviews, socio-political unrest and a mass migration to a digital world from a world already increasingly physically disconnected, the investigations shared here take on a haze of importance and urgency. Each of the constructs explored, although not always squarely addressing the possibly permanent paradigm shift of a Post-Covid world, each echo the repercussions of the time and space within which they were
produced, colored by the ironic parallels of isolation and collectiveness of the globality of the times. The conclusive findings explore the strength of architecture when conceptualised, conceived and constructed at the margins and through each of these intersections, possibly as pathways forward to navigate our world as it shifts around us. Magda Mostafa, Summer 2020
FILM
> Mahinour Yasser
ABSTRACT
FIGURE ()-DILAPIDATED ABANDONED WAREHOUSE IN DETROIT
The objective of this research is twofold. The first is the question: how can we conceive of architectural space in a manner that is informed by the spatialtemporal constructs of storytelling? The second is the question: how can this understanding be applied to our current crisis of abandoned cities, as we move towards a series of “exopoli” throughout our country? Not through this long-practiced mass migration alone do we leave spaces
behind, but also, going through our current global crisis of COVID-19, we move more to inhabit and dwell in the digital world, triggering re-definition of the relationship between users and their workspaces or learning spaces. The proposed methodology includes the unpacking and the understanding of this spatio-temporal construct of different forms of storytelling, particularly those that illustrate possible intersections with the architectural grounds, through the overlaying of space and time. It
goes on to discuss how different layers of storytelling come to life in the practice of architecture through case studies, including works of narrative-centric architects and those that engage in practice through the lens of staging, framing and sequencing space and time. The outcome of this research proposes a framework of archetypal tools. Such tools may well generate guidelines and principles that will assist us in learning from the timelessness
of spatio-temporal constructs of storytelling to create afterlives for the abandoned, creating reincarnations of architecture and urban space.
INTRODUCTION
PROBLEM DEFINITION
Architectural spaces are constructed to address life in a linear notion, and by the end of this linear journey of life, history lies in abandoned decayed spaces, after economic and social abandonment, either as a helpless ruin or as nothingness. An architectural space whether a building or a whole urban system is born, throughout its life it grows experience and sensuality within its happenings and it ages up until it reaches its entitlement of decay. This state, at bigger scales regarded as urban decay, urban rot or urban blight triggers the advancement of transgression in the city, transmuting from a functioning space
As we move towards a series of “Exopoli” throughout our countries leaving behind shells of cities, the crisis becomes the stagnant nature of the abandoned cities and spaces of the now, despite their charged momentum with untainted potential. Not through this long-practiced mass migration alone do we leave spaces behind, but also, going through our current global crisis of COVID-19, we move more to inhabit our homes and dwell in the digital world, triggering re-definition of the relationship between users and their workspaces or learning spaces.
to a disused, dis-utilized space, embracing the emptiness of time that justifies euthanasia in some cases. The resulting abandonment creates inter-related socio-economic disorders that subsequently lead to the death of the architectural space substantially and cerebrally. And what is left? Nothingness? The question becomes: how do we create architecture that moderates the tentative shifting notions of human nature through time and space in the manner of how a story sustains history and how the telling of it can become an operative agent in society?
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES CURRENT COVID-19 CRISIS
EXOPOLIS
ILLUSTRATIVE TIME LINE IN THE LIFE OF ARCHITECTURAL SPACES
The architectural space could be anthropomorphized as an analogy of the human’s linearly composed existence on the ephemeral scale. However, on a perpetual scale the life stories and the process of their recalling would create architecture that converses with the nature of constant dynamic evolution of cultures. Within the frames of space and time, time machines may well be created to sustain themselves through the re-processing of time. What are the spatio-temporal constructs of storytelling? How can we inform architectural practice by spatio-temporal understanding?
Where is the overlap for the universal spatiotemporal constructs that defy the boundaries of any typology of storytelling? How can we give life back to abandoned structures utilizing this notion? The aim of the research is to discover guiding parameters through the framework of the intersections between the two constructs: storytelling and architectural space in the overlaying of space and time to create timeless answers that combat urban decay and architectural abandonment, the state of nothingness. CHOREOGRAPHY OF TIME CYCLES OF MEMORY TO INTERPRET IN ARCHITECTURAL SPACE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The research first extracts the required data through threefold scopes of case studies. The first is in regard to the problem that this research addresses. The state of “Exopolis” by Edward Soja is first explored then followed by historically abandoned cases of cities in point and dissected by analyzing the reasons behind such transformations, the rate and intensity of truncation and the connotations of the remaining shells and cores. This set of investigation studies in
depth the situation of current models of urban decay belonging to two different settings, entirely unalike contextual backdrops on the map: Detroit , Michigan in the United States of America and Quseir in Egypt. The life cycle of architectural spaces is looked upon from the urban scale to the building scale. The research here addresses how the city itself witnesses dynamics of change that root for mass or partial migrations and how the man-made fluctuating socio-economic nature triggers
ripple effects that shape the destinies of the built environment. Another given reason for mass migrations is disease, thus, the incorporation of the present situation is analyzed to understand a wholly different interpretation of “Exopolis” that appears to be again of indefinite end. The research addresses the current global crisis case of COVID-19; if the whole world is facing a pandemic, where do we migrate? The world abandons the learning and work spaces as they become shutdown on mass and move towards inhabiting the house physically and the digital world intellectually. Here, the level of analysis approaches the scale of the typology of the house vs the workspaces or learning spaces. The acquired data then follows a process in service of thinking about our abandoned architecture and how this spatio-temporal nature of existence requires active re-definition of the relationship between the user and the spaces. How we can give life back to those abandoned structures and how can we as architects and urban designers create timeless architectural creations that respond to the varying parameters that accompany time? Thus, the second scope of case studies aims to unpack and understand the spatiotemporal constructs of different forms of storytelling that illustrate possible intersections with the architectural grounds, through the overlaying of space and time.
built environment. Another given reason for mass migrations is disease, thus, the incorporation of the present situation is analyzed to understand a wholly different interpretation of “Exopolis” that appears to be again of indefinite end. The research addresses the current global crisis case of COVID-19; if the whole world is facing a pandemic, where do we migrate? The world abandons the learning and work spaces as they become shutdown on mass and move towards inhabiting the house physically and the digital world intellectually. Here, the level of analysis approaches the scale of the typology of the house vs the workspaces or learning spaces. The acquired data then follows a process in service of thinking about our abandoned architecture and how this spatio-temporal nature of existence requires active re-definition of the relationship between the user and the spaces. How we can give life back to those abandoned structures and how can we as architects and urban designers create timeless architectural creations that respond to the varying parameters that accompany time? Thus, the second scope of case studies aims to unpack and understand the spatiotemporal constructs of different forms of storytelling that illustrate possible intersections with the architectural grounds, through the overlaying of space and time. To be able to understand context through
storytelling and interpret such narrative language into spatial qualities in the architectural practice, several mediums of storytelling were selected for analysis. The research would then aim to identify a set of standards for each medium to create potential for overlap in the architectural language. First, verbal storytelling that is in some cases documented through various mediums, is explored through the case studies of narrative cultures like the Chinese , Native American and Egyptian . Through those1, life stories, metaphors, myths and legends of living cultures or recalls of memory and evaporated conducts, social experiences, modes of relativity, causality and rhythms of flora and fauna are all explored within contexts. This medium then becomes a tool for phenomenological exploration that may well act as the behavioral choreography orchestrator in the narrative design process. Another form studied is the iconographical storytelling that is looked upon in classical models using Raphael’s Fresco “The School of Athens” , and in more contemporary versions such as the street art of Mobstr and the graffiti of Detroit . Such a tool would allow conveying collaborative notions of connotation, symbolism, progression and semiotics of cultures into architectural elements in design. Besides that, case studies of digital storytelling are analyzed from two lenses;
one where cases narrate through temporal discontinuity and the other through temporal continuity. Methods of choreographing chronological discontinuity is illustrated with reference to the spatio-temporal juxtaposition montage works of the artists: Gordon Matta-Clark’s project, The Whole, undoing the building , illustrating irregular space in time and Mohammad Farouzanfar’s retro futuristic merged time in space. Other audio-visual theories of narrative are looked into; Kulshov’s theory of visual dialectical montage in film and the application of Sergei Eisenstein is proved a technique of creation of unaccustomed thematic through cuts and jumps in time and space as well. Then for the chronological continuity, case studies of more volatile art captured are analyzed. The works of the artists ÉtienneJules Marey , Edward Muybridge and photographer Harold Edgerton are explored through their capturing of motion through time in space, chronophotography projects. The work of Pablo Picasso’s light drawings falls under this category, too. Such study of spatio-temporal choreography as means of experience through storytelling would imply several drivers for spatial compositions and sequencing in narrative design. The third scope of case studies examines how different layers of storytelling come to life in the practice of architecture. From such a derivation may be carried out, not
only based on the meaning of the spaces but its zones, materials, social relationships and the cultural purposes. It explores time perception relative to architectural space, temporality and the phenomenology of the built design, spatial effects and the narrative structure. It discusses the idea of collage in the design process in the work of Tatiana Bilbao , that unifies with the idea of montage but in the preliminary unbuilt stage. Through the case study of the work of Ethics class at the School of Architecture UIC Barcelona, an illustration of a process of building spatial dialectics is explored. Here, the work of Filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock is set to be investigated from the architectural planning point of view. It looks into Peter Zumthor’s: routine life is one of the products of this separation of daily human life and the natural world. It further includes works of narrative-centric philosophers, architects and urbanists such as Lefebvre , Rem Koolhaas, Bernard Tshumi and Brian Massumi, those that engage from theory to practice through staging, framing and sequencing space and time. In reference to the following case studies, the architectural language is explored in the lens of the conceived and perceived, the signifier and signified, the geometry and cultural meanings: Barcelona Pavilion, Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona, Spain The House Museum of Sir John Soane,
England Parc de La Villette, Bernard Tschumi, Paris, France It also explores materials, how in decayed natures, users might assign secondary functions to deconstructed matters, as it looks into case studies from Egypt from the sea to the desert and in South Africa from the highways to the households. It incorporates Mary Douglas’s theory, waste is matter out of space, and how time in space may be seen as a finite resource . The research outcomes of the threefold scopes of case studies are then presumed and tied in a tool developed upon the author’s breakdown and observation: the shot by shot analysis of a scene from Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums . This method of drawing connections between the elements of the scopes of the research formulates and proposes a hypothesis that may well be used as a method to devise guidelines to reincarnate architectural and urban spaces combatting their decay or states of “Exopolis”.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
THE STATE OF “EXOPOLIS” In urban studies, Edward Soja labels the Exopolis as the edge of the city and the bordered developmental progression that decentralizes and instead occupies the boundaries. Besides that, a rather more philosophical assigned value is categorized as “Exopolis”, the post metropolis, what becomes after the city. It’s redefined to become “the city without”, “the noncity”, “the city without the center”, “a kaleidoscopic social-spatial structure of geometric fragmentation, increasingly discontinuous, orbiting beyond the old
agglomerative nodes”. Thus, the “Exopolis” here is interpreted by Soja as a “”, as an analogy or an accurate copy of the city that never survived. At this juncture, image and reality are “spectacularly confused”. ABANDONMENT CASES IN POINT The Detroit Model, Michigan, United States of America The city experienced a mass inflow of population in the beginnings of the 20th century after holding the startup of the several vehicle labels owning the automobile industry.
in America, Detroit is left to become an empty shell of a city. hold on to the stories, they tell reaching out to a whole other time of the same space they occupy.
of the phosphate mining based complex and then it shutting down for its negative environmental impacts on the natural haven that is Quseir.
Its population dropped from 2 million to 700,000 and is now an abandoned ghost town, a factual illustration of urban decay. The scattered ruins of deconstructed formations of the structures standing as emptied time
After the loss of the harbor and the former economic and social abandonment of the main employ structure, Al Quseir is now left, rather lonely in a dilapidating state. Its total area is 18621.71 square kilometer which is 15.6% of the total area of the Red Sea governorate.
Quseir, Egypt Quseir stood in an independent state of its own throughout its time, sustaining its economic and social grounds with dialogues on the national and universal scale. As the first and most important harbor of the Red Sea, it branched out in all sorts of connections with the world. It has been deployed over the years in various notions to serve military, trade, geological, industrial and cross-cultural purposes, as a port and a multifaceted urban setting. Along the line of the times gone by, for every occurrence passing through, an imprint has been left behind on the land and on the minds. However, it has been constantly exposed to occurrences that led to its truncation from the map starting from the initiation of Suez Canal around the first years of the twentieth century. Then, the abandonment of the Italian intervention following the nationalization
Even though it has been populated for around 5,000 years, by now, only 6.56 square kilometer are built while the other 18614.43 stand as free desert land. History lies in the abandoned decayed spaces, after economic and social abandonment, either as a helpless ruin or as nothingness and the stories are all that breathes among them. Workspaces The global crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, has triggered worldwide transformations of high magnitude. It has changed the dynamics of the everyday life and created a ripple effect that’s not necessarily the optimum situation for carrying out the normative functions. Disease has been a reason for mass migrations out and away from contaminated regions. However, when it’s a worldwide
CHOREOGRAPHY OF TIME CYCLES OF MEMORY TO INTERPRET IN ARCHITECTURAL SPACE
SPATIO-TEMPORAL CONSTRUCTS OF NARRATIVE ORAL STORYTELLING Narrative cultures like the Chinese, Native American and Egyptian cultures, incorporate storytelling in their biological and social adaptation. The life stories create both the spectacle and the normative, demonstrating immortal volatile documentation of what civilizations go through . Such narratives embrace the evolution of societies, documents the encountered changes and creates platforms of data reciprocation amongst various minds of different times. Memories and sentiments add layers of genuine interpretations to the actual events allowing the meetings of such recalls to lead the spectator through narrative transport. With the versatile nature of the word of mouth, stories distort as they fly from one memory to another. ICONOGRAPHICAL STORYTELLING One of the iconic iconographical cases of storytelling, a classical model, lies in Raphael’s Fresco “The School of Athens”. It demonstrates a collaborative story of all the intellectuals from different times all in the same space. Thus, it’s a demonstration of spaThe School of Athens represents all the greatest mathematicians, philosophers and scientists from classical antiquity gathered
together sharing their ideas and learning from each other. These figures all lived at different times, but here they are gathered together under one roof . However, more contemporary illustrations of iconographical narratives lie nowadays in more interactive illustrations in a fluid manner. They exist in contemporary street art and other forms of graffiti that are entitled to worlds of interpretation. They refer to the semiotics of the context and display interplay of shared territoriality. And in more contemporary versions, they illustrate progression. This is illustrated as a case in point in the work of UKbased street artist Mobstr in New York city: the interactive poem, “The Story”. Mobster wrote every sentence, it got erased. As it got painted on, it actually pulled the thread for the rest of the story to follow. Such illustration of yet another form of juxtaposing space in time is created through opposing reciprocation, replacement and fluid ownership. DIGITAL STORYTELLING An illustration of the thematic montages are the juxtaposed collages of the artist Gordon Matta-Clark. After jack sawing his way into abandoned buildings doomed to get torn down, Matta-Clark created and documented
scenes of deconstruction through holes and fragmentations. The notion of undoing the building, becomes a resource of understanding rather different dimensions or angles of built structures after experiences of transgression and disuse.
Another illustration of thematic digital montage are the collages of the Iranian architect Mohammad Farouzanfar. The architect utilizes the raw scenes of the desert that once was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire to then juxtapose a clash of space in time. The art works demonstrate illusory dimensions that behold a “retro-futuristic” angle. Documentation of discontinuous space in time was first introduced within the cinematic wave of the Russian Bolshevik revolution in Russia in 1917. The wave brought about the Kulshov Effect, where the film maker Lev Kulshov pioneered the notion of juxtaposing sequential shots to convey certain thematic concepts. n isolation the shot has no intrinsic meaning however within a consecutive cognitive accumulation through a series of other shots, meanings are derived. The manipulation of space and time triggers the perception as well as the reaction of the spectator along the story line. Other filmmakers like Sergei Eisenstein utilized the same manner to convey the
visual story of their films. Eisenstein edited to convey relativity or causality of events in a discontinuous notion to story tell thematically rather than chronologically. SPATIO-TEMPORAL CONTINUITY: DOCUMENTING VOLATILE ART «All experience of space is a timestructured process, and all experience of time is a space- structured process.” “Muybridge had captured aspects of motion whose speed had made them as invisible as the moons of Jupiter before the telescope, and he had found a way to set them back in motion. It was as though he had grasped time itself, made it stand still, and then made it run again, over and over. Time was at his command as it had never been at anyone’s before. A new world had opened up for science, for art, for entertainment, for consciousness, and an old world had retreated farther.» “Muybridge had captured aspects of motion whose speed had made them as invisible as the moons of Jupiter before the telescope, and he had found a way to set them back in motion. It was as though he had grasped time itself, made it stand still, and then made it run again, over and over. Time was at his command as it had never been at anyone’s before. A new world had opened up for science, for art,
The work of Pablo Picasso’s light drawings falls under this category, too. Such study of spatio-temporal choreography to as a mean of experience through storytelling would imply several drivers for spatial compositions and sequencing in narrative design. The drawing lasted for seconds up in the air; the formations never seemed to be a complete piece of art in the real moment. However, having them captured and documented chronologically, the artist’s paintings tend to seem complete, of different versions throughout time and live through decades as held volatile art.
NARRATIVE CENTRIC ARCHITECTURE IN THEORY Narrative centric design concerns emphasis on the user’s experience throughout the design process from the theoretical base then the schematics phase up until practice. As perceived by Massumi, transgression decay is the part of the ongoing process of the built structure, thus it’s a part of its story. Tshumi in parallel to this thought, identifies this transgression as distinct time in space that is characterized physically and virtually. To start with the thought, through the metaphysical experiences Peter Zumthor creates within his buildings, the emphasis on the relationship between the human mind, the body and the built environment becomes the
main focus. His philosophies bridge the disconnection between the natural world and contemporary lives that emerges as routine grows over the typical inhabitants of the metropolis. Within this notion, archetypes are rather built upon the real world where architecture stands for the true meaning of dwelling. Prominence of the design strategy here becomes based on materials, light, and the interactions of the human body with the built as well as its connection with the natural world. Along those comes the importance of perception and memory, entirety of consciousness for thoroughgoing sensuality and awareness of space. As mentioned by Carl Jung, “the obvious means by which consciousness obtains its orientation to experience: sensation (sense of perception) tells you that something exists; thinking tells you what it is; feeling tells you whether it is agreeable or not; and intuition tells you whence it comes and where it is going.” The perceived through the stimuli within the experience then triggers internal reflections that relate to either preceding cognitive images of the memory, certain emotions or personal states of mind. Thus, the archetype based on nature stands for celebrating existence. Other theories such as Le Febvre’s perceives the moment that the user experiences as an implicit event that both impacts and determines the user’s individuality as well as acts as a revelation to his every day.
IN THE PROCESS In regards to the process, Tatiana Bilbao introduces a method, the collage as a process as a form of collaborative design. It’s perceived to be a way more authentic manner to moderate the dialogue amongst multiple disciplines of thought as a designer develops his work. Unlike renders, it doesn’t falsify a finished product but instead allows the projects to dwell as unfinished material. This drags revelation along the process and tolerates more diversity and addition. of the work of Ethics class at the School of Architecture UIC Barcelona, an illustration of a process of building spatial dialectics . Here, the work of Filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock is set to be investigated from the architectural planning point of view. Every film is set to obtain a general rule of visual dialectics from that is later translated to architectural language. Case Study II: Parc de La Villette Bernard Tschumi’s Parc de La Villette in Paris, France is wholely built upon a system of points and objects, lines and movements, surfaces and events. The process of the how the Parc works is upon the theme of the “event”. Such spatio-temporal aspect in constructing the space gives it flexibility and a dynamic essence.
Case Study III: Soane Museum, London Overwhelmed by the Roman Classicism, the museum is centralized around a huge void in the middle. But instead of creating a huge courtyard to emphasize on the centrality, the circulation is rather the mainly influenced construct of space by the element. The journey through time is set by the manipulation of spatial construction that from which emerges several syntactical relations, visual fields liaisons, geometrical formations and reflections to create the narrative space that is the Soane Museum. The Soane museum at the current time of the global crisis, the pandemic, resorts to the tool the virtual walkthroughs that allows spectators worldwide to experience the space through their digital gadgets. Another construct of the narrative is the material, how in decayed natures, users might assign secondary functions to deconstructed matters. This is illustrated in case studies from Egypt in Quseir from the sea to the desert and in South Africa from the highways to the households. Mary Douglas’s theory, waste is matter out of space, comes to life as well as time in space may be seen as a finite resource .
RESULTS RESEARCH OUTCOMES The research outcomes obtained from within the theoretical framework are threefold as well. The first presumes the route to the state of Exopolis by unpacking its raison d’etre and the impacts of the natural and manmade shifts on its formation. The second presumes the guiding parameters of the spatio-temporal constructs of storytelling. The third attains several narrative design drivers that construct the storyteller within an architectural space. Bridging the gap between the different spans is suggested to be through the following reflections of each scope of case studies, as tools to synthesise information to create and generate architectural solutions for the urban blight in Quseir. I. UNPACKING THE “SIMULACRUM” ON FIGURE 1.1 Through the analysis of the case studies of
the abandoned cities mentioned, the defined problem, it is presumed that between the Exopolis’s empty shells of a city lies its traces breathing amongst the ruins. Those traces exist in the various forms, for instance in life stories traded and let to distort along the time in Quseir, street art and graffiti in Detroit and deconstructed leftovers of material and constructs of the former space. The tangible ruins and the intangible ones as well exemplify multiple realities of the former and the persistent space. Trailing those traces allows us to navigate between the different versions of the worlds of the city; here, the image and the reality is confused. The “SIMULACRUM” here may be reflected upon as the city that never existed, however, that might exist. Those traces lay out there as a loaded dormant resource for information, for us to learn to understand how the previously shifting spatiotemporal realities and their assigned meanings
determine the post metropolis. The actual truth to follow here is the constant need of redefinition, that is in fact grounded upon the eternally fluctuating nature that follows the humanitarian and ecological shifts. A proposed tool to unpack the dormant resource, the multiple versions of realities of a city is explored through the mapping out the time geography of Quseir in Egypt, as a tentatively collaborative map. The mapping doesn’t only include the locations of the physical traces but the virtual ones as well, locating the multiple cognitive references of life stories. Here, the relativity among both emerges and is observed to illustrate multiple complex relations between forces in history that are still existent but rather not addressed as real. Thus, by unpacking the stories given by the ruins and studying their connectivity, an apparatus could be derived to attain constant dynamic relativities and causalities that imply a rather versatile data collection system. II. Associating SIGNIFICANCES TO THE SPATIO-TEMPORAL CONSTRUCTS OF NARRATIVE ON FIGURE 1.2 From the data derived, a deeper understanding of the spatio-temporal constructs of space is attained. Here, multiple sets of events through multiple sets of lenses (certain geographic locations,
certain actors, or particular abandoned structures) could be addressed to initiate a response on the urban scale and the building scale. The categorization technique used in the figure might well be used to derive guiding behavioral constructs. Those constructs would reflect the dynamics of the relativities and casualties on site within the frames of spatio-temporal continuous or discontinuous sequences. III. INTERSECTION OF PARAMETERS THROUGH SHOT BY SHOT ANALYSIS ON FIGURE 1.2 and 1.3 The deduced parameters generating spatiotemporal constructs of storytelling and the ones generating architectural narrative design are suggested and explored to meet through a film’s components that create a scene of successive shots. The staging, sequencing and linkage of the frames within the shots of the scene are presumed as an analogy of the architectural moments within a built space. SHOT BY SHOT ANALYSIS IN DEPTH Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, takes us to another worldly state of mind and gives abundant pictorial material for us to believe it. It illustrates sets of compositions that tie material worlds and timeless sentimentality into the normative, the house, and the family. This analogy, the normative of the imaginary, is experienced through the specific aesthetic moods and
Perfectly balanced shot in accordance to size and placement. The symmetry is achieved by harmonizing and calculating rather equal moments through staging positions. The size which is determined by the placement within the distance in the z-direction is played out by the placement in the x-direction. Dominant contrast abides by the character in the foreground and is toned down to subsidiary contrast in the very background. This span of contrast and proxemic pattern signifies in the shot the level of interest in what is about to be revealed behind the camera in this shot, highest in the front, lower towards the back. According to the story, Chas, in red, is the most curious, Richie, in brown, is the second, then the mother all in personal proximity. The family friend, the stranger lies within social proximity and then Margot at the back, adopted by the family, is assigned to rather public proximity and a different level of placement in the y-direction too. The side lighting and the shadows it creates even still shoots on to that one-point perspective in the center. Every character has his own “costume” that defines his character, his traits and disposition ever since their childhood, just like cartoon characters. This keeps a remarkable track for the eye and the cognitive memory to keep up and relate the visual story to the timeline of events. Abiding by that,
the eye is constantly aware of the space and the sequence allows the mind to grasp what point in time the event is happening. The story becomes visually legible. In other cases, the frame is balanced into a smaller number of characters and more spatial awareness. Such lens, the shot by shot breakdown, of spatio temporal analysis may well be used to understand intersections of previously concluded constructs in the aim of resolving the issue of architectural spaces destined to experience the linearly choreographed timeline that ends with nothingness. Through the analysis in depth 10 consecutive shots of a scene in the film, several constructs building up the story are analyzed for their intrinsic value and their part of the collaborative work. The level of detail of the film analysis are to be yet translated and assigned to pragmatic architectural language. Connections among figures 1.1 and 1.2 would develop a matrix that is generated by the shot by shot analysis as follows
WHERE THE THREE FOLDS INTERSECT HYPOTHESIS These preliminary results may suggest that by introducing the spatio-temporal multiply referenced realities of the past and the current
progression of a site (on the urban scale to the building scale) and applying such notion of data gathering and analysis into our architectural interventions in the manner of how the spatio-temporal constructs of storytelling and the parameters guiding narrative design meet within a film’s scene of consecutive shots, urban decay and architectural spaces abandonment may possibly be mitigated. RECOMMENDATIONS The data, as collected, analyzed and set to intersect using the tools presented here, the time geography mapping tool as well as the shot by shot analysis within the case of the abandoned urban space that is the city of Quseir, seem to suggest that understanding the multiple realities of the urban or architectural space and the application spatio-temporal may play a role in the complex issue of urban blight. More research needs to be conducted to conclude whether additional factors could be considered to feed into the parameters created off of the intersection of the constructs of the spatiotemporality narrative in telling and in design within sequenced frames in film. The matrix is a tool that is yet under construction and potential to complexly evolve into a set of interactive factors from which further architectural language would emerge. The possibility for other interpretation with the frame of each tool is open for appendage
through multiple perspectives and added factors. Making spatio-temporal constructs usable to analyze the different forces that create and drive architectural abandonment and synthesize tangible parameters of sustainability and reincarnation for maintenance as well as repurposing a space left behind.
CONCLUSION Urban and architectural spaces may well not only address the current given circumstance but also embrace enough versatility and compliance to keep up with the ever-changing nature of being. Abiding by this notion, functionality that serves the now and only that, at some point will fail the purpose when it’s the only purpose. Combating urban decay or architectural abandonment is an overpowering challenge and what creates a timeless space spans within elastic capacity. There’s so much to presume and utilize from other ephemeral analogies, the research here suggests storytelling. The permanence within the spatio-temporal constructs of a story and the manner through which it is invented, handed on and invigorated, ironic enough, resists mortality. Learning from such volatile constructs stands for the dynamic humanitarian and cultural evolutions. Through this a structure archetypal tools
are explored and proposed by the research outcomes and their analysis by tying and reflecting those on frames of progressive interactive nature. The model presented here interprets the dialogue emerging from the framework of the intersections between the two: the spatio-temporal constructs of storytelling and the hypotheses of narrative design. This is to propose a tool that generates guiding parameters in order to invent, sustain or might as well reincarnate an urban or architectural space to go around the forecasted obligated blight upon the timeline of every built structure.
“ Muybridge had captured aspects of motion whose speed had made them as invisible as the moons of Jupiter before the telescope, and he had found a way to set them back in motion. It was as though he had grasped time itself, made it stand still, and then made it run again, over and over. Time was at his command as it had never been at anyone’s before. A new world had opened up for science, for art, for entertainment, for consciousness, and an old world had retreated farther.
FIGURE ()-PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF MOTION OF EDWARD
FIGURE()-LIGHT DRAWINGS IN THE WORKS OF PABLO PICASSO
Mili showed Picasso his experimentations with light and movement and the pair tried out something similar, with Picasso drawing in the air with a small electric bulb in a dark room. The photographs that resulted from their collaboration show Picasso creating moving artworks in the air. Mili preserved them on film using a long exposure and two cameras, one for the side view and one for the front view. Interestingly, the word ‘photography’ itself comes from the Greek
words ‘phōs’, meaning ‘light’, and ‘graphé’, meaning ‘drawing’, together meaning ‘drawing with light’. Picasso’s drawings of centaurs, bulls, and human figures disappeared within milliseconds over 60 years ago, but they live on in Mili’s remarkable photographs.
PLACING “MATTER OUT OF PLACE”: PURITY AND DANGER AS EVIDENCE FOR ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM WASTE A PHILOSOPHY OF THINGS If we can abstract pathogenicity and hygiene from our notion of dirt, we are left with the old definition of dirt as matter out of place. Mary Douglas
WASTE IS MATTER OUT OF SPACE, MARY DOUGLAS TIME IN SPACE AS A FINITE RESOURCE, SPACE IS FINITE
URBANISM > Zeina Wael Enaba
ABSTRACT
In our contemporary world, thinking of all
This research responds to the problem of apparent
cities as divided is inevitable (Caner, Bolen,
segregation in the city, as a result of various factors
2012); however, architects and city planners
such as the formation of urban fabric, forced
found many ways of intervening to impose
political implications, the emergence of gated
reconnections. In this research, a dissection
communities, and infrastructure, causing physical
of the causes, potentials, and implications of
tangible and intangible divisions.
city divisions will be investigated and layered in a framework of taxonomies of city divisions,
The methodology used to further comprehend
to better understand their involvement in the
this is to first ensure taxonomic categorization of
city of Ismailia and inform and allocate tested
city divisions based upon their relevance to the
solutions in this discourse.
Egyptian context, with their co-location in the global
south, and then understand their methods of
city in Egypt. Local case studies of successful
gentrification and communicating connections
developmental projects oriented towards city
to meet with the global north.
enhancements like Hai Al-Salam development
The expected outcome of this will be an
project, will also be studied- assessing its impact on
intervention assessment procedure based
changing the fabric and its contributions to the city.
on the framework of universal divided city strategies that possibly contribute to communal integration which will help aid the re-stitching of the existing case study by retrofitting its application to the selected case site of Ismailia
INTRODUCTION
publication was based on an article published in Al Musawwar Journal by Mohamed Refaat, who provides a brief description of his visit to Ismailia and how he experienced this segregation. The literature focuses mainly on the southern zone of Ismailia, but the problem with separation and division around lake Timsah
Divisions of cities are a global phenomenon that
case study for this research because of its compact
contributes to the shaping of the communities,
history throughout the past 60 years, since its’
especially in the case of cities in the global
formation with the establishment of the Suez Canal
south. The rapid unplanned urbanization usually
to, to what it is today. There is a noticeable gap
causes urban segregation, inequality, and
in the literature analyzing this city even though
disintegration (Marom, 2019). In this research,
it marks one of the highly dense urban cities in
five main ideas of city divisions are visited, to
Egypt, with a population of 1.2 million (CAPMAS,
analyze and understand how they contribute
2017) living there today. The book of Ismailiyah
to shaping the city and its community. The
by Raouf Abbas discusses the development of
taxonomical categorization will include further
Ismailia chronologically as a colonial city and how
examples to contextualize the problem.
the European influence affected the urban fabric of
Some cities have multiple taxonomies layered,
the city and its architecture (Abbas, 2009). Mariam
enforcing disintegration. The understanding of
Abdelazim discussed the urban fabric formation of
the overlapping of these taxonomies is what
the city of Ismailia in her research; she provides a
this research is going to focus on through the
brief understanding of the different layers of the
case study of the city of Ismailia, specifically the
city.(in-text citation) Taken that its’ a post-colonial
area around the Lake Timsah, as it’s a military
city, the before and after planning of the city defines
occupied touristic area, with the estates of
an interesting visible urban segregation. Class, race,
fishermen creating informal settlements. It is
and identity were also a form of divisive mechanisms
posited that by understanding the factors and
manifested in the spaces and experiences of
rationale behind divisions and their effects on
Ismailia, El Shahed states in the publication of
peoples’ interaction, a solution for the social
‘Ismailia:1950’, Europeans during the initialization of
segregation happening in this region can be
the city had the upper hand bringing an aggressive
proposed.
social segregation (El Shahed, 2016). Egyptians
Ismailia city specifically is chosen as the primary
were treated as foreigners on their own land. His
is missing from the discourse around Ismailia, in addition to the community layer today, how it is affected and how it affects the dynamics of the city in this specific zone. Thus, this research is going to explore 2 things; How can the taxonomies of divisions framework help explain the segregation that occurred along Lake Timsah in Ismailia city? And how can we establish reconnections under the taxonomical understanding of city divisions? The city of Ismailia suffers from urban segregation caused by the lack of integration between different sectors, and the instinctive inhabitation of the different zones of Ismailia based on preassigned districts which enforces this segregation (Abdelazim, 2015). Also, representation for the communal public sector is minimal in Ismailia, especially for the urban poor centralized in clusters of informal settlements. In contrast, the public and private sectors usually have the most outreach (Khoury, 1996). The problem later received some eye from developers, and the UNDP, producing a successful attempt to upgrade the slum areas of Ezbat Al-Bahtini and Ezbat Al-Hallous (David & Hefnawi, 2008) which
Figure 2: Zoning of the city of Ismailia. Retrieved from
targeted physical and social upgrading in those areas. Also, there was an attempt to create an upgrade in the city through Hai Al-Salam 1986 development project, which was a housing project aimed to upgrade Hai Al-Salam in Ismailia, the project caused local gentrification, (Blunt, 1982) being granted an Aga Khan Award for development in 1986. This project provides an outline of what specific goals this project aimed to achieve and what was their outcome, also, one of the objectives of this demonstration project is to learn from the experience to contribute to urban management (Forbes Davidson planning). In this research, the outcomes outline for this project will be used to assess the success of an intervention. TIME
PERCEPTION
TAXONOMICAL CATEGORIZATION OF CITY DIVISIONS
fabric informs. It produces a racial segregation between the black and the white as they call it. Although the government tries to reconnect these divisions by forcing communication between them
The rapid urbanization which occurs in the
through having the same education and housing,
global south is proven to lead to uneven
citizens took it upon themselves to divide through
development, social inequality, and political
geographic separation (Skags, 2019), it’s like people
inequality (Marom, 2019), as a result of divisions
are programmed to division and enforcing racial
within the city. Reflecting on this discourse,
divide. By having people moving to the city, they
Gizem Canar explains how every contemporary
are leaning more towards individual personal transit
city is, to an extent, divided. Yet, some cities are
rather than mass transit. Categorizing people as
more divided than others (Canar, 2012); it is our
those inside and those outside the city perimeter
role as architects to understand these divisions.
that is created by the surrounding highway.
Canar traces the developments of divisions in
•
different cities, and what makes them different,
and assigning people to different social levels by
with the extreme being a result of politics,
enforcing where they live, their jobs, and income. For
religion, and other socioeconomic factors, which
example, the apartheid in South Africa, which is an
then produce different city patterns(Canar,
extreme case of political enforcement of division,
2015), leading to history becoming a leading
but it successfully shows how social intelligence was
contributor in city divisions as it affects
part of coming over this segregation (Dombroski,
the layering of the rest of the city division
2006). By smartly utilized this segregation to their
taxonomies.
benefit, People in the lower-income regions in
The layers of the taxonomies of city divisions,
South Africa, or the black, forced the rich to rely on
was traced through different literature and
them for their safety, services, and everyday living,
further examples can better elaborate their
eventually leading to a better cohesion in the city.
meaning and how they contribute to the shaping
By enforcing their part in the community, of course,
of the city:
along with other political aspects that lead to this
Figure 3: A proposed graphic taxonomy of case study city fabrics in accordance to the proposed categories of
•
kind of community development. Although politics
division drivers: Fabric, Edging, Mobility, Policy and Topography (author’s own)
First is the urban fabric division: the
Second is the political implication: forcing
urban planning of a city can heavily enforce
is the only intangible layer of divisiveness, but it
connection and division. It is an accumulation
enforces a huge impact.
of layers of history, causing urban morphology
•
(Bandarin, 2014). Atlanta is one case study of a
is the role of contemporary architecture in dividing
city that is divided because of what the urban
the city, how the emergence of gated communities
The third is the division due to edging: which
TAXONOMICAL LAYERING IN ISMAILIA
can lead either lead to gentrification or enforced
•
social segregation between communities in
of mobility, the road network, and railroads, all
specific areas. “…emphasizing the cyclical quality
of these elements can always force division as
inherent in a certain mode of visuality that has
they create physical boundaries, and the way to
In Egypt, cities like Cairo and Alexandria receive
defined for a specific type of people where they can
continued to define Cairo as a once bifurcated
connect over them will always lead to architectural
much greater attention than a city like Ismailia;
live in, in addition to it’s an imposition of military
and now increasingly fragmented urban
intervention (bridge, tunnel, boats, etc.). Milwaukee
therefore, we can see in the literature references
powers redefining the whole city based on their
space.” (Namaan, 2011). Cairo is an excellent
is an excellent example of a city divided because
to these cities and how they identify with these
interventions, with their private gated communities
example of a city rushing to be global with
of highways, local roads, and railroads. Milwaukee
different layers of division. Thus, throughout this
only assigned for military workers and their families
the new formation of gated communities, and
introduced the ‘Beerline trail extension Milwaukee’
paragraph, the understanding of the taxonomies
‘edging’. Areas surrounding Lake Timsah are the
the establishment of cities in deserted areas
which is a trail running across certain parts of
of divisions will be employed in the city of
most affected by these taxonomies and they were
imitating the west (Namaan, 2011). The creation
Milwaukee, connecting between them using
Ismailia. Mariam Abdelazim defines the notable
not discussed in the literature, this research will
of these literal boundaries is a form of edging
creative placemaking strategies, by capitalizing
urban segregation, lack of structure, lack of
apply this scope of taxonomical layering of city
process, by assigning who lives where, and the
on art, community participation, and economic
coherence, lack of legibility in some parts of the
divisions in order to inform a deeper understanding
places where people have the legibility to dwell.
development to transform the cities liabilities into
city, and the miss integration of the waterfronts
of the reasons for divisions, therefore interpreting a
•
assets (Noriega, 2018).
within the city (Abdelazim, 2014). All defined as
solution for these taxonomies.
Fourth is the landscape: Topography,
Fifth is the infrastructure: the places
lakes, mountains, and seas are natural factors
areas in Ismailia with specific people living in each area ‘politics’ (Abbas, 2009), the city consists of 8 sectors were each was
an accumulation of layers of history, which made
that contribute to the division of the city. Nature
Urban division is based on the juxtaposition of
it what it is today. The city moved from having a
could be a reason for isolation and integration
several of the mentioned forces together; therefore,
densely urbanized fabric to a preplanned urban
(Skempis, 2013). Lebanon is a leading example
this diagram was mapped by the researcher
space with no clear identity; this change in the
of division because of the formation of jebel
to create connections between the different
structure pointed out a layer of divisiveness
Lebanon, causing the process of sectarianism,
taxonomies of city divisions and how they might
‘fabric’. The pre-war fabric that defined the
dividing the country into sects of different social
layer in various examples of cities. And according
essence and soul of Ismailia, and the post-war
classes. People living up the mountain have way
to Pierre Bourdieu›s ideas on the official symbolic
which had an undefined urban fabric. Besides,
more benefits than those living down (Harik,
classifications, urban strategies see the city through
Ismailia reflects a political division caused by
1968).
the lens of these taxonomies.
layers of political segregation that assigned
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The research adopts a methodology that will
studies that were chosen by the researcher, the
include three layers of analysis. First, based on
case of the Milwaukee Beerline Trail in Wisconsin,
development projects. This matrix will guide the
the changes which took place along 2 projects. Also,
the understanding of the taxonomies of city
and the San Augustin Metro cable in Caracas
analysis of one of the interventions in Ismailia,
the same technique will be used on the New Blajat
divisions, an evaluation of the elements that
Venezuela. Both projects follow the strategies of
a project aimed to solve some problems of city
project, again to trace its impact throughout time.
are playing a more dominant role in the social
urban acupuncture, so this strategy will help in
divisions (New Blajat road).
In parallel with the mapping, the principles of urban
segregation in the city of Ismailia, especially
understanding to what extent they’re using the
Maps are a very interesting mean for collecting
acupuncture will be used to guide what the mapping
around Lake Timsah, will be analyzed, as this
principles. This methodology will inform the logic of
data especially in urban studies, as they provide
is actually looking for.
area lacks research in the literature. Cities
the assessment strategy, which will be used later on
a different insight of the development of a city
The significance of this research is to mainly inform
occasionally opt for tactical approach, meaning
as the first layer of the development of the matrix.
The primary mean of collecting data for this
architects and city planners with an interventions
small-scale, short-term interventions that help
However, to further contextualize the solution of the
research is through the observational analysis
assessment tool that defines logical implication
in re-stitching the city (Bodle, 2012), given
problem, successful projects in Ismailia like Hai Al-
from google timeline to show the urban change
within the local context as a solution for the
that, the second layer of analysis will be a
Salam project, which is an Aga khan award-winning
of cities and interpreting the different factor
taxonomies of city divisions, which uses the
comparative analysis using the principles of
project and UNDP project in Ezbat Al Bahtini and
which affected the different changes. By using
principles of urban acupuncture with the lessons
urban acupuncture. Urban acupuncture is based
Ezabt Al- Hallous, are to be analyzed to define the
the principles of urban acupuncture, they will be
learned from project within the local context
on using small scale interventions to change
lessons learned from them. A matrix of assessment
used to assess the changes which were traced
of Ismailia, this assessment tool can be further
a bigger urban context (Lerner, 2005). The
for intervention strategies will be developed based
from the maps. The two projects of Milwaukee
developed based on other contexts.
principles will then be used to assess two case
on the relation between the principles of urban
and Caracas will be traced through time using
acupuncture and the evaluation for Ismailia
the google maps historic images defining
RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Figure 4: Lake Timsah zone, Google Image.
MAPPING ISMAILIA THROUGH THE TAXONOMIES OF DIVISIONS
4 highlights this area; touristic functions such as
segregation which will be further discussed in
canal, to the waste dumped from Ismailia canal to
hotels and resorts dominate the surrounding land,
the edging taxonomy. Despite the high level
the lake, these factors affected the economy of the
while there is a multiple of fishers Estates on the
of pollution in the lake, the lake still receives
fishermen (Abd El-Azim et al., 2018). But still, the
extended periphery of the zone. First, an observational analysis was conducted
a fair amount of fresh water from the running
lake represents a dynamic view with the Suez Canal,
Landscape: The existence of a Lake created the
on the area surrounding Lake Timsah to identify
stream of the Suez Canal (ElSerehy and Sleigh,
which in most cases, people find exciting and new.
two different major zoning activities around it,
it within the five taxonomies of the division,
1992) while the other flow of fresh water comes
Landscape, in this case, represents the binding
which make use of the lake as a view, an asset, and
Landscape, Edging, Fabric, Infrastructure,
from Ismailia Canal (El-Sherbiny et al., 2011).
element, which could potentially bring the two
a tangible capital. Touristic and fishing activities
and Politics. The Lake Timsah zone represents
The increased activity within this region is the
surrounding communities together, as it represents
are the leading local economic asset (Kaiser et al.,
the water frontage around the Lake; Figure
main factor in causing the pollution within the
a precious asset for both communities.
2009). However, they coexist, but there is a subtle
lake, with the waster from the boats in Suez
Edging: Touristic hotels, streets, and shops
Figure 5: Lake Timsah, Landscape.
Figure 7: Lake Timsah Surrounding estates
Figure 6: Touristic zones around Lake Timsah
Figure 10: Infrastructure, roads and Ismailia canal water stream.
surrounding Lake Timsah are the more dominant
and Mercure, both are military owned hotels. The
face for the water; figure 6 highlights the
west banks of the Lake consists of a series of
touristic zones around Lake Timsah, and as we
military compounds and hotels, this area in specific
can see, they represent the more significant
is considered the middle to high income sector
percentage of land. At the same time, the local
in Ismailia, based on a interview with one of the
fishermen areas are clustered each within 100
residents of Ismailia who lives in Al Noras compound
– 200 m from lake Timsah, as shown in figure
which is located directly on the Lake. The fabric
7. Most of the hotels, resorts, and compounds
formation of the tourist’s area is relatively wider
overlooking the water are gates, allowing
than the other surrounding fabrics of the estates,
minimum access for the public. Most of the
which can be observed from the map. Fig. 8 and 9
estates are located behind the walls of the
shows an example of the difference between the
compounds, affecting the fabric organization.
urban fabric in AL Bahitni estate and in Al Noras compound. The density of the buildings in the estate
Fabric: The edging effect is also visible in the
is much higher than that of the compound, as the
fabric surrounding Lake Timsah as also shown
compound mainly services middle to high income
in Fig. 6 and 7. North the Lake there is Al Forsan
residents, utilizing the land to ensure views for all
island, which contains 2 hotels, Tolip Al Forsan
the buildings.
Infrastructure: Figure 10 shows the streets and the water bodies which define the zone of lake Timsah; they create a physical boundary around this zone. The Ismailia canal sets the Timsah area from the rest of the urban settlement of Ismailia. At the same time, the two roads, Blajat street and new Blajat street, have a road network that is comparatively wider compared to the rest of the road networks in Ismailia. Still, as it diverges to the surrounding estates, it gets narrower. Based on an interview with some of the residents in surrounding estates (Abdel Raouf, 2014), there is a lack of infrastructure provided to those estates, weather its’ the road networks, the water supply, or the electricity While the layer of politics is not directly mapped on the urban plan of the city, but it contributes to the layering of the mentioned tangible reasons for divisions, given that Ismailia is
considered a military city, the military occupies most of the land, heavily enforcing the planning of the city. However, from this observational analysis we can interpret the places were they identify sensitive points, based on the principles of urban acupuncture that will be discussed in the next section, and this sensitive point will be further analyzed in order to understand its complication and a the proper approach for intervening in this zone. From this mapping we can conclude that the overlapping of the taxonomies of division is what lead to the segregation between the fishermen community and the touristic community surrounding Lake Timsah and lack of integration of the community, this calls for an intervention strategy which would be based on the community to create
Figure 8: Urban fabric of El Bahtini estate (authors own)
cohesion which will cause development later on. This research chose to understand the implication strategies of urban acupuncture, through assessing different case studies that use the methods of urban acupuncture to bring communities together.
Figure 9: Urban fabric of Al Noras Compound (authors own)
INTERVENTION ASSESSMENT STRATEGY
of the process of urban acupuncture, with the main
This knowledge allows the intervention to be
decreases social segregation. Therefore, it requires
theme of creating a livable community (Hoodyun,
educated by the people and to the people and
deep and detailed understanding of the city, the
2014).
in turn enhances the possibility of success
vulnerable points, places of potential connection
(Parsons, A., 2011), by understanding the society
points and sensitivity to the community of serves.
This research is going to explore case studies of
•
divided cities defined based on the mentioned
Morales mentioned that the first step is just like
and passing knowledge on the society.
The following case studies are analyzed using
taxonomies, and the intervention strategies they
therapeutic acupuncture is the first step in strategic
•
observational analysis to understand and
followed to bridge the division. To have a proper
urban treatment, understanding the problems with
responses to the challenges of revitalization
comprehend the impact of the intervention
assessment of the possible solutions that
the society and the city is what helps aiding this
after understanding the challenges of the site,
throughout time. They were chosen based on having
support the principles of urban acupuncture.
process.
these principles relates more to the educating
problems which fall under the taxonomies of city
Two case studies are analyzed, the case study of
•
and participation principles. Reacting to the
divisions, to create connection between them and
the Milwaukee Beerline trail and the San Agustin
majority so that they will help make it happen, and
decay of an area.
the city of Ismailia, thus using them as precedents
Metro Cable in Caracas Venezuela, the projects
a good scenario will help in creating commitment in
•
for the measures of success.
give a brief understanding of the implications of
the population by having co responsibilities (Lerner,
creates meaning to places by creating a new
urban acupuncture and the possible effect on
2007)
mean of energy that flows. By creating places
the community they have.
•
The principles of urban acupuncture are
quick act will result in flexibility and changeability
to the context.
to be used to assess how each project met with
within the intervention, if a project is incremental
The 7 principles are seen to be interrelated
this logic, to understand how it can apply to the
and small in scale, this will imply a faster application.
as being derivative of the community, thus,
case of Lake Timsah in Ismailia city. Based on
•
whatever approach used, must use techniques
Hoodyun joint research in 2014, which combined
local understanding, as participation can lead to
which somehow relate to the community. Urban
three different theorists to the concept of urban
different perspective of the outcome, leading to a
acupuncture generally integrates cultural
acupuncture, Jaime Lerner, De Sola-Morales,
more locally contextualized intervention.
activities which causes more communication
and Marco Casagrand, those 7 principles were
•
through its placemaking strategies, so it causes
concluded as the main drivers and outcomes
how society perceives the built environment.
Determination of a sensitive point: As Sola-
Scenario: an idea which appeals to large
Act: it is all about a generation process, so
Participation: the need for integrating the
Educating: There is a need to understand
Holistic approach: the use of creative
Creating places: urban acupuncture
which were at first nothing and hold little value
more communication, and more communication
bike lanes and accessible pedestrian trails (Noriega, 2018). It provided a safer walkway for the residents to cross over the city; they offered a place for creativity and a place for people to express themselves, and more importantly a Figure 11: Google Earth street view 2020, Milwaukee Beerline trail, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
place where people can interact. To understand the impact of this intervention on the city, the researcher used Google Earth
CASE STUDY: MILWAUKEE BEERLINE TRAIL
division, 1-it’s visible from the map the difference in the urban fabric between the two zones, 2- the two zones were divided by the rail (which is the
Milwaukee is a city in Wisconsin, which has
location of the trail today) creating segregation with
a high level of segregation caused by the
the infrastructure, 3- edging can be visible from
difference in the living communities, two
the functions which introduce more leisure to the
areas within this city called Harambee and
eastern side on the map fig.12.
River West have the most divisions in the city
The Milwaukee Beerline trail used creative
(Noriega, 2018), the two areas are located in the
placemaking and urban acupuncture to bring
core of the Beerline trail project. Defining the
communities together, the project aimed to change
divisions of the city within the taxonomies of
an old abandoned rail into a trail by introducing
Images and historical images to trace the changes and the impact of the trail. New spaces emerged like playgrounds, food kiosks, and open communal areas were introduced along the trail. The Beerline trail started from the station of the old rail way fig 12, till the end of the old rail, the intervention strategy was to remove the old rail, as the pathway of the rail gave room for crime and theft to happen, and to pave a new pathway, the project was even referenced to as ‘a pathway to connect’.
The start of the construction of the trail began
open green spaces 5- the trail created a safer
in 2009 and completed in 2011 (Noriega, 2018),
pathway along the two mentioned districts, a school
Figure shows the differences before and after
was built along the path of the trail.
the trail was upgraded. The project aim was to:
In terms of urban acupuncture principles, the
•
project was successful in:
Unify arts and culture with economic and
community development.
•
•
was a point of crime along the city, which makes it a
Accelerate neighborhood development
Identifying the sensitive point: the old rail
by creating civic gathering places.
good point of intervention
•
•
Increases density, safety, business
Scenario: by having this trail running across
creation, the tax base, and property values.
the city, it allowed for different interpretation by the
•
community customizing different parts of the trail
strengthens public and private
alignments; and
according to their needs
•
•
supports artists, makers, and other
Act: the project applied in response to the
cultural workers to create neighborhood
problem of segregation in the city
engagement.
•
From observation, several changes occurred
project lead community to implement different ideas
along this trail which indicates the impact of
in accordance to what fits them
this project, and it is meeting its’ desired target,
•
fig 13 shows before and after imaged of these
this location after the intervention, programs that
changes. 1- the implementation of food kiosks
encouraged entrepreneurial initiatives
2- reviving empty dumped lands 3- paved
•
pathways and greenery allowing for recreational
based on creative placemaking, which triggered a
activities 4-removing old structures that were
creative response to the surrounding community
considered a danger and replacing them with
Participation: leaving an open program to the
Educating: the emergence of a school in
Holistic approach: the whole project was
Figure 13: Before and after images of the Milwaukee Beerline trail showing the effect and the changes that the trail introduced to the neighborhood. Imaged taken from Google Images, and Google Historical Images (authors own)
Figure 12: Beerline Trail Line highlighted in red passing through the city, Milwaukee, Wisconson
CASE STUDY: CARACAS SAN AUGUSTIN METRO CABLE, INTERVENTION BASED ON URBAN MOBILITY, A LARGER SCALE URBAN ACUPUNCTURE
a dense, spatially segregated urban fabric, creating social and spatial imbalances (Sarmiento, et al., 2013). The project was implemented in 2010 and aimed to serve to poorest population in the zone, (Sarmiento, et al., 2013) By connecting between the valley and the mountain,
The Caracas metro cable is another example
meeting up with the community needs such as
of urban acupuncture that gentrified and
accessibility, adequate pedestrian circulation and
brought intangible capital to the city, a project
constructive sustainability all without removing
which is based on urban mobility. Urban think
any of the existing housing, they were focusing on
tank wanted to minimize the footprint of the
community participation all throughout the project
cars running around the city and increase
by ensuring intensive integration of the people.
connection between the formal and informal hill settlements. The main taxonomy which caused
The project was comprised of 4 Metro cable station
the problem of segregation in San Augustin was
surrounding the higher topography in San Augustin,
topography, the complex topography created
the project goals to be achieved were:
•
Meet the mobility and accessibility
•
Participation: the metro cables main function
needs of the community in San Augustin
is to transport people from the informal to the
•
formal settlements so build based upon peoples
Improve the quality of life of the
inhabitants in the area, and re distribute the
needs in this area therefore human participation is
urban density of the informal settlement
crucial, the rate of users of the metro cable, 4500
•
per day (Sarmiento, et al., 2013), which indicates the
Contribute to the upgrade of the
surrounding spaces with services and places
high demand for this project.
of leisure such as parks, libraries, education
•
facilities,……etc.
better chances for the community to be educated as
Like the previous case study, an observational
they have better chances to reach the city center.
analysis was conducted on the site before and
•
after the intervention to map out the changes.
the chance to decrease the level on inequality
Fig 15 shows the results, a noticeable change
(Sarmiento, et al., 2013), as its integrated in people’s
in urban density shows, the actual stations of
everyday activities.
Educating: this new mean of mobility gives
Holistic approach: the intervention gave
the cable cars removed deteriorated buildings, the hill started to have more greenery, which is
The project utilized the taxonomies of division which
highly visible from the before and after pictures.
caused the main problem at the first place into
In terms of urban acupuncture principles, the
being a strength point which was the main guide
project was successful in:
for the development of the project creating urban
•
integration and social acceptance.
Identifying the sensitive point:
connecting informal with formal settlements, •
Scenario: by having the metro cable
pass over the informal settlements, the project resulted in gentrification in the city, more connection to formal parts of the city creates more job opportunities and less cost for regular transportation. •
Act: the project was implemented in
response to the problem of segregation in the city, a regular passerby would notice because of the high topography of the informal settlements and how it creates a dichotomy between them Figure 15: Images before and after the Caracas metro cable intervention, Caracas, Venezuela, retrieved from google earth (authors own)
and the high-rises on the other side.
the evaluation criteria of this cycle (1986) is
technological innovations, new processes,
going to be used as a layer of the assessment of
and structures.
intervention strategy, (given that Hai Al Salam was
•
a housing development project, these points may
conditions and community requirements.
be adjusted according the smaller scale of this type
•
of intervention). The project identified ‘lessons’ for
model, through ensuring ease of
future applications of similar projects (Blunt, 1982),
implementation within a short timeframe.
Flexibility: accommodating to local Replicability: creating a replicable
as of it also meeting with the criteria of the Aga khan cycle of 1986 (Appendix A), the lessons were: •
Proposals: the project should be highly
relevant to the context, implementable based on that understanding, modifies the user experience,
PARTICIPATORY SLUM UPGRADE OF AL HALLOUS AND AL BAHTINI
and replicable. •
Figure 14: The Caracas Metro cable route, (Sarmiento, et al., 2013)
LOCAL CONTEXT Now contextualizing the problem is important at this stage to give a deeper lens on the evaluation process of an intervention in the area on Lake Timsah in Ismailia, understanding the two projects of Hai Al-Salam development project and the 2 estates project will identify local successes measures of the project and will further strengthen choice of the location of the intervention and the process of the strategy.
HAI AL-SALAM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT In the light of the rapid urbanization, sustainable urban development is a requirement, during the manifestation of Hai al Salam project was originally an informal urban settlement, the project aimed to enhance the existing and build on it. Several factors were taken into consideration to make the project successful, given that the project won an Aga Khan award for development
Community participation: Encourage
This project carried out by the UNDP (united
community participation as much as possible in all
nations development program), using a
the phases of the project, including any possible
participatory approach to improve the life
special groups which might be involved with the
of slum dwellers, in Al Hallous and Al Bahtini
intervention.
estates in Ismailia city (Davidson, & Hefnawi,
•
2008), the used the following monitoring and
A project agency: to create a semi-
autonomous project, which decentralizes the
evaluation tools to assess the performance
administration.
of the project:
•
•
Affordability: a project that is self-financing,
Project operation plan: monitoring
allowing it to run by itself.
the annual target outcome
•
•
Land management: allocation based on
Annual work plan: reflecting on the
prime commercial spots for its market value,
activities and relevant indicators to measure
and landscaping areas to enhance the urban
progress.
environment.
•
•
progress using GIS technology
Incremental implementation: from the
Technical advisory: monitoring
infrastructure to the services, the incrementation of
•
the project increases the level of adaptability to the
opinion
context, allowing communal participation.
The project aims to define Ismailia as a
•
sustainable government using different
Professionals: for monitoring, evaluation
and implementation of the project using new
Survey forms: collect community
projects, mainly calling for participatory
Figure 16: The blocks located in the New Blajat street
chaos. The level of informality was high, and
the tourism in this area. Figure 18 to 21 shows the
the people of Ismailia were not satisfied with
development of this area throughout the years,
the conditions of this place. The new road
a road was constructed from the Mohamed Ali
offered a platform for interaction with the sea,
street to the old Blajat street, taking up the whole
but it discarded the original fishing trade of the
water frontage in this area. From the maps we can
locale. The community of the fishermen was
see the effect that this project imposed on this
completely left behind the walls of the new
area, the deterioration of the agricultural lands,
development. The new development was a large
and the disconnection of the surrounding estate
chain shopping block (Carrefour) and all the
with the water. Based on the understanding of the
identify gaps and possible potential for constructive
neighboring water frontage area is dedicated to
taxonomies of city division, the urban acupuncture
change and improvement. The choice of the site of
car parking, which is arguably not the best use
principles, the assessment strategies of Hai-Al
this project was based on a semi structured WebEx
for a waterfront.
Salam and UNDP project, this matrix was conducted
planning. By creating a force of a working group modality which will utilize participatory decision making (UNDP, 2005), defining a community leader, the inclusion and involvement of women, ensuring a smoother upgrade to avoid any traumatic effects of the change (UNDP, 2005). The mentioned case studies will be used to define a set of guidelines for the assessment tool for Ismailia city, in the area around timsah lake, a site choice for this assessment strategy was chosen in order to give a better lens and context of analyzing a relatively new development project in Ismailia based on local and global success measures of an intervention strategy.
IMPLICATIONS AND RELEVANCE IN ISMAILIA The objective of this section is to identify an appropriate and relevant intervention strategy for Ismailia city based on these findings. This was achieved through a collective comparative and illustrative matrix of the case studies conducted framed by urban acupuncture principles across the local context of Ismailia using previously developed successful projects in the same context as a datum .. This tool and assessment framework will then be used to measure the efficacy and success of the 2015 Ismailia Lake Timsah project, in light of its projected aims and with the objective to
interview with Mariam Abdelazim author of the
by the researcher as a holistic assessment strategy
Ismailia “Re-urbanizing Ismailia by implementing
Embedded within, there are small building
for the project of New Blajat street and for any
an urban infill” dissertation. One of the important
blocks which are dedicated to food shops, the
further project in Ismailia, it’s an assessment of
findings of this exploratory interview was that this
design of these blocks is regular. These blocks
urban acupuncture projects with reference to local
area in Ismailia used to be highly informal before the
are equidistant and have the same size giving
context.
implementation of the new road, which removed
them no special attributes to differentiate the
most of the informalities in the area. Supporting
functions of them. fig 16 shows these blocks,
The key for this matrix is as follows:
this observation, a time-lapse, tracing of this street
there 8 of them along the road. The road is
-
via google historic images as seen in the next
about 1.7 km long extending all around the lake.
and coherence between the principles of urban
section, gives a better context of the specificity of development stages it went through.
The white circle represents strong link
acupuncture and the goal to be achieved within The main reason for the development of this
the local context. So, indicating this principle
new project is to have a safer connection to
successfully achieves this goal.
In Ismailia Lake Timsah area, in 2015 a new road
the tourist’s area, with the hotels and beaches
-
called New Blajat street was implemented as a
overlooking timsah lake, as Ismailia is aiming to
the goal based on the corresponding principle.
connection pathway between the urban settlements
be a touristic city so safety is a priority. From
-
in Ismailia and the Lake timsah area, and the aim
the map in figure 17, we can see the agricultural
does not achieve this connection.
of this project was to create a new platform for
lands surrounding this small part of Lake Timsah,
human-water interaction. The location of this
this part although it was agricultural but still it
mean, points from this matrix with the most
project (as shown in the map) was originally informal
contained many informalities which affected
relevance to Ismailia will be dissected with the
agricultural land and based on the interview with
the direct living of the people in Ismailia, they
understanding of this matrix to develop some
one of Ismailia residents, this place was a complete
found it as disturbing and negatively affecting
guidance for whoever will use it later. A sample of
The semi-circle is less strong application of The black circle is either unidentifiable or In order convey what these connections
Figure 17: Google Earth historical imagery, 2016
Figure 17: Google Earth historical imagery, 2017
Figure 17: Google Earth historical imagery, 2020
Figure 17: Google Earth historical imagery, 2018
Figure 17: Google Earth historical imagery, 2018
different intersections between the principles
of location defined a good point for intervening to
and the goals was chosen, in order to give the
enhance the touristic community, but not taking into
reader a more coherent understanding of the
consideration the community of the fishermen in the
matrix and how it works, plus laying out this
estates surrounding Lake Timsah by providing them
understanding for future investigation using this
with any compensation for the taken land, so it sort
matrix. Based on the previous understanding
of satisfied half the living community in this area.
discussed in the paper of each point and
Land management and act: the land management
how it applies, the following intersections
goal entails that the project location should be
from the matrix were chosen to give a deeper
placed based on a prime commercial spot, and the
understanding of how it works.
act principle leads to dealing swiftly wirha problem,
The principle of Identifying a sensitive point with
so although the project the strategic location of
community participation: was rated with a semi-
the project lead to the quick act of developing it, a
circle, as within this intervention the choice
Figure 22: Matrix combining the assessment
Figure 22: Matrix combining the assessment
strategies, applied on the project of New Blajat
strategies, applied on the project of New Blajat
cohesive studyown) of the actual project contribution street (authors
the points in the matrix, the urban acupuncture
and the taxonomies of city divisions, 23 street (authors own)strategies, applied onfig the
influences this taxonomy of division.
to the surrounding was missing.
principle is assessed of successful it is based on the
shows an example of the matrix.
-
goal that local context wants to achieve.
The key for this matrix is:
either unidentifiable or nonexistent.
-
This matrix calls for future investigation and
Identifying a sensitive point and
surveying: the location of the acupuncture should be based on a coherent understanding
FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS
of the context, through surveying of the local
The white circle indicates that a solution
based on this combination from the assessment
exploration because of the level of complexity that it
matrix (in fig 22) will be of a heavy influence to
might reach, and within the scope of this research, it will not meet with the convolution of this matrix.
community, because as mentioned before the
Another matrix configuration was conducted based
the corresponding taxonomy
public may be having the lowest voice
on personal assessment of the researcher for future
-
comparative analysis between urban acupuncture
solution based on the combination partially
The same understanding applied to all
The black circle indicated that the relation is
The semi-circle indicates that the
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION LIMITATIONS
Taxonomies of city divisions can play a dominant
assess these principles, the Milwaukee Beerline
role in the transformation of cities, divisions
Trail, and San Augustin metro cable in Caracas. Both
are inevitable, thus understanding them can
projects which were transformed based on urban
The chosen methodology was identified
locals made it more challenging to understand
aid architects to transform cities. Although this
acupuncture strategies. Localizing the context of
as appropriate in order to conclude an
the communal context, an alternative of recorded
research tackle five taxonomies of city divisions,
the problem, the development project of Hai Al-
intervention strategy for the purpose of this
interviews with some of the residents of Ismailia
Landscape, edging, politics, infrastructure, and
Salam and the UNDP project of Ezabt Al- Bahtini
research; however, this methodology has
was used but given their small sample size, the full
fabric, but detailed city-based divisions are
and Ezbat Al-Hallous were used to add an Ismailia-
certain limitations. The limitations for this
perceptual extent of the context was incomplete.
still a very wide topic. This research attempts
specific assessment layer. The two assessment
research are that the observational analysis
The analysis of 2 case studies is merely enough to
to study this categorization to coherently
strategies were identified within a unified matrix
conducted on Ismailia city, which were limited
convey a full image of the myriad of implications of
understand the implications of the taxonomies
which addresses how the urban acupuncture
due to the current Covid-19 travel restrictions
urban acupuncture, they’re brief enough to capture
of cities, through Ismailia Lake Timsah zone as
principles were used in the local context of Ismailia.
and social distancing measures which would
the idea with the context of the problem. This was
the main case study. This research used urban
This assessment strategy will help in aiding further
create a skewed image of community uses
countered by use of multiple levels and layers of
acupuncture as the reference strategy to solve
design in similar contexts.
and behavioral patterns. Using case studies
assessment to compensate for the number with
city divisions, based on the understanding of
to evaluate theories in practice gives a good
depth of analysis.
the principles of urban acupuncture and their
understanding of the implementation, but lack
implications, two case studies were used to
of similar case studies in the context of Ismailia
might lead to less understanding of the local context. Moreover, lack of interviews with the actual
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LEARNING > Mayar Abdelghany
ABSTRACT
The objective of this paper is to draw a connection between the UNESCO learning city framework and architecture spaces configurations that can help in purposing architecture projects to be implemented in the Twin city of Ras el Bar and Ezbet el borg. These connections’ primary purpose is to develop architectural concepts and guidelines that help in the process of transforming the twin city to a learning city. These guidelines would help in the catalytic
growth and support of adult lifelong learning in the studied site. To achieve this, the researcher looks at the chronology of the formation of the critical concepts of learning the city and understand the theoretical background of informal learning environments. Also, this research will filter the learning city concepts through the lenses of demographics, regional, and economic similarities to select the most relevant precedence from the cities which were recognized by UNESCO as a thriving learning
city. Building on the framework, the learning cities that the researcher will build on them the research are Aswan and Giza. This analysis of the Egyptian, African, and Arab two cities assets in producing a learning city spatial guidelines that can transform Ras el Bar and Ezbet El Borg. Another objective is to question how the learning city concepts at large, framed by the sustainable development goals and informal Learning through context concepts,
can help and develop architecture space concepts. These concepts are transformed into architecture project typologies that the governor of Ras el Bar can apply to the city. Additionally, the author uses the concept of The Right to the city to develop more purposed typologies. This approach is argued to be the basis for enhancing the adult learning of the cities and ensuring the sustainable lifelong development of their communities.
INTRODUCTION
outside the classroom
These contexts do
context is known as informal education. It is
not have to be constant; they can change as a result
defined according to (Werquin, 2010) that ‘it is
of the fact that human beings are products of their
the learning process that occurs during daily
cultures and social relationships (Ogbu, 1995). The
activities related to family, work, and leisure, and
framework, believe that all Forms of Learning occur
it continues throughout one’s lifetime.
in all qualities of physical environments; it only
In most cases, informal Learning is
depends upon communication between people and
unintentional, unorganized, unstructured.
the space they are in, for a learning process to start
Because this kind of informal education
emerging. What prevents learning from occurring is
happens outside the formal learning
when the users have no connection or interaction
environment, it does not require a teacher to
with the context.
teach learners about life but rather depends
The quality of the space influences informal
on learning from the experience an individual
Learning from context; if the context of the Learning
pass through every day. (Bull, G., Thompson, A.,
has unique attributes, more Learning can be tailored
Searson, M., Garofalo, J., Park, J., Young, C., &
within the area. For this reason, the location of the
Lee, J, 2008) From the scientific perspective,
study of the research is in an extraordinary place
informal learning results in an expedited
in Egypt. The research tackles the twin city, Ras el
enjoyment of the process. Furthermore, it
Bar, and Ezbet el borg, which has a unique context.
is personally applicable and satisfying to
These cities located in the upper north of Egypt,
the learner (Werquin,2010). It is unique as it
overlooking the intersection of the Nile River with
encompasses all learners with various abilities
the Mediterranean Sea. This interaction between the
and from distinctive cultural backgrounds. It
saltwater of the sea and the pure water of the Nile is
Communities around the world are facing
learning with the formal set up in school and
is admirably believed that informal learning
what makes the location unique as this phenomenon
many challenges based on their region in the
classroom environments. (Kallen, D. 2013). Currently,
experiences allow learners to connect with their
is not available everywhere. Informal learning
world. However, one of the significant global
people have come to understand learning differently,
passion. A common theoretical framework will
experiences in this location can benefit the citizens
problems that affect communities negatively is
as more people came to the understanding that
be analyzed to understand more the nature of
tremendously. The social interaction between
the lack of education. The process of learning
learning can take place outside the strictly defined
learning in substituted contexts. This framework
this particular physical environment, showcasing
is achieved, whether formally in a classroom
learning environment. Accordingly, researchers
that is analyzed is ‘the Contextual Model of
the relationship of the land, sea, and Nile, can
setting or through informal Learning outside the
interest increasing in informal Learning and different
Learning’ proposed by (Falk and Dierking,2004).
influence the learning motive and expectation of
school. Learning is having sufficient exposure to
space configurations. This facilities access to
This article frames “context-driven dialogue
the citizens. In all cases, people can learn more in
opportunities to obtain knowledge that can help
different context possibilities in which other forms
as the product of the interactions between
such unique settings. Regardless of which form of
an individual in their daily life. (Savery, J. R. 2015)
of education can occur, causing lifelong learning
an individual’s personal, sociocultural, and
context a person acquires knowledge in, failing is
Throughout history, people have only associated
experience. This type of knowledge transfer
physical contexts” (Falk and Dierking,2004).
the main problem that people face around the world
and especially in Egypt. Failure in acquiring
informal Learning in context can result in constructing
knowledge makes people starve in the modern
architecture concepts of spaces . These concepts can
economy and society, causing problems in the
be translated to architecture typologies in the twin city
development of these communities.
like Ras el Bar and Ezbet el borg to flourish Lifelong
To solve the global concern for the better
Learning.
future and wellbeing of the communities and
The concept of learning city is essential to
to reach guaranteed justice, social integration,
understanding the background process of the
and a globally healthy environment for people,
emergence of the learning city objectives. The idea
UNESCO developed an agenda, which is known
was born in 1972 when the organization for economic
to be 2030 for Sustainable Development. The
cooperation and development (OECD) executed a
Agenda is broken-down to 17 goals and 169
seven-city project, including Vienna and Edinburgh.
tasks. UNESCO consumed the Agenda to reach
(Elfert, 2015; Hamilton and Jordan, 2011; Han and
an overall upraise of communities around the
Makino, 2013; Scott, 2015; Osborne, Kearns and
world. One of the factors to achieve the (SDG’s)
Yang, 2013; Osbourne, 2014; Watson and Wu, 2015).
is the implementation of the concepts of ‘The
They implanted education into the spotlight to reach
Learning City.’ The learning city perception is
economic enlargement. This experience was mature
influential to the stable enlightenment of city
into a model example to other cities at the point
populations. Based on these concepts, the
of considering learning to achieve progression. In
institution for life long learning refined an award
the 1990s, two conferences took place before the
to inspire cities to transform to be a learning
mid of the decade to kick-off the ambition to help
city. Sixteen cities around the world were
push back the limits of knowledge and actions. It
prosperous in adjusting to a learning city. Some
was not until 1996 when awareness of the impact
are in Asia, many in Europe, and few in Africa.
of education and Learning on the accomplishment
The main problem we have in Egypt is that a
of more advanced technological, economic, and
minimal number of cities took this challenge.
environmental communities were taken into account.
In Egypt, we have only two cities that achieved
Accordingly, cities worldwide started to take quick
the UNESCO award, which is Giza and Aswan.
steps in the practice of Learning. It was not until then
More cities can be modified to become Egyptian
when the age of trial and error began to materialize
learning cities. This change can be a catalyst for
into the governmental learning city global networks.
society to upraise and help its users to develop.
This initiative was first taken over by the UK and joined
For this reason, the author proposes a possible
by European countries later, making north Europe the
strategy of how the learning city concepts,
center for the catalytic expansion of lifelong learning
the sustainable development goals, and the
concept (European commission 2002).
“ The concept of learning city is essential to understanding the background process of the emergence of the learning city objectives. The idea was born in 1972 when the organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD) executed a seven-city project, including Vienna and Edinburgh. (Elfert, 2015; Hamilton and Jordan, 2011; Han and Makino, 2013; Scott, 2015; Osborne, Kearns and Yang, 2013; Osbourne, 2014; Watson and Wu, 2015). They implanted education into the spotlight to reach economic enlargement.
To further investigate learning cities more,
be socioculturally suited to the context. The theory
and equitable quality education in addition to
to learning cities. These key points include plan,
a theory for informal Learning is analyzed.
undertakes a unique form of informal Learning that is
promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all’)
involvement, mobilize resources, making Learning
The theory name is ‘the contextual model
not organized by the knowledge giver and knowledge
and SDG 11 (‘Make cities and human settlements
accessible, organize celebratory events, monitor
of learning’ (Falk and Dierking). This theory
receiver. Instead, it recognizes the knowledge giver as
inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’)
with evaluation, and funding. These eight concepts
undertakes the concept of how the free
the physical environment around individuals (Falk and
(UILL,2017). Lifelong Learning can be the
guide the set of actions that cities need to follow
choice setting can organize the complexity
Dierking). This informal learning environment is not
foundation for the empowerment of individuals.
to become a learning city. UIL held workshops that
of the learning process. The method believes
perceived in the same way between people but affects
It can also intensify the knowledge, skills, values,
developed these eight key features. The workshop was
that Learning is a complex phenomenon. The
their knowledge one way or another. The learning
and mindset of people, making them informed
held from July 3 to July 5 in 2012. The concepts were
process of accomplishing intelligence is not a
cities are those that activate their assets for the
of the global and local challenges. It can give
based on inspirations from indicators that measure
manageable task; however, when the learning
advancement of its citizens using different initiatives.
a boost to people to become furnished to
social and economic development. These indicators
process is placed within the urban context of
One of the key aspects mentioned in the framework of
overcome those objections. Therefore, reinforce
include but not limited to The Human Development
a place, the process becomes effortless and
UNESCO to become a learning city is that the action
the learning attempts is the core of the learning
Index (HDI), The Better Life Index by OECD (2012),
straight forward. Also, the model believes that
has to be accessible with high involvement of people.
city approach. The UNESCO Learning City
and The Future We Want – RIO+20 Report (UN, 2012).
this cooperates in making knowledge lasts for a
Engagement requires people experiencing a particular
Award was introduced in 2015 to celebrate
Moreover, the key features that the workshop needs
lifetime and remains with the users of the space
context, for example, being part of a specific event
communities that made significant proceed
to achieve must be Ambitious but achievable, Crucial,
further (Falk and Dierking). The model assumes
organized for people to understand the plan of the city
toward implementing the Beijing Declaration
Relevant, and understandable. Key points can serve
that the best kind of Learning is the one fitted
and be involved. If we applied the idea of this model,
on Building Learning Cities (UIL, 2013). The
as a comprehensive checklist of action points to
in-between a group of contexts. Learning exists
not only the context of these events can be changed,
nominees were called according to multiple
help municipal governments and other stakeholders
through the intercommunication between
but it can have a positive influence on the city users as
benchmarks, requiring them to:
of cities in their efforts to build a learning city that
the person and the physical surroundings.
a whole. Consequently, it can escalate and boost the
•
promote lifelong learning for all.
Informal Learning happens through emerge of
learning outcome of citizens.
learning chances that meet the learning needs
Another resource is ‘The Right to the City ‘by David
conversation of experiences (Falk and Dierking).
Nowadays, 26 learning cities were recognized by
of all citizens; this means that learning spaces
Harvey. This resource mentions how minimum human
None of these conversations is identical from
UNESCO, who answered their call for action (Beijing
need to be accessible.
rights like the Right for education and access to
one individual to another; they change across
Declaration on Building Learning Cities, 2014). The
•
water and food is equally as essential as the Right
people and change across the lifetime of the
research analyses cities from around the world.
leadership, vision, foresight, and governance.
to access the context and the place where people
same individual in respect to their backgrounds.
These cities include Giza and Aswan in Egypt, as
Meaning that spaces need to encourage people
live in (David Harvey, 2008). Having that sense of
The main ingredient of this framework is the
well as other few cities with similar characteristics
to engage.
ownership escalates the citizen’s integration with the
concentration on context (Bronfenbrenner, 1985;
placed in Africa, the Arab world, and a European city.
•
city and positively influences the city enhancement.
Sternberg & Wagner, 1996). Since humans are
UNESCO’s global network of learning cities (GNLC)
goals. This means that nodes can be built to
In his writing, Havery mentions, ‘The Right to the
excessively sociable, souls, culture, and social
assists municipalities in achieving their transformative
develop interactions.
city is, therefore, far more than a right of individual
relationships have a significant impact on the
potential and achieving the SDGs (Beijing Declaration
There is eight primary measure the learning
access to the resources that the city embodies: it is a
learning process people undertake. Hence,
on Building Learning Cities, 2014). The UNESCO
city has built its framework on, to help and
right to change ourselves by changing the city more
based on the theory, Learning needs always to
primarily concentrates on SDG 4 (‘Ensure inclusive
guide the towns that want to change itself
after our heart’s desire. It is, moreover, a collective
Be devoted to establish and broaden
Demonstrate concrete political
Give distinctly defined focus areas and
rather than an individual right since changing the city inevitably depends upon the exercise of a collective power over the processes of urbanization.’ (David Harvey, 2008). He argues that the freedom to make and remake a city in which a person lives in one of the fundamental human rights.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK This research paper will discuss in detail the
between the guidelines and architecture. In this
Egyptian case studies of learning cities Aswan
research, the information gathered was reviewed
and Giza. The author looks at these two cities
and assessed through the lens of its architectural
based on the eight key elements of the learning
and urban relevance.
city. These guidelines are translated guided
It is the position of this research that the learning
by the interviews conducted in the site, to an
city guidelines can be translated into several
architecture space configuration and typologies
Architecture spatial requirements that can then
that connect between the UNESCO measures,
be converted to architecture building typologies.
learning from context, the Right to the city
In order to test this hypothesis, a comparative
guidelines and fit into the site. Many researchers
analysis was performed between two cities, and
studied the cities that were recognized
the outcome was connected to two concepts: the
as learning cities to give more insightful
Right to the city and informal Learning from context.
information about why UNESCO choose them.
In conclusion, the results are integrated based on
Among the literature reviewed included country
the information gathered in the interviews to fit the
data and citizen demographics. However,
context of Ras el Bar and Ezbet El Borg.
minimal research papers tried to connect
METHODOLOGY
interview aimed to understand more the plan of
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS: GIZA:
city development in architecture and what are the missing architecture typologies building in
Giza is the first learning city in Egypt. The city
the city. The second interview was held with the
learning concept was based on the understanding
Vice president of the city of Ras el Bar, Mr. Ali
that Learning is the light that guides both the future
Bayoumi. This interview aimed to understand
and present human life development. Based on this
more the needs of the target users, the citizens
understanding, Giza took its part in initiating the
of Ras el bar. In the interview, the writer
plan to eliminating illiteracy and increase its citizen’s
acquired a full understanding of the lifestyle of
education.
citizens. The writer performed another meeting, A combination of two procedures was used
The researcher used yes or no questions, scale
in this study to collect and analyze data,
questions, open-ended questions, and multiple-
comparative procedure, and instrumental
choice questions.
procedure. The first was the instrument
The comparative procedure includes historical
procedure, using a couple of interviews on-
interpretive tools and logical arguments to assess
site. Many discussions were conducted there
the two cases studied cities Aswan and Giza and
during a five-day stay in Ras el Bar. However, the
their implementation of learning city strategies. The
researcher only conducted two with employees
criteria for choosing these specific case studies
in the governorate office. They work within the
is because of their very similar context and users
development plan of Ras el Bar purposed by Dr.
as these cities are in Egypt. To conclude, the
Manal el Masry the governor of Damietta. These
paper is trying to apply the gathered information
interviews are the one which this paper focuses
from the case studies mixed with the outcome
on. Another online meeting the researcher
of the interview to come up with an architecture
conducted was with Dr.Malak Zalouk, who was
framework and typologies that help Ras el Bar and
the Chairperson of the UNESCO Institute for
Ezbet el Borg in the process of becoming learning
Lifelong Learning from 2012 -2019. This type
city.
of interview was a selective type of discussion since the field of study is very specific, and
INSTRUMENT: INTERVIEWS
not many people have a full understanding of UNESCO guidelines. However, age, gender,
The first interview on the site was with Dr. Rania
and background were not taken into account.
Khaled Al-Ghobashy, Director of Tourism. The
which was an online interview using zoom with
Transforming Giza into a learning city, therefore,
Dr. Malak Zalouk, who was the Chairperson of
tackles multiple challenges and includes many
the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning
architecture projects. In 2016 the governorate
from 2012 -2019. Dr. Zalouk is an expert in the
forces were intensified to upraise citizen’s literacy
field of lifelong Learning and provided essential
skills. ( Fahmy, A., Said, Y., Shawky, D., & Badawi, A.
data. Most of the questions in her interviews
2016, September) The governorate promoted adult
were related to understanding her point of
learning for all ages. The plan allowed individuals
view regarding the quality of the physical
of all ages to attend literacy classes and providing
environment that best suits the learning city
benefits for attending these classes. The courses
framework.
had a particular architecture arrangement for developing a successful learning process (Osborne,
Moreover, the interview target was to
M., Kearns, P., & Yang, J, 2013).
understand more about the essence of learning
There were three main features of the space
city as a concept in Egypt and how this essence
arrangements for the development of learning
can be found in the built environment. Dr.
channels (Oblinger, D. 2005). These arrangements
Zalouk, on top of that, was questioned whether
tackle the idea of accessible Learning to all levels of
she agrees with the purposed architecture
illiterate citizens.
guidelines or not. Additionally, the writer asked Dr. Zalouk about the architecture typologies proposed and how efficient she thinks are they concerning the concept of Lifelong Learning.
2013). Because of this promise, Giza developed the architectural typology of Egyptian mobile medical clinics. This development requires adding a total of 4 new medical centers to accommodate
1.One to group class arrangement sharing learning
2. Group
3. One to one Learning
There were three architecture arrangements of
the increasing number of users (Nandakumar, A. K.,
spaces that enhance formal Learning guided
Chawla, M., & Khan, M. 2000).
by the UNESCO learning city measures in Giza
The architecture plan of the mobile medical center
(Oblinger, D. 2005). If the adult learner has
was developed based on the need for an accessible
never known writing and reading, the space
medical center. This plan encourages citizens of Giza
configuration used is the first one. If the adult
to undertake the process of learning to minimize
learner has received some education but
the city illiteracy rate that would help the overall
have some misconceptions and need further
development of the city (Nandakumar, A. K., Chawla,
development, configuration two was used. If the
M., & Khan, M. 2000).
adult learner has special need requirement, then
Giza provided classes in remote areas to ensure
configuration three was used. Another aspect
access to education to a large number of people.
of these spatial configurations based on the
Also, the plan included women empowerment. Giza
number of learners. If a large group of people
has launched several campaigns to raise women’s
attended the lectures, they would use the
awareness of health issues. (Nandakumar, A. K., Chawla, M., & Khan, M. 2000). The plan included
first arrangement of classes. In cases of
non-formal courses and workshops explicitly
workshops in which a share of best practices is
targeting women learners. The main target of these
needed, for example, the best way to memorize
courses was to raise awareness of health issues and
a concept in education or the best way to learn
transform them into community health advocates.
to write, the arrangement of classes changes
The government did these campaigns in public spaces
to the second configuration. In cases of one to
(Osborne, M., Kearns, P., & Yang, J, 2013).
one tutoring, a one to one space configuration
Giza’s main target was to expand its learning
is used. In this space, Learning is more
initiatives to benefit all of its inhabitants. By training
concentrated.
a generation of young people as teachers and by
Another space typology that Giza used was
promoting the importance of acquiring knowledge,
mobile medical clinics. (Nandakumar, A. K.,
the city was striving to increase its commitment to
Chawla, M., & Khan, M. 2000). Giza purposed
the development of a flourishing learning environment
this typology of architecture space because
(Osborne, M., Kearns, P., & Yang, J, 2013).
adult learners who participated in the classes
The following table summarizes the main actions done
were encouraged by promising free healthcare
explicitly in Giza to fulfill the UNESCO eight. The table
insurance when the learner achieve literacy.
includes the architecture concept of spaces that
This insured adult development and future
facilitated these actions to evolve in the city of Giza.
learning (Osborne, M., Kearns, P., & Yang, J,
Different learning zones sketches by the author based on research findings
‘Learning for people, planet, prosperity, and peace’ was the central concept that Aswan followed for developing its plan to become a learning city. (Iskandar, L, 2005). The city draws this concept on its deep-rooted, ancient Egyptian cultural background, and educational traditions in cooperation with local NGOs and private organizations. (Longworth, N.,2006).
ASWAN
Learning for kids starting early age to reduce the literacy rates of the citizens. (Egypt Independent,
‘Learning for people, planet, prosperity, and
2019). This is believed to promote the city as a
peace’ was the central concept that Aswan
whole and help it to develop further. Additionally,
followed for developing its plan to become
this required specialized labs because in ‘Green
a learning city. (Iskandar, L, 2005). The city
Eco-Friendly Schools,’ students plant to maintain
draws this concept on its deep-rooted, ancient
gardens and learn about water conservation.
Egyptian cultural background, and educational
Learning requires focus labs and spaces for this
traditions in cooperation with local NGOs and
activity to happen. For students to join in leading
private organizations. (Longworth, N.,2006).
healthy lifestyles, the collaboration between them
Aswan has implemented a great variety of
is needed. (Longworth, N.,2006). This collaboration
programs to ensure learning opportunities
occurs in specialized zones where students can
for all citizens during different spans of their
engage with one another and with their teachers in
life. These projects include building schools,
an informal manner. (Longworth, N.,2006). This way,
public spaces, and waterfront areas in which
they become significant participants in the overall
Learning is the critical feature that shapes them.
development of the city from the early stages of
(Iskandar, L, 2005).
their life.
For schools, the main spaces that were there in
As for adult learning, Aswan built many community
the buildings were categorized as group learning
centers that target the dropouts in deprived areas.
zones with formal learning arrangements.
The initiative tries to give the dropouts a new
The school’s concept of ‘Green Eco-Friendly
opportunity to complete formal education and
Schools’ encourages formal
better shape their future (Longworth, N.,2006).
RESULTS & DISCUSSION Concept di¬agrams by the author of the school in the city and different spaces
The city uses these community spaces for
understanding and knowledge on how to start a
interaction where volunteers gathered to help and
successful business model. To advertise for Lifelong
teach other disadvantaged people.
Learning, the city organized many festivals and
Moreover, the initiative supported women and
events regularly (Dotson, E., Hibbler, D. K., & Scott,
girls who are among those often disadvantaged
L. 2017). These events included tourism, cultural,
in Aswan (Dotson, E., Hibbler, D. K., & Scott, L.
artistic, sports, and
2017). The city collaborated with organizations like the Social Fund for Development and the
science festivals held to encourage Learning and
Agha Khan and Om Habibeh Foundations,
interaction with other cultures further.
helping participants to acquire basic knowledge
Based on the eight UNESCO guidelines, the author
about funding an enterprise and contributing to
developed the following table to understand the
sustainable economic development. Most of the
actions done accurately in Aswan to satisfy the
citizens work in weaving and molding statues that
eight key features. Additionally, it includes the
attract tourists (Egypt Independent, 2019). So,
architecture concept of spaces that facilitated these
the program was trying to enhance the women’s
actions to evolve in the city of Aswan.
The next portion of this research paper shows
Dr. Zalouk, was an essential part of transforming the
the architecture outcome of comparative
city. Adding to this, the city also done more actions
analysis based on previous case studies and
in mobilizing its resources, which is based on the
interviews. A purposed configuration of space
interview is the second most essential part of the
qualities following by architecture typology
guidelines of learning city. «A city that fails to use any
is introduced in this portion of the paper that
available space to provide lifelong learning is a failing
can be applied to Ras el Bar and Ezbet el borg
learning city,» Dr. Zalouk stated in the interview. Also
to change it to a learning city. The following
Aswan did a lot of celebratory events to encourage
diagram assets based on the interview
people to get involved in the process. She said, «A lot
with Dr. Malak Zalouk and the author deep
of people, especially in other governors around Cairo,
understanding of the city’s efforts in becoming
lack the exposure to different ways of delivering
a learning city, which city was more successful
knowledge, and such events are a major part of
in reaching a better framework. Aswan, based on
resolving this problem.» Based on this information,
the interview, was better in providing its citizens
Aswan was a better successful model.
with more concrete architecture spaces where
The author develops five architecture space
Learning can happen in.
concepts concerning each guideline of the UNESCO measures. These guidelines will be discussed first,
From the diagram, the author, as mentioned
then their purposed typology based on the site will
before, found that Aswan scored more
be purposed. The architecture guidelines are referred
on guidelines that are easily translated to
to in the previous diagram as A, B, C, D & E. These
architecture. These included the involvement
concepts include:
of citizens which, based on the interview with
Conceptual sketch showing the relation between learning spaces
A- PROXIMITY
Sketch developed by the author showing how spaces can be flexible
because most of the city spaces have a direct connection with the citizens. Also, the concept of
B - MOBILITY & FELXIBILITY
people or can shrink and include less people and more intimate connection.
The design spaces for learning within the city
proximity can be applied architecturally if the areas
need to have proximity between them and the
in the buildings have intimate relationships with
Flexibility is a crucial element in organizing and
flexibility would add to the quality of spaces in
main target citizens. This concept, based on
each other. This intimacy gives different spatial
supporting public events that encourage and
the city. Since flexible spaces can accommodate
the interview with Dr. Zalouk, is a successful
experiences based on the idea of learning from
celebrate learning. Dr. Zalouk stated, “The space
different user groups and encourage personalization
architecture guideline. To emphasis this
context. This would ease more the learning process.
has to be shaped by the citizens, and they need
of areas that are most suitable to each knowledge
importance, she said that in some projects that
Users would waste less time moving from one
to have a sense of ownership. Otherwise, they
seeker, the sense of personalization in the city would
she worked on, they had to use a lighthouse and a
learning node to another.
won’t leave their daily life routine and come to
help a more successful process to gain knowledge.
cinema space to change them into learning spaces
Additionally, cross-connections can occur between
your learning space.” Based on the interview
just because they were close to one another and
spaces. For example, in Giza, the city chooses rural
and the comparative analysis, this means that
to their targeted users. This proximity is purposed
areas and developed learning programs to be close
the spaces that the city would use need to be
to encourages more involvement of people and
enough to the most significant number of mostly
flexible enough to accommodate the different
reaches a more significant number of participants.
illiterate individuals. This need for space proximity
needs of citizens’ majority. Not all users learn in
If spaces proximity is achieved, more flourished
within the targeted zones impacts the architecture
the same manner so, to reach a large number
spaces emerge. Within this proximity, the concept
decisions and project typologies of the city.
of participants, spaces need to be easily
of ‘the right to the city’ can be applied. This is
As for learning from context concept, the idea of
changeable. Space can grow and include more
Sketch of Space configuration of accessible zones.
C - ACCESSIBILITY
Sketch developed by the author showing how spaces can be flexible
inaccessibility is that the Right to the city article
D - EASY CIRCULATION
based on them its argument. It argues that the Right
is another essential thing in accordance with the analysis conducted. Dr. Zalouk voiced that the ease
Accessibility of government programs and
to access every part of the city is at the same level
The ease circulation between spaces and events
circulation is also important for the supervision of
initiatives need to be achieved. If the city’s new
of importance as the Right to have food and water.
helps users to gain adequate information,
the space, so that the space is considered being
guidance, and support and stimulating them to
evaluated and developed by the government forces.
concepts and projects can’t reach the city citizens, there is no chance for learning to occur. Coming
Accessible spaces also make space more fun to
learn through diverse pathways. The circulation
The researcher believe that the circulation can be
from the interview with Dr. Zalouk, mentioned
experience a context; this is because the users don’t
around learning spaces and through learning
part of Learning. Based on the Right to the city
that she also believes that accessibility is one of
feel caged but instead feel free to enter and leave
spaces are essential parts of the learning
and informal Learning from context, developing
the main concepts that facilitate the process of
the learning spaces. If any of the city initiatives is
process. Implementing Learning through not
and implementing well-grounded and participatory
learning. She said, “if the learning space is hard to
not accessible, the overall development of the city
only space configuration but also through the
strategies in the circulating spaces can ease
find, no one will go there. “another essential aspect
won’t be achieved.
movement process from one space to another
learning process in informal context.
Sketch of how voids generate connections for easy evaluation
E - VOID RELATIONS
The yellow line showing the location that can have the purposed typology on-site masterplan
open space.
the learning city projects to achieve the best
the research are the most suitable to fulfill the
In the learning process, the best learning experience
learning context. Furthermore, these concepts
developed spatial guidelines and the need of the
Spaces need to be open and reach outside to
is when citizens can enjoy and be pleased with
have a secure connection to the Right to the
city. In the following section, each typology is
develop systems that recognize and reward all
the same resources, benefits, and opportunities
city as they ensure that citizens have a direct
described in detail under the spatial guideline and
forms of Learning and improve them. This space
for learning regardless of social class, gender,
connection and interaction with the in-between
the site fieldwork.
relationship can be monitoring the progress
and background. Dr. Zalouk voiced out that “the
spaces of the city.
towards becoming a learning city.
process of integrating learning into city context
Mixing the previous architecture concepts
Integrating the Learning from context, the users
is an arduous process and involvement of the
with the site interviews produces architecture
can have different experiences in spaces due to
architecture specialist would be a beneficial addition
typologies that can fit Ras el Bar and Ezbet el
The city has a unique context with the presence of
the amount of light entering the space and the
to the program.”
borg. The information from the site helped in
the Nile and the sea. A purposed typology can be
amount of blockage and openness. In more Solid
The writer believes it is of great importance to
purposing these specially tailored architecture
informal learning community centers. This learning
space, learners gain another kind of knowledge
research this topic because if more cities change
typologies.
community center can be placed on the edges of
than in open spaces. For citizens who don’t like to
to learning cities, the overall development of the
The purposed architecture projects are
the masterplan to emphasize the connection with
be exposed and like the more private experience of
country’s productivity and global economic growth
community center waterfront project,
the sea and Nile. Based on the interview with Dr.
Learning, they would prefer learning in substantial
increase. The writer of this paper claims that these
connecting bridge, experiential learning zone,
Rania, the Director of tourism in Damietta, the
spaces while other sociable citizens can go for the
five main spatial requirements are essential to
public plazas. These typologies based on
citizens have minimal access to the Nile because
A - PROXIMITY
Circular symbols for purposed concept distribution of Public plazas that can be built around the city
Purposed concept location of connecting bridges project between two lands
B - MOBILITY & FELXIBILITY
C - ACCESSIBILITY
people to visit it. She also mentioned that “there
Another typology that the city can be built related
Another architecture project that tackles such
are no community centers in Ras el Bar and adults
to this concept is an incremental learning library
a critical architecture concept can be the
have to go for 40 min drive to the Damietta city
in which users change and add to its information
development of open spaces and plazas. The
center to go to one.”
based on their needs and desires. Building on the
plazas ensure accessibility as they are a form
interview with Mr. Aly Bayomi, the users of the city
of public spaces with no constructed walls and
The community centers as a typology have a
are working addicts they like to work. We used to
fences that blocks access to these spaces.
vanished boundary between it and the community.
have very high working rates «. By this finding, a
Mr. Aly Bayomi bought up the problem of over
It has a close connection with city citizens and can
semi-finished building that grows by citizen›s work
stacked urban development in the city and the
develop many intimate relationships with the urban
is a type of construction that would fit there. The
demolishing open spaces. He stated, «people
fabric and the target users applying the concept of
increments can be structured or unstructured based
here find the Nile their open space as there are
proximity.
on the context and citizens› needs.
none in the city; they seem to run to the Nile.»
most of the Nile edge are for commercial use, and learning space on the Nile would encourage
The plaza can be placed on the same street levels also to ensure the visual connection with streets and encourage more citizens inside the learning space.
D - EASY CITCULATION One of the architecture projects that can encourage learning through circulation if the development of architecture bridges that act as connectors between the two edges of the land in Ras el bar and Ezbet El Borg. Dr. Rania mentioned in the interview,» People have to take a ferry with 5 pounds to move from the side of Ezbet el borg to Ras el bar which is becoming inefficient by time and waste time.»
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS Purposed location of experiential learning centers within the urbanized space to develop this openness for learning approach.
E - VOID RELATIONS
The results from the interviews and the
willing to accept architecture typologies changes or
comparative analysis concerning the information
not. It’s expected for most of the Egyptian cities to
The relationship of solid urbanized zones and non-
from the literature support the hypothesis
repeal any changes, especially in a more traditional
urbanized open spaces for public recreational
that the learning city concepts transform
society. The tragedy emerges when we, as architects,
activities that involve learning is lost in the City
to architecture concepts that influence the
start to agree with these cities and stop purposing
of Ras el bar. This is due to rapid urbanization.
spatial design. It supports the fact that to
ways for development and change even if they are
However, This problem can be fixed if more
change the twin city of Ras el Bar and Ezbet
only conceptual ideas. The challenge is how to find
development happens between the building’s
el borg to learning cities. Decoding needs
common benefits between architects and decision-
relationship with its surrounding. One of the
to happen to transform further the spatial
makers in the Egyptian cities, to develop plans to
purposed typologies that can develop is experiential
architecture configurations to architecture
initiate the changing process of any city to a learning
learning building, where the learning process
projects. The research process was exciting
city.
changes according to the change of spaces
to the writer. However, the interview raised
In the writer’s point of view, more action needs to
configurations and space adjustments.
a new question that needs to be further
be taken to inspire citizens to dream for better cities
investigated. It is whether Egyptian cities are
and involve learning within their context. Perhaps
more educational classes should be taught in public
program of learning city. It would be better if it
schools as well as international ones, and more on
were done in a long time and without the corona
ground campaigns can be made in local areas to
virus so that the researcher could go to the city
explain the importance of changing our cities into
of Aswan and Giza to see how the architecture
learning cities.
of the city changed by the development of the
Although this research was carefully prepared, the
learning program.
writer of the study is still aware of its limitations
Second, the number of participants was small.
and shortcomings. First of all, the research was
Only three interviews were conducted, which
conducted during the Corona virus pandemic. This
cannot represent the majority of the expert’s
period placed a lot of restrictions on the number of
opinions. Third, it is unavoidable that in this
interviews conducted and the amount of fieldwork.
study, a certain degree of pre-conceptual ideas
It also limited interviewing more experts in the field
can be found as the writer of this research paper
of lifelong learning. Adding to this, the idea of online
is an architect. It would have been more reliable
information gathering with minimal time for research
if two or three students from the different fields
make the resources analyzed not enough and limit
instead of only one had conducted it.
the study to do on-site information gathering and spaces analysis of existing learning spaces in the
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INCLUSION > Shrouk Mohamed
ABSTRACT
The objective of this research is to create a toolkit for age-friendly co-living housing typologies. This toolkit could be applied to both retrofit existing housing or to produce a new business model for a novel housing typology that would be framed around cohabitating aging family members in the Egyptian extended family home. The rationale behind the need is the significantly aging population in Egypt reaching 9.2% in 2021 and 20.8% in 2050 above the age of 60 (Sweed, 2016), along with the cultural stigma attached with offsite assisted
living communities. The methodology used to produce this toolkit will be an assessment of global age-friendly design standards and best practices and a synthesis of them through the lens of their applicability to the Egyptian culture and the Egyptian housing typological constraints. Synthesizing them into a new framework which is applicable for cohabitation in the Egyptian culture. The expected outcome of this research will be the application of this toolkit to a selected number of case study typologies to demonstrate its application in the Egyptian context.
INTRODUCTION Recently, Egypt’s ageing population has increased and will considerably escalate to reach 9.2% in 2021 and 20.8% in 2050. This means that about 20 million Egyptians would be above 65 years old (Sweed, 2016). As the physical and cognitive skills deteriorate throughout the aging process, the overall health condition change leading to the need for a full-time carer or moving into a care home for the elderly. In Egypt, it is considered a social taboo to be living a care home. It is mostly common that a family member would either take care for them solely or hire someone to take care for them in their own home. Dementia is a very common phenomenon within the ageing population and it has several types with various symptoms that the carer should adapt to. The homes for these elderly are the source of confidence, security and dignity; hence, these dwellings should architecturally adapt to their capabilities. In this paper, the main aim is to create a hybrid detailed framework for a dementia-
friendly home. This might be useful for all the contributors of housing projects which might change very small details transforming their architecture into an ageing living tool for all the age groups. This does not imply that a carer will no longer have a significant role, but that would help the senior himself to be as independent as possible resulting in a better quality of life. Dementia-friendly architecture for housing projects includes all the architectural details considered including the lighting, visual connections, colors, heights of everything, sounds, textures, etc. This might create awareness about the role of national building codes and the interests of real estate developers in relation to new construction plans and eventually bridge the gap between demand and supply. Finally, a toolkit for families co-living with their grandparents or even senior retired parents would be very handy to implement. Moreover, it could be used as a business model in the architectural field to retrofit or even design a convenient house for literally a lifetime.
“ A personalized living room is key when it comes to the mood and cognitive abilities related to reminisced activities. Because individuals with dementia slowly lose their physical and mental abilities before their sensual abilities, it is very important to focus on daylight, thermal comfort and sounds. In a living room the individual with dementia should have a comfortable chair at the corner, as it feels safer, along with the exposure to daylight and soothing sounds from a large adjacent window (Garre-Olmo et al., 2012; van Hoof, Kort, Duijnstee, et al., 2010; van Hoof, Kort, Hensen, Duijnstee, & Rutten, 2010).
LITERATURE REVIEW This research paper attempts to bring together demand and supply; particularly the necessities of the individuals with dementia, the carers and the rest of the stakeholder, and the Egyptian typological constraints. The interdisciplinary character of the research topic, calling for integrated approaches, needs a framework integrating health care and building services in Egypt. Accordingly, a system didn’t exist, a structure consolidating two existing models has been built up that, when utilized together, have an additional incentive for the current study and can lead to an applicable framework to interdisciplinary research. First of all, what do the ageing population suffer from? Dementia is a common term for most various organic brain diseases
affecting the above 60 ageing population (Holmes, 2012). These could have an impact on the cognitive skills resulting in behavioral and psychological symptoms. The aimed framework is mostly based on these symptoms which include difficulty of wayfinding, challenges with understanding, disorientation, recognition disability and concealing things and storing and eating improper things. These side effects are not found in all people with dementia, and not all issues are similarly hard to adapt to via carers (Alzheimer Europe, 2006a). However, the side effects might be concerning for family members and impact ageing-in-place in a difficult manner. A portion of these issues can be addressed by the aimed framework for a dementia-friendly cohabitating home (Hoof, et al. 2010). Conventional adaptations merely give an answer for people with motion disabilities.
For instance, single leveled homes, are not developed enough to be dementia-friendly. To add to this test, there is a deficiency in the quantity of homes with these essential adjustments (Hoof, et al. 2010). One of the psychological aspects of people living with dementia is chronic loneliness, which is very common and could be tackled through an architectural lens. Chronic loneliness has serious influence on the elderly including heart diseases, strokes and dementia. This leads to how engaging would the architecture be with the community, it has to be attractive to everyone and not only elderly. Since neither the elderly nor the kids want to be in a dull environment, a building prototype proposal was about getting a nursery where the elderly could volunteer and spend time
with the kids meanwhile the kids could learn from the experiences of the elderly with the supervision of the management. Both of the age-groups need a vivid environment to live in so why not create this interaction aiming for a better quality for both of them. Therefore, the building has to be interactive enough to attract and then connect both of the agegroups. This also applies in the Egyptian culture where the grandparent-grandchildren relation is very strong. They could possibly engage in an inclusive space in a cohabitating home (Usher, 2018). Moreover, the spatial qualities and relations of the indoor environment in a dementia-friendly home is significantly influential. According to the literature, these spaces include the primary rooms or spatial divisions any home would have. All the studies are concerned with the dementia-friendly
qualities within the culture of the Europeans where they live solely or only with a partner, unlike the Egyptian culture where you mostly find the extended family living together. Starting with the front door, the handle’s keyhole should be located above the actual handle to be easily visible for the user. If the user is living alone then there should be a more secured system, maybe a numerical lock, to open and close the door which could also be under the control of the remote carer. (Hoof, Kort, Rutten, & Duijnstee, 2011; Hoof, Wouters, Marston, Vanrumste, & Overdiep, 2011). There should be a small hallway as a transition between the inside and outside which should preferably be not in direct visual connection with the rest of the spaces. This prevents the urge of wandering for people with dementia which is significant for their safety. There is also a possibility to add a curtain on the door if it is necessary to get it out of the user’s sight. This definitely has ethical conflicts because of not letting them out freely but it still is considered one of the safest strategies to keep them away from street accidents (Hoof & Kort, 2009). A general rule for the front door and the rest of the home is to have no thresholds to avoid tripping. In order to avoid tripping there are lots of guidelines including having the flooring rough yet easy to be cleaned
and no contrast of colors as it creates an illusion of a hole in the floor (Pynoos, Cohen, & Lucas, 1989). Furthermore, the walls should not have repetitive patterns or reflections because they might cause irritation as well as confusion for the user (Cohen-Mansfield, Werner, & Marx, 1990). The installation of the wet areas will be discussed very briefly but it has lots of details to be mentioned in the research paper. First of all, there should be a separate bathroom for the dementia people other than that of the carer because it should be closely related to the bed for the ease of going during night time and if it locks then it has to be unlocked from outside too. Definitely, this would not be convenient for the guests or the carer. In addition to taking into consideration a wheelchair availability, the restroom is outfitted with a roll-in shower that permits the freedom of movement for a carer while helping the individual with dementia take a bath. A hand-held showerhead is set up for showering. It makes showering simpler for carers, and it very well may be a good alternative for people who fear water falling on them from above (van Hoof and Kort, 2009). There are two rills in the floor, which ensure that flooding can’t happen into the restroom itself and the neighboring room. The shower drapery is strong, in the event that the user trip or fall and need to snatch it (Warner, 2000). The floor tiles are hostile to slip tiles, which is a security measure. The builders should develop to take
into consideration the situation of extra bars and handles. Last but not least, the toilet seat should be in a contrasting color with the ground with no cover to be clearly visible for the individual with dementia (Gitlin & Kyung Chee, 2006). On the other hand, a kitchen is preferred to be of an open layout connected to the living room with no technological appliances because the main aim of this would be the user’s ability to be independent with minimum risk. An example of being conventional in everything, for the ease of communication, is to have a very simple blue/red tap turning handles (Blom et al., 2000). Although the sockets should be higher than the usual to be visible as they eventually forget its location, it should have these child-proof plug sockets (Hoof, et al. 2010). A personalized living room is key when it comes to the mood and cognitive abilities related to reminisced activities. Because individuals with dementia slowly lose their physical and mental abilities before their sensual abilities, it is very important to focus on daylight, thermal comfort and sounds. In a living room the individual with dementia should have a comfortable chair at the corner, as it feels safer, along with the exposure to daylight and soothing sounds from a large adjacent window (Garre-Olmo et al., 2012; van Hoof, Kort, Duijnstee, et al., 2010; van Hoof, Kort,
Hensen, Duijnstee, & Rutten, 2010). Meanwhile, to enhance alertness and mood at night the ceiling-mounted luminaires should be as bright as an office preferably having a remote control of color temperature and intensity (Sinoo, van Hoof, & Kort, 2011). As they generally fear to be abandoned, in a cohabitating dementia-friendly home, the living room and the bedroom should be in the middle of the house and not isolated in a separate suite. Installing big sliding doors to open and shut according to the privacy needs would be perfect for individuals to feel connected with the rest of the family yet intimately safe (Hoof, et al. 2010). Last but not least, the master bedroom’s door should open directly towards the living room without the front door in the visual sight line to limit the urge of wandering. An individual with dementia would find it much easier at night to have a shortcut through a sliding door to his bathroom. The less furniture the better to minimize the possibility of tripping especially at night (Warner, 2000). To conclude, these dementia-friendly design standards and best practices are mostly evidence-based and are mostly results of European focus groups. Therefore, these standards have to be mutated to fit into the Egyptian Housing Typologies and more importantly into the Egyptian Culture of the ageing population
METHODOLOGY
Table (1) INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT TOILETING Criteria for use framework Associated deficits Architectural intervention reference Inability to locate the toilet Spatial disorientation and/or perceptual deficits
Inability to reach the toilet fast enough Motor problems (tremor, psychomotor slowing)
Need assistance using the toilet Reduced mobility and coordination
COLLECTING BEST PRACTICES
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007)
1. Portable commode, urinal, bedpan 2. Raised toilet seat by up to 8 cm 3. Grab bars, guard rails, arms for the toilet
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007), (Calkans & Namazi, 1991), (Eisenberg, 2013)
1. Automated toilet with bidet function 2. Non-slip floor covering 3. Pull cord for flushing 4. Rubber grips, doorknob, adaptors, and covers for handles
Coto-Yglesias, 2007), (Gnaedinger, 2000)
1. Remove locks 2. Remove waste baskets, hampers and other items resembling toilet bowls
(Eisenberg, 2013), (Gnaedinger, 2000)
(Zgola, 1990) (Finoff, 2008)
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007), (Zgola, 1990), (Gnaedinger, 2000)
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007),
of multi-professional group of educationalists, researchers and practitioners who are developed
Age-friendly architecture is a growing field
in the field of person-centered dementia care and
that has not been fully explored yet. There are
support. The researchers provide partial frameworks
numerous non-evidence based and primarily
for dementia-friendly residential typologies. The
anecdotal references available internationally
aim here is to collect all these dementia-friendly
to facilitate co-habitation or off-site habitation
practices and select the most relevant for the
of an ageing family member. Moreover, there
Egyptian Culture creating a hybrid manual for
is an association for Dementia Studies in the
dementia-friendly homes.
University of Worcester providing a team
1. Visual cues: Red light at restroom door; coloured line on floor leading to restroom; Put (picture) sign on the door 2. Remove toilet lid 3. Coloured toilet seat
Reduced judgement or awareness
Egyptian Culture filter 1. If the user is coliving with the extended family he will probably refuse to use the portable commode or the external urinal. 2. Egyptians are already used to the bidet function in their ordinary toilets.
Table (2) INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT BATHING & PERSONAL CARE
Table (3) INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT DRESSING
Criteria for use framework Associated deficits Architectural intervention reference
Criteria for use framework Associated deficits Architectural intervention reference
Perceptual deficits reduced mobility / coordination
Difficulty in dressing independently
and
1. Padded transfer seat / (fold-down) wall seat in shower. Bath seat / tub chair 2. Grab bars in shower walls and infront of sink and replace any towel racks by them 3. Chair in the bathroom 4. Floor-to-ceiling safety pole 5. handheld showerhead for bathing (with on-off pause button)
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007), (Calkans & Namazi, 1991), (Dewing, 2013)
Inability to grasp/reach/hold objects Weakness, reduced coordination
1. Faucet handles located on the side of the sink 2. Strong enough shower curtain to grasp or hold on to 3. Soft floor covering 4. Remove glass shelves
(Gnaedinger, 2000)
Need for Protection Reduced judgement; confusion /disorientation
1. Use hidden taps, knobs, control panels 2. Thermostatic tap 3. Remove or lock plug sockets 4. Outlets are ground fault interrupted 5. Remove shower heads that spray over rim of bath tub/ tighten hand showers 6. Install a grill type of door sill
(Gnaedinger, 2000), (Finoff, 2008),
(Gnaedinger, 2000) (Coto-Yglesias, 2007), (Zgola, 1990), (Gnaedinger, 2000), (Dewing, 2013) (Gnaedinger, 2000)
Reduced range of motion or coordination confusion, impaired memory for dressing perceptual deficits
1. Place two wardrobes, one obvious and one hidden. The obvious one containing very few full outfits to reduce the choices as much as possible while the hidden one would contain the rest. 2. Sliding closet doors 3. Open shelves instead of drawers for clothing 4. provide grab bars and a chair where needed
(Gnaedinger, 2000)
Egyptian Culture filter 1. clothes are considered their connection to their own past so it cannot be taken away from them because they always tend to live in the past. They might even consider it a robbery.
(Gnaedinger, 2000), (Dewing, 2013) (Gnaedinger, 2000),
Egyptian Culture filter 1.Egyptian old population have the sense of dignity and the urge to always be in control of their lives. The hidden control panels will leave them disappointed and out of control. 2. They wont feel safe with the folded seats. It has to be a fixed chair
Table (4) INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT SLEEP
Table (5) INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC & HOMEMAKING ACTIVITIES: COKING, CLEANING, DOING DISHES
Criteria for use framework Associated deficits Architectural intervention reference
Criteria for use framework Associated deficits Architectural intervention reference
1. Lower the bed, put mattress on the floor 2. Move bed against wall 3. Place bed near a secured window 4. Illumination on the way to toilet/ on corridor 5. Extra outlets for bedside electrical appliances 6. lighting operable from bed and near door 7. Soft floor covering 8. Account for rails in ceiling for bed lift 9. Grab bars, bed railings and bed handles 10. Adjustable bed
(Gnaedinger, 2000)
Need for Communication Reduced mobility
1. Install a wireless doorbell
(Kinney, Kart, Murdoch & Ziemba, 2003)
Incontinence reduced perception
1. Protective bedding 2. Twin beds 3. Make a texture path from carpet along the hall from the bedroom to the bathroom at hand level
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007), (Eisenberg, 2013) (Gnaedinger, 2000)
Need for Protection Perceptual deficits and reduced mobility/ coordination, disorientation
Perceptual deficits and disorientation
Need for general assistance in cooking food Perception deficitsl poor motor coordination; tremor Confusion, impaired memory
(Gnaedinger, 2000)
Poor motor coordination, impaired memory and attention
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007)
Egyptian Culture filter 1. Qibla direction is a major factor in the arrangement of the bedroom. There favorite bed or chair should be directed towards Al Qibla in order to facilitate their midnight prayers. 2. A book stand and a lighting bulb would also help. 3. In early dementia stages, the individual with dementia might not be comfortable having the carer sleeping with him/her. Especially if they were of different genders, this is also due to the conservative Egyptian culture. 4. They might also prefer to have a small television for the insomnia nights and their attachment to the Egyptian series and old movies. This television would also be a spare when the two partners want to watch tv simultaneously.
Need for protection from danger Impaired memory and attention Confusion/disorientation
Inability to grasp and carry objects Weakness, reduced coordination
1. Install stove next to sink 2. Kitchen blade with variable height 3. Cook top should be level with counter top 4. Grab bar infront of kitchen sink 5. Shelving units at an accessible height with avoiding being under or over work surfaces 6. place signs and labels on cabinets 7. See through shelving and doors/ remove them 8. Provide a chair and a table to carry out activities on
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007),
1.Hidden safety switches on stove to disconnect burners. 2. Install gas alarm 3. Install remote switches or timers to kitchen equipment 4. Safety locks 5. Floor surfaces non-slippery, especiallt near sink 6. Provide sufficient ventilation 7. Outlets are ground fault interrupted
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007), (Zgola, 1990), (Calkans & Namazi, 1991)
1. Rubber grips, doorknob adaptor, plastic foam, cover for handles 2. non-slip coating or mats on work blade 3. Single-control faucet
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007)
(Gnaedinger, 2000)
(Gnaedinger, 2000) (Coto-Yglesias, 2007) (Gnaedinger, 2000)
(Gnaedinger, 2000)
Egyptian Culture filter 1. Those safety locks would irritate the individual with dementia so this cannot be a solution to protect them from sharp knives while they will eventually use it if they are living alone. 2. There has to be an outdoor special hanging ropes for laundry hanging.
Table (6) INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT EATING & DRINKING
Table (7) INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND SECURITY AT HOME, INCLUDING WANDERING
Criteria for use framework Associated deficits Architectural intervention reference
Criteria for use framework Associated deficits Architectural intervention reference
Refusal or inability to eat independently
Need for safety/security Perceptual deficits, disorientation
severe confusion; loss of appetite, or uninhibited appetite
1. Refrigerator door detector 2. Refrigerator locks 3. Lay the table with contrasting colours 4. Put away inedibles and confusing items
Need for safety Confusion; impaired perception and/or judgement
1. Stable, heavy nontippable tables 2. Remove poisonous plants
Inability to clean independently
1. Soil resistant surfaces, floor mats to protect carpets
(Gnaedinger, 2000) (Gnaedinger, 2000)
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007), (Eisenberg, 2013) (Gnaedinger, 2000)
Egyptian Culture filter 1.Eating and drinking plays a significant role in the Egyptian culture of the ageing population as they believe it is their only way to escape boredom and to taste the pleasure of the past in their current helpless situation. Therefore, the refrigirator cannot be locked or detected as they will find it very offensive having a negative impact on their sense of ownership. Especially females, the Egyptian grandmother is known for her admiration to cook for herself and for her grandchildren so the kitchen should be customized to meet her physical needs such as height and space if she uses a wheelchair or any assistive moving tool. 2. There has to be a small dinning table for 2 or 3 at the corner of the kitchen and not in the middle to avoid obstruction. 3. Tea time is very important for Egyptians so a comfy corner where the couple or the individual would take their tea and the kettle being handy in the living room would be highly be appreciated.
confusion/ disorientation reduced mobility, coordination and strength
Wander and pacing Disorientation and confusion
1. Sound monitoring 2. Reduce size of operable windows 3. Install security locks on windows and balcony doors in high-rise buildings. 4. Install alarms on danger-doors and exits 5. Put stickers on glass sliding doors 6. Windows operable by large levers 7. Provide clear and large door handles 8. Provide Strong, sturdy furniture with no sharp edges or movable parts 9. Avoid breakable glass furniture 10. Avoid excessive numbers of
(Zgola, 1990), (Dewing, 2013) (Coto-Yglesias, 2007) (Eisenberg, 2013),
16. Use removable room dividers with no full height 17. Avoid shiny (waxed) floors 18. Apply light colors on ceilings, walls and floors 19. strong contrast between walls and floors 20. install light switches at an appropriate height 21. install dimmers on lighting 22. install secure handrails or grab
(Gnaedinger, 2000)
1. Camouflaging/hiding exits 2. Remove doors or keep them open 3. Dutch/ half bedroom doors 4. Bells, bead. Fly curtains or alarm systems connected to doors 5. Put musical welcome mat near the front door 6. Video Camera surveillance 7. Tag detection devices
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007),
(Gnaedinger, 2000)
(Gnaedinger, 2000)
(Zgola, 1990)
(Gnaedinger, 2000)
Table (7) INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND SECURITY AT HOME, INCLUDING WANDERING (CONTINUED)
Table (8) INTERVENTIONS TO ASSIST WITH PERCEPTION, ORIENTATION & MEMORY
Criteria for use framework Associated deficits Architectural intervention reference
Criteria for use framework Associated deficits Architectural intervention reference
Egyptian Culture filter
Difficulty with orientation
1. If the camera surveillance is important, the individual with dementia would better not know about it which could raise an issue the ethics and privacy issues. He will not be comfortable being controlled even if it is in his favor. 2. Gates on stairs would prevent them from falling but a better option would be moving to the ground floor or a single floored apartment. 3. A big glass-closed balcony is another secured semi-outdoor space for females with dementia to enjoy while being completely private yet exposed to sunlight. The conservative tarditions and rules here are very emphasied as they need a window to the external world yet not to be seen by anyone.
confusion, disorientation
Need for assistance with perception Confusion due to reduced perceptual skills
1. Avoid large patterns on walls and floors that may seem to move 2. Avoid door sills 3. Avoid use of border trim for carpets or multiple borders as a decorative trim 4. Avoid use of arrows on the floor 5. Avoid dark mats 6. Label doors, drawers, cabinets with pictures illustrating their contents 7. Name and photo of person on room/ front door 8. Show case or photo corner 9. Reality orientation board 10. Large print calendar 11. large analogue clock
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007) (Gnaedinger, 2000)
1. Use contrast to separate foreground from background 2. Carpet floors to reduce glare 3. Remove shiny surfaces or traditional art 4. Child-proof lock on TV. Adult lock
(Coto-Yglesias, 2007) (Gnaedinger, 2000)
Egyptian Culture filter 1. As the Egyptian culture does not include lots of migrations, the case is mostly not being used to moving from home to another. Thereforem When the individual with dementia is forced to move into his son›s home he will definitiely face difficulties in orientation. If the individual is used to a type of view or an orientation of the main window it would preferably be the same as they sometimes feel homesick and nostalgic to their lifetime home. For instance, if they are used to watch and count the cars in the street it would be better to have their main window on a main street.
• SYNTHESIZING INTO A CULTURALLY AND GEOGRAPHICALLY RELEVANT FRAMEWORK
explains: “Our culture dictates that the elderly... stay at home. You do not kick them out, even if you
• APPLYING TO NEW GIZA CASE STUDY TYPOLOGIES
cannot care for them.” Apart from these attachment
squared 2-bedroom apartment and a 405 meter squared town house. This means that most of the analysis would be formal in order to elaborate on
issues there are more cultural-specific reasons not
In order to be aware of a wider range of
the adaptations of the chosen floor plans. Along
to leave their own home.
design problems, a thorough analysis as well
with phone interviews with people of dementia
For instance, if the ageing family member is a
as adaptation to 4 floor plans for different
and carers to know more about the efficacy of the
where the researches took place. In Egypt, it is
female, she would not prefer living with strangers
residential units will take place. All of them
solutions and how it would affect their quality of
a social taboo that the sons send their parents
because of the conservative culture we have and
are in the middle high social class because
life reaching an evidence-based design framework
to a care home, it automatically translates
the continuous need for privacy. This might entail
those are the ones who have the luxury to
(Zimring & Bosch, 2008). In conclusion, it is more
into wanting to get the burden, taking care
categorizing them into different yet common
retrofit age-friendly design to accommodate
about qualitative research methods including both
of the parents, off of the descendant’s chest.
personas and adapting the design in accordance to
their needs at that point of time. Choosing
of case studies about already existing dementia-
This makes them feel humiliated as they are
it.
New Giza compounds as a case study to
friendly homes in Netherlands and focus groups
already very sensitive and insecure about them
adapt and redesign their units because they
on Zoom with a group of 4 individuals living with
losing their capabilities and starting to be more
represent an example of the modern housing
dementia.
dependent. As Mohamed Rihan, director of one
typologies in Egypt nowadays. The chosen units
of Cairo’s newest nursing homes, Beit Al Aaela,
are a 105 meter squared studio, a 165 meter
The Egyptian culture is different from those
RESULTS
THE FOUR EGYPTIAN ELDERLY PERSONAS
gatherings and he cannot spend a day without inviting friends/relatives over. He would even sacrifice a comfortable home to have a spacious
Therefore, according to the phone interviews
house to accommodate everyone else’s needs. Then
with four 60-years and above individuals, there
last but not least, is the lonely persona who do not
are 4 common Egyptian Personas in the elderly
share her life with a partner anymore, she is having
culture. The first one is the grandmother who
physical difficulties yet she insists on not leaving her
spends most of her time in the kitchen preparing
home and to forever be independent.
food for the rest of the family and she finds
The following conceptual models would be
pleasure in inviting her family often over meals.
responding to the generic standards as well
While the second one is the healthy male who
as the culturally different Egyptian personas.
is not giving up his business which means that
These typically differ in scale, division, means of
he spends half of the time outside. The third
maintenance, ability to welcome visitors’ activities
persona is the family guy, who does not care
and the user’s mobility.
about food, he only cares about entertaining
1. INDIVIDUAL LIVING INDEPENDENTLY IN A SMALL APARTMENT
2. PARTNERS LIVING TOGETHER IN TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT
3. GATHERINGS HOUSE
DISCUSSION
1. GENERIC STANDARDS
while reaching the toilet seat. I addition installing vertical grabs bars at the sides of the sink the rest of
The 105 meter squared unit is a one-bedroom
the towel racks should be replaced by grab bars to
apartment which can maximum accommodate
be strong enough to withstand the individual leaning
an individual with dementia and his carer. This
on it. In order to have a shower independently the
cannot accommodate partners because they
bath tub should be replaced by a roll-in shower
usually do not find it comfortable to share their
again with grab bars all around it and a fixed chair
bedroom with anyone.
for the individual to sit while using the handheld
•
showerhead with an on and off pause button. There
Toileting & bathing
Raising the toilet seat by up to 8 cm was crucial
should be no glass shelves as they are too weak and
in this case especially because there is no one
no cabinets under the sink because they should be
else using the toilet to be irritated, especially
height adjustable as well as being accessible with
kids. For the ease of accessibility to the toilet
a wheelchair. That is why there is always a separate
seat there had to have grab bars, guard rails and
cabinet for any storage purposes.
toilet arms around for the individual to feel safe
• Dressing
The wardrobe is easily accessible and not higher as well as being much easier to throw a burning
boundaries. Adding a small table not in the
furniture should be sturdy and strong and relatively
than 1.5 meter with sliding closet doors and
cooking tool in the sink to avoid burning accidents.
middle of the kitchen is a smart way encourage
high to be more comfortable and accessible to the
more open shelves than closed drawers.
Kitchen blade height is adjustable and no cabinets
the user the individual to eat.
dementia individual. Furthermore, the corridors and
• Sleeping
are placed higher than 1.5 meters. These cabinet
• Wandering
doors are wide enough for the individual and the
A guard rail at one side of the bed, the wardrobe are better to be transparent for the ease of
A storage space is placed near to the entrance
carer to be side by side as well as having these grab
side, is significant for the user to feel safe at
finding things and navigating through the kitchen.
in order for them to store any moving assistive
bars to assist the individual independently. Also
night and to help them be supported while
Furthermore, grab bars are always a good idea for
tool once they enter the house. Also adding a
always making sure to reinstall the light switches
trying to stand up. Lighting is always operable
the user to be able to grasp anything at any point
wall to camouflage the door while spending time
and plugs on an appropriate height for the user to
from beside the bed as well as from the
of time when he loses balance. Adding a chair and a
in the reception is important because it might
easily access.
entrance of a room and adjacent to the toilet’s
small table at the side of the kitchen is very helpful
irritate the user to always be exposed to the idea
•
door. The way to the toilet also has to be well
for the user to use while cutting or preparing their
of not being able to get out. Putting stickers
memory
illuminated at night without having to turn on
meals. The floor surface is not slippery to avoid any
on glass windows and doors in the reception is
The walls and floors should be contrasting yet not
light of the whole room.
accidents.
also significant to avoid accidents as a result of
very shocking in color or in pattern because that
•
•
not recognizing the glass. These windows and
might cause misperception of additional depth
Domestic and homemaking activities
Eating and Drinking
Assistance in perception, orientation and
Installing the stove next to the sink is important
The dining table and kitchen table should preferably
door should also be operable by large levers and
or movement. A large calendar and clock in the
to minimize the movement in the kitchen
be of a contrasting color to easily recognize its
clear door handles. Of course all the replaced
bedroom would help them keep track of time and
date. If carpets are being used, it has to be
This unit is designed for an Egyptian female
culture where she prepares and get out to drink
most of the time in the kitchen preparing food for
with no wheel obstructing borders as well as
68-years individual who is living alone with a part
it in the glass-closed balcony, for privacy issues,
her brother and if her children and grandchildren
being fixed in the ground. Last but not least
time carer to help her with showering and cooking
at the sunset time with her climbing plants. The
are coming over. That would lead to having a dining
is removing all the door sills and replacing
as she has problem with physical mobility leading
chair and couch in the living room are oriented
table outside the kitchen for the frequent visitors
them in toilets with grill like sills to stop water
to her using a wheelchair to navigate in her home.
towards Al Qibla so that she does not have to
to enjoy their meals and a large living room again
overflowing. Meanwhile, in the case of the
This definitely affected the design in many ways the
move in each prayer time.
oriented towards Al Qibla direction. All the rooms
townhouse, you can use portable ramps from
first one was not adding an extra bed in the room,
the indoor to the garden as well as putting
a couch was more than enough if the situation
•
contrasting stickers on the stair treads and
forced the carer to sleep over. She wakes up in the
apartment.
yet she experiences back ache so it is always better
make sure to fully illuminate the stairway.
middle of the to pray which dictates the need for
o
to have grab bars in the corridors. She prefers to do
a comfortable chair in the Qibla orientation in the
businessman
everything independently in the kitchen so it has to
bedroom just next to the toilet. Then midday she
The partners in this case were siblings but
be spacious enough to let her cook as independent
and her carer might use the table in the kitchen
according to the conservative Egyptian culture,
as possible while being easily accessible in terms of
and rotating the TV to watch while they are cooking
they cannot be sharing the same room. The
heights and depths. Although she has no problem
apartment.
together close to the kitchen. Then after having
case here was about a sister and a brother who
with standing, she would prefer to have a 2 table
o
their meal here comes the tea time of the Egyptian
shared the same home while she actually spends chair in the kitchen so that if someone joined her in
2. CULTURAL FILTER •
Individual living independently in a small The forever independent woman
main comfortable chairs are directed towards Al Partners living together in two-bedroom The perfect cook and the healthy
Qibla Orientation. She has no problem with walking
CONCLUSION
the kitchen they could sit down and chat while
whenever they want. In addition, an easily accessible
the food is getting ready. The sisters would
and private garden with pool would create the
take the master bedroom to be as private as
perfect entertaining environment. They would also
possible when they need the toilet at night.
prefer to have a mini kitchen upstairs to facilitate
While the brother would take his cigarette
the regular daily small meals not to let the spouse
break in the balcony which is directly accessible
constantly isolate herself in the main kitchen
from his bedroom. Both of the bedrooms have
downstairs. Furthermore, a door opening directly on
TV where they can watch whatever they want
the living room, while leaving the current one too,
independently while lying in bed. The living room would create a better proximity for both of the mini furniture is mirrored because they would feel
kitchen and the living room especially for later when
safer when the back is to the wall and not to the
they might have difficulties with movement. The
corridor.
king bed is typically divided into two separate beds
•
Gatherings house
for their convenience at night while they prefer to be
o
The family guy
in the same room. Also, they might need to add an
This persona would prefer having a very
elevator at the center of the stairway for an easier
spacious house with suites for their married
vertical circulation during the day.
children and the grandchildren to sleepover
1.
Synthesis of the results
2. limitations
The results are the synthesis of the
These floor plans’ scale is not showing as much
generic standards for dementia friendly designs
details but this can be more illustrated in a package
and the common Egyptian personas at the age
with all the architectural drawings showing the
of 65 and above. These personas are identified
dementia friendly design and how it gets into every
through the interviews and my interpretation
detail to facilitate a better quality of independent life
to them because I have relatively many well
for the individuals with dementia. Also there could
observed relatives living with dementia. I
be different personas that I did not know because
actually had my grandmother living with us at
of not being exposed to a larger social circle. This
home for 5 years on a wheelchair and followed
was again due to the lack of time and ability to meet
by my grandfather who used to be 75 years old
new people because of the Corona pandemic and
when he lost his wife and since then he was
social distancing especially with the elderly. Last but
diagnosed to have Alzheimer. Apart from having
not least, most the sources were more specialized
10 grandmother siblings around the same age
in Alzheimer and how to architecturally deal with it
who we used to gather every Friday before
while rarely mentioning the needs for a mentally and
Corona pandemic. The four main personas are
cognitively stable person with some difficulties in
the strong independent individual who will never
physical mobility.
let go of his home even if he is feeling lonely and
3. Recommendations
weak, the family guy who always wants to be
Further analysis for the Egyptian culture of the
entertained and taken care of, the businessman
elderly would be an interesting field of exploration
till the very end who never gives up work life
that would definitely add value to this research. Also
and the perfect cook who only finds pleasure
exploring the Egyptian real estate market and how
in her families’ happiness. Those personas are
they would respond to such a business model to
represented architecturally in each floor plan.
retfrofit their existent homes to be a more dementia friendly environment.
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BIOPHILIA > Omar Mostafa
ABSTRACT
This research examines the growing challenge
on anxiety and depression, which research shows
of depression and anxiety, which has been
are the most common challenges (Cohen,2007).
partially attributed to the proliferation of
The research also shows the effects of Biophilia
rapid urbanization particularly on workplace
on mental health as measured by self-reported
environments, and the role of Biophilic design
surveying of anxiety and depression. The results
in mitigating this challenge. Most work
seem to provide a preliminary indication that a
environments today are made up of concrete
simple change in design could make a measurable
jungles, in many instances, with little to no
difference in mental health. It supports the
human needs in mind. The research highlights
hypothesis that the simple act of placing a plant,
the effects of biophilic design on workers and
having an animal, or utilizing natural sunlight has the
students’ mental health, with a specific focus
potential to make a significant impact in the work
environment. It expands the understanding of how these small changes can help decrease anxiety and depression rates in the work environment.
INTRODUCTION
their life compared to 45% percent of rural setting
hyper-utilitarian work environments. (Browning,2014 )
users experiencing mental disorders throughout
It is expected that ironically, perhaps the current
their life. (Colarelli,Obrien,2016)
health pandemic may finally be the driver that necessitates more square meterage per
Studies have shown that among the major
employee in the work-place, but this itself needs
contributing factors in mental disorders in the
further investigation and contemplation in the
urban environment is the increased stressor
larger framework of global health and economic
on the user (Dan,2016). This report looks at the
considerations.
working environment from this lens. Surveys have
The world today is changing at a rapid speed to
environments. It showed that mental disorders
become more urbanized. Driven by economic
are higher in presence in urban environments,
forces, rural areas are often being changed
particularly poor neighborhoods, as compared to
to high rise buildings. This rapid urbanization
rural environments, and controlling for factors of
process has its positives and its negatives.
socioeconomic class, education level, gender, age
The positives are in the economic factors
and other demographics (Hartig,2009).
and to accommodate a larger population, but the negatives outweigh the positives.
Another negative of the urban setting is the
Among negatives from rapid urbanization are
increased mental disorder rates. Statements made
fewer health needs being accommodated for.
from the World Health Organization showed that
The Urbanization factor has been one of the
there was a dramatic increase in mental health
major causes of over crowdedness, polluted
disorders in the world, that seems to be at least
environments, higher levels of crime, reduced
anecdotally linked to the rise in urbanisation
social support, plus higher levels of mental
globally. The survey showed an increase from 13% to
disorders. A recent survey measured the
25% from 1990 to 2020. With 75% of urban setting
percentage of mental disorder in urban vs rural
users experiencing a mental disorder throughout
shown that mental disorders are higher amongst
One of the main aspects of these high stressors
young adults with women being affected more
are due to the fact of high urbanization and lack
than men. (Albert,2015) The two most common
of nature.( browning,2014) It is hypothesized that
disorders that users experience are anxiety and
this could be solved in the urban environment by
depression. Studies have shown that a primary
implementing a Biophilic design in work spaces.
factor that seems to cause these disorders is the
Biophilia is the integration of nature in design.
work environment (Colarelli,2016).
Biophilia, a design approach which integrates nature into the built environment, has demonstrated
Work environments now focus more on space
reduced stress, improved cognitive functions, and expedited healing in users who are
efficiency for maximum work flow and minimization of space cost per employee often
exposed to this kind of design (Browning,2014).
at the expense of other spatial qualities such as
Biophilia connects the urban environment with nature
natural daylight and ventilation. This focus has
through greenery and natural sunlight.
resulted in a more barren and hyper-utilitarian workspace. This comes from the fact that it is
In the book “14 patterns of Biophilic design” the
believed that people are malleable and can be
author states that a connection between humans
socialized to work under any conditions that
and nature is to maintain a healthful and vibrant
afford little attention to human needs. With many
existence. Professor Fredrick Law,considered
employees working at upwards of 40 hours plus
the father of landscape architecture, stated “The
per week, the result is an increase in mental
enjoyment of scenery employs the mind without
disorders, primarily anxiety and depression, which
fatigue and yet exercises it, tranquilizes it, and
can be at least partially attributed to these
enlivens it”.
When a brain scan was conducted on
and improve general health and wellbeing. Direct
employees exposed to barren urban
and indirect sunlight also influences serotonin,
environments and employees who were exposed
alertness and vitality, plus affects the endocrine
to a Biophilic urban environment to look at
and neurophysiological response in the brain. These
brain activity, employees in urban settings
physiological effects have been linked to improved
showed activation of the hippocampus and
well-being, and show that sunlight is associated
amygdala. The hippocampus is responsible
with lower anxiety and depression rates among
for our memory and the amygdala for fear and
employees.
anger, and their activity increases in working
Biophilia, explained in the book ‘14 patterns of
memory and arousal of stressful emotions.
biophilic design’, could be categorized into three
While employees who were in a Biophilic
branches ‘’Nature in the space”,”Nature Analogues”,
design setting showed activation of the basal
and “Nature of the Space”. The branches make up
ganglia, which is responsible for pleasure, which
an ideal Biophilic design as each element or branch
indicated a smaller stress response. It could be
incorporates a diversity of strategies into the built
argued that the general more positive well-being
environment,plus each branch influences the mood
experienced by the latter group, with all other
and psychological well-being of the user.
variables constant, would result in greater job
Nature of the space addresses the physical
satisfaction.
presence of nature in the space itself. This includes water features,Vegetational presence, and animals.
Biophilia doesn’t only affect the person’s
Nature of the space could be broken down down
mood through the scenery of nature, but
to seven biophilic elements.Nature Analogues
also from natural sunlight. In correlation with
addresses the organic and non-living aspects of
nature sunlight is a major aspect of a healthy
the space shown in the table below. This includes
environment. There are two types of sunlight;
colors,shapes, and patterns,plus the use of
direct sunlight and indirect sunlight. Direct
biomimicry.(browning,2014).Nature Analogues could
sunlight refers to sunlight exposure that is
be broken down to three biophilic elements shown
outside without interference. Indirect sunlight
in the table below.The third branch is Nature of the
refers to refracted sunlight like sunlight
space this is the spatial configuration in nature.this
through a window. Direct and indirect sunlight
could be broken down in to three biophilic elements
exposure on the retina stimulates the sensitive
shown in the table below.(Browning,2014)
ganglion cells, thus influencing the secretion
the table below shows each of the design elements
of melatonin which is critical in regulating the
from the branches and their benefits on the users
sleep cycle, which in turn helps regulate mood
health and wellbeing.
THESIS STATEMENT
METHODOLOGY DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY SURVEY
As countries become more and more urbanized,
transient critical mass of people working from
This research has addressed students and
higher mental disorders are present and fewer
home and consciously adjusting or even creating
young adults from ages 18-40. The recent
human needs are addressed. This is particularly
their own work environments, in order to facilitate
Covid-19 viral outbreak, and its resultant
prevalent in work-place environments where
remote work and social distancing, shelter-in-
increased work from home scenarios,
A sixteen-question survey was conducted.. The
employees are not put into consideration, with
place measures as a result as the current Covid-19
adaptations and retro-fits provide a unique
survey assessed depression and anxiety ratios
excess of 40 working hours and higher stressors
pandemic.
opportunity to study biophilic phenomena, and
in the work environment based on the Kessler
which lead to higher anxiety and depression
their impact on well-being, when people are
psychological scale (K-10). The Kessler psychological
rates.
given the freedom, and indeed the necessity
scale assesses participants’ depression and anxiety
to create their own workplaces. Also as a result
levels using ten questions that assess a person’s
The implementation of Biophilic design in the
of the limitations of access and mobility put in
psychological and emotional well-being over the
work environment would lead to lower anxiety
place as a result of covid-19 outbreak the survey
last two to four weeks. Kessler psychological scale
and depression rates among employees and
was made on an online basis. Participants
(k-10) is scored through a point system. The system
students. Which entitles the implementation
were asked a number of questions to assess
starts from 1-5 for every question. With 1 as none of
of nature and natural sunlight.Although
depression levels in the work environment, plus
the time until 5 all of the time. The points are then
much literature is available supporting this
a number of photos which participants chose
calculated together to give a sum of the points with
supposition, this research leverages the
from, as their preferred work space.
10-15 as no distress rate, 16-20 very low distress rate,21-25 low distress rate,26-30 moderate distress rate, 31-50 high distress. Distress represents depression and anxiety rates.
FURTHER SURVEYING
spaces, as shared by employees, which employees use when working at home.
The survey looked at participants’ gender and age. It also assessed if participants
The collage shows how all the employees or students
were exposed to natural elements , and if the
have a natural feature beside them. One common
answer is yes participants are asked what are
feature which is present in all the pictures is
the natural feature they are exposed to, plus
exposure to natural sunlight and a plant element. The
asking participants about their current work
vegetation elements are either beside the employees
environment if it is at an office or home. Using a
or are present as outside scenery. These are just
Likert scoring system, participants were asked
samples of how employees design their own working
to rank and select from a set of pictures vis a
spaces from home.
vis as their preferred working environment with pictures either containing a Biophilic design
In the collage picture survey, pictures were scored on
aspect or an urban aspect. They would also
a Biophilic design basis. An Implementation of a point
have the chance to comment on their preferred
scoring system would be used. The pictures would
work environment. The picture won’t have major
be assessed on basis of the Biophilic features, which
Biophilic design, but just subtle aspects ,for
are not limited to plants, animals, sunlight direct and
example of a few plants and sunlight, which
indirect, each Biophilic element would receive a point
won’t stand out to the participants.
with acquiring an average score in the end. Surveying how people would design their personalized
The collage above represents a visual snapshot of social media-based graphic communication of work-from-home environments, shared publicly over the 2 most common platformsInstagram and Facebook. . The collage is made up of photos from various leading design and business companies, plus the use of the trending hashtags #WORKFROMHOME and #STAYHOME. these companies are Snohetta, JP Morgan, Bauhaus, Movement and Decoremesmo. These sources consisted of companies which work remotely from home. The collage looks at the random personalized work
workspace and their preferences of work spaces.
LIMITATIONS
Limitations of the research are due to the covid-19 outbreak users aren’t in a controlled environment
RESULTS
The survey was sent to 40 participants with
working environment, such as sunlight
with all of the work based on online physical experimentation of a working space to see changes in
37 out of the 40 responding back. The survey
(direct or indirect),plants, water features, pets, or
the participants behavior and mood. This could result in false or improper representation from some
analyzed the participants work environment
all. After that they were directed to the Kessler
participants. participants would also sometimes lie if they are feeling pressured in the survey leading to
either at home or at the office. The survey didn’t
psychological distress test (k-10). After finishing the
inaccurate results in some situations. Participants also weren’t asked if they had previous depression
have a certain age group or a certain work
test participants are directed to a series of images
or anxiety issues, which could have a variable in some of the survey answers. Because of the Covid-19
environment. It was sent to major corporations
to choose from. The images were between a work
pandemic people have higher depression and anxiety rates, but at the same time this affects people all
from different professions. The corporations
environment with no Biophilic aspects ,while the
over the world.
included Mastercard, Valeo, Pepsico, ABK
other image would have one or two Biophilic aspects
bank, QNB, Ahram beverages, Cut com
that don’t stand out.
advertising agency, Swiss Embassy in Egypt, CIB, IT company, plus others. It also included
37 participants responded to the survey with an
students from AUC, GUC, and BUE.
average score of 26/50 which is in the moderate
Participants were asked in the beginning about
distress level rate. The scores ranged between 16
their gender and age group. They were then
as the lowest and 40 as the highest. There was
asked about their current work environment
also a correlation between natural features in the
during the Covid-19 pandemic. They were then
environment and depression and anxiety. With
asked if they had any natural features in their
participants who had natural features scoring lower
than those who didn’t have any natural feature.
The age group of participants was between 18-50 . with participants either working from office or
Out of the 37 participants 20 were male and 17
home. With the distribution almost equal between
were female. Out of this the survey revealed that
18-30 which are participants who are studying in
females are more prone to higher depression
college or have just started work and 30-50 which
and anxiety rates, while males showed lower
are participants who are in their field of work for
depression and anxiety rate. The average score
sometime.
for females was 27 which is a moderate distress rate, while males had an average of 25 showing low
Participants were asked about their current work
distress rate. The highest scoring female scored
environment with 27 participants working from
40 points while the highest male scored 35 points.
home, while the other 10 still have to commute to
The lowest female scored 17 while the lowest
work and work in the office.
male scored a 16. This showed that the females surveyed here, and as self-reported by them,
Participants were asked if there were any natural
report more anxiety and depression than males.
features in their work space with 32 participants having one or more aspects of natural elements.
While the other 5 didn’t have any type of natural feature, with only artificial settings such as artificial light and ventilation. The 32 Participants who had natural features in the work environment were then asked to specify the natural feature or features that are present. With 84 percent of the participants having sunlight, 53 percent had plants,28 percent had pets, and 13 percent water features. These numbers don’t correlate to only one type of feature but these are participants› choices of the feature or features they have. Participants who had one biophilic aspect were 15 out of the 32 , while participants who had two or more biophilic aspects were 17 out of 32.
Participants who had a single type of natural feature or biophilic aspect had a higher number in the Kessler psychological test(k-10) averaging 28 which is in the moderate distress rate. , while participants who had two or more natural features had a lower score in the K-10 test averaging 21 which is in the low distress rate. While participants who didn’t have any type of biophilic feature had the highest score in the k-10 test averaging 34 which is in the high distress rate. After the k-10 test participants are given 3 questions, which show two pictures. One with a biophilic feature and the other without. This showed the preference of the participants in their preferred work environment.
Pictures had subtle biophilic features that didn’t
image ,eventhough it wasn’t a total Biophilic design
show extreme biophilic design.
makeover. Almost all of the participants who had no natural elements preferred the images with biophilic
Most of the participants preferred Image A while
elements. The biophilic images had either sunlight or
some participants surprisingly chose image B as
plants or both.
their preferred choice. Most of the participants who had no natural elements in their work environment chose Image A . The other two questions were asked in the same manner with one biophilic and the other a barren work environment. Between the three questions most participants preferred the Biophilic design
CONCLUSION
RESULTS
In conclusion, While some people chose the
aspect respectively. This also showed that
While the survey was sent to a small sample,
non-biophilic design image in the survey
females participating in the sample studied here,
conclusions were promising as the survey
questions every participant chose one image
have a higher anxiety and depression rate ratio
showed that participants who had the lowest
with biophilic design aspects. This also showed
then males with females who had lower rates had
depression and anxiety rates had two or more
that participants with no natural elements
biophilic aspect in the work environment the same is
biophilic design aspects. with most of the two
around them in the work environment had
true for the males.
aspects that people chose were a combination
the highest depression and anxiety rates with
This is just a first step for the research of biophilic
of plants and sunlight. Even participants with
average of 34 ,while participants with biophilic
aspect in the work environment. It had a small
a single biophilic element had a moderate
elements averaged 24 points which is 10 points
sample , plus the limitation of staying at home in
depression and anxiety rate.
lower putting participants with biophilic aspects
the covid-19 pandemic which limits in the aspect of
After analyzing the numbers, work environments
in the low depression and anxiety rates. At the
testing the research in a controlled environment.
are recommended to combine two or more
same time participants with one biophilic aspect
This just contributes to a part of the larger literature
biophilic aspects. Just exposing employees
even though lower then no biophilic aspect
of biophilic design in the work environment.
to sunlight and having a plant on the desk or
scored higher then participant with two or more
plants surrounding them would lead to lower
biophilic aspect with an average of 28 for one
depression and anxiety rates. Resulting in better
biophilic aspect to 21 for two or more biophilic
employee well-being and satisfaction.
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