Graduation Project 1

Cultural Oasis

Graduation Project I MSA UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH FACULTY OF ENGINEERING ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT FALL 2014 Dr. Omar Fawzy Dr. Suzette Michelle Dr. Tarek Abdelsalam Prepared By: Ayman Mohamed Diyaa Abu Eisheh Mohammad Adham Mohamed Yosry Omar Marwan Tarek Al Rimawi cultural oasis | research

1

2

cultural oasis | research

Table of Contents Chapter I [History and Background] Introduction Language Religion Traditional art Costumes Architecture style Problem Culture Oasis Main components

Chapter II [Design Issues] Introduction Image Circulation Mood Audibility Flexibility Interaction Visibility Comfort Privacy Security Legibility Personalisation

Chapter III [Case Studies]

Guggenheim museum Luxor Cultural Centre King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture Heydar Aliyev Centre

Chapter IV [Site Analysis]

Cairo S.W.O.T Analysis Luxor S.W.O.T Analysis Alexandria S.W.O.T Analysis Introduction Site I Site II Site III

Chapter V [Design Guidelines] Chapter VI [Individual Work] Ayman Mohamed Diyaa Abu-Eisheh Mohammad Adham Mohamed Yosry Omar Marwan Tarek Al Rimawi

References

Chapter I

Background

INTRODUCTION “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots�

Marcus Garvey

Definition of Culture Culture is a collection of knowledge, beliefs, language, music, art, morals, custom, attitudes, values, policies and behaviours shared by a particular group of people, but different for each individual, transmitted from past generations.

Factors affecting culture The Innovation of anything that is useful or found to be functional to a group of people is called the Cultural invention and it should also express the same to their known behaviour but at the same time it does not exist or appear as a physical object.

Humanity is culture change accelerating period in a global wise, while the international commerce’s expansion is driving it and also there are some other factors that are affecting it such as the mass media and also the human population explosion that is the most effective factor above all.

There are two forces, one of them is resisting any change, but the other one is encouraging change, and both forces internally affects the Cultures, while natural events and social structures are related to these two forces, also the cultural ideas continuity and its perpetuation are an involvement of them, including the current structures practices that are themselves counted as a subject of changing or to change.

Changes can be produced inside a society through technologies development and also the social conflict by changing dynamics of social aspect and also promoting new models of cultural aspect, while creating a generative action by enabling or even spurring it. Ideological shifts may be a result that accompany these social shifts and also other types of cultural change can be a also result. As an 6

example the United States movement of feminist contained, involved and created new practices helped in producing and also creating a noticeable shift in relations between genders, while changing both economic structures and also gender aspect.

Environmental aspects and its conditions can be also an effective factor, As an example the ending of the last ice age, after it there was a return of the tropical forests which resulted in availability of plants that are able to be domesticated which led the human beings to invent the agriculture which lately caused in bringing about a lot of shifts and innovations in the social dynamics aspects in so many cultures, so we could say contact between communities and societies can externally affect on Cultures resulting to inhibit or produce social changes, developments and also shifts in cultural practices, also social dynamics can be impacted and also affected by competitions and wars on fortunes and over resources, in addition to that ac-

culturation and also diffusion can transfer cultural ideas from a society to another society.

Generally we could say that the form of anything and not necessarily the meaning of it actually moves from a culture to another culture as it is and it is called (diffusion), As an example the food type that is called hamburgers it is a famous fast food is widely know in the country of the United States, it looked and felt to be exotic when it was introduced and transferred into the country of China.

cultural oasis | research

While the word (Stimulus diffusion) is to share ideas and it means that an element located in one culture causes and also leads to an propagation, invention or even discovery in another culture. While the word (Tangible Diffusion) is to use the technological or direct borrowing an element from one culture to another culture.

Finally we could say that a model that is research based of when and why people, individuals, cultures and communities may adopt with any new ideas, products, elements and practices is presented by Innovations and Diffusion. The different meanings of the word Acculturation are leading to one context and to one topic that results to a replacement of the properties and also the traits of a certain culture with the properties and traits of another culture, As an example is what happened during the period of colonization to certain tribes of Native America and to a lot of indigenous communities and peoples around the globe. But (transcultural) and (assimilation) are related processes but it is performed on the level of individual such as the adoption of an individual to a culture that differs from his culture.

Culture identity Cultural identity is the feeling of belonging to a place or being as part of the (self perception) and (self conception) to the nationality and ethnicity in addition to religion and social class in addition to generation and locality and also any kind or any sort of social community or group that already have a certain, distinct or special culture, and the cultural identity holds both aspects the individual’s characteristics and the group that is identical in culture while it has its own members that are sharing and exchanging the same identity of culture. Identity politics is overlapping with the cultural identity and

it is also similar to it. Conditions varies between location and gender in addition to race and history in addition to nationality and language in addition to sexuality and religious beliefs in addition to ethnicity and aesthetics not only this but even food, they resulted to the appearance of the cultural identifiers, cultures also have some divisions that are fine and good in some areas of the world, for example a country like the United States of America or even Canada, where the diversity of ethnic in population is found and also there are social beliefs and values are the primary base of the social unity of these countries.

Identity is shaped by an important historical reservoir and it is the Culture, and the cultural identity can be preserved by being difference based as some critics say and argue and also it is called as a divisive force that is affecting the society, and then leading to a form, a cosmopolitanism or a complete system the gives a greater sense of shared and exchanged citizenship to each person or to the individuals, While an association that is practical is considered inside an international society.

Countries may use different means and alternative methods to make it easy to share a beautiful part of their culture as common ground in order to identify them selves with each other. Nations uses the external cultural reality as a method to provide culture identities and its framework in order to influence and change the internal cultural realities of the people inside this nation, and also there is an interplay or an interrelationship between the new media and the cultural identity that is represented in the interest.

Cultural identity can be defined as a social network of individuals or people that are following and imitating some social standards and norms as it is from media, rather than necessarily representing an

cultural oasis | research

7

individual’s interaction within a certain group, thus individuals and persons can learn knowledges, behaviours and social norms directly from media in order to build their own cultural identity instead of learning these aspects from religious or cultural groups, while the way the individuals in their lives deal with cultural realities the structure of cultural complexities range differs.

Cultural Arena It is a place or an area where an individual lives in, and it’s called the cultural arena of an individual, and the place is a big factor that is played on person’s feelings that he wish to adopt with a specific culture, because the environment and the surroundings impacts the culture strongly and directly.

Most of people and citizens in some countries the country found that they need to change their own culture so they tend to immigration and travel to another country and leave his home completely in order to fit into a new culture, but the current belief of the immigrant may be conflicted and it can be a big problem that faces him as he is trying to find a solution through choosing between two different cultures, there are some people that are able to adjust and adapt with the various different cultures around the world through involvement with two or more cultures.

It is not necessary to have only one culture in person’s life so many individuals are already interested in networking, interacting and also socializing with other people in only one culture, but also he can do that with another group of people in another totally different culture.

Language Language changes from the needs of the persons who need to develop themselves and their knowledge in a same place over a certain or specific time.

This helps in letting persons to exchange their life style that is for general links persons within a specific cultural style that is already the persons of that group has identified it. The communication affluence that happens as a result of sharing a certain language in addition to promoting the ancestors roots and also cultural histories in addition to developing the connections. the way of speak 8

that persons do with figures of authority and their family members in addition to their peers and also strangers is also included and lie under the definition of (Language), while the process of learning any Language is easy to learn in case of the understanding of some words and specific definitions and learning this language is also affected by some factors such as the cultural identity and also the preference for special and specific words while using and learning another language.

Education Kevin McDonough mentioned some factors in his article about rejection or acceptance of the governors about the education of different systems of cultural identity, while other people have mentioned the worry and also the concern for the governors support to achieve children’s equity, transitions of schools and also the education that depends on multi cultures, while at the date March 1998 both of the persons (Sherry L. Field) and (Linda D. Labbo) gathered resources and some books that are useful to develop the education of multi cultures in the region South Africa.

Western culture Homogeneous and the ability to be unchanged are not the traits of Western culture like what happened to other cultures which changed over time gradually and also has evolved, while at a specific place and time some exceptions are considered about all its generalities, While the plans, tactics and also the organization for the (Hoplites) of the Greek people are totally different from the (legions) of Roman people in a lot of ways and many points, but the (polis) of the Greek people are different and not the same like the (superpower) of American people at the time of 21st century. The games of gladiators during the empire of Romans are not the same as today’s football because they are identically different to present day sports. And also the Pompeii art is totally different from the arts that are performed at Hollywood studios, but also it is possible to track the history, follow the development and evolution of the western culture while respecting any similarities or differences, because it is an exchange happens to the humanity cultures through contributing to it or borrowing from it. The rising of the west was through some concepts that were taken from the empire of

cultural oasis | research

western Roman’s legacies and also the empire of eastern Roman but later the formation of western ideas were formed. The Empire of Holy Roman’s people and the Christendom’s Latin people came with concepts that Western people thought nowadays like what we think, its origins in fact primarily is influenced Germanic people and Greco Roman people and also it contains the Middle Age’s ideals and concepts, but the lack of clearness in populations and the geographical area made it the same situation for the cultures of the Christians, the Enlightenment, and also the Renaissance.

Eastern culture The word Eastern region, world or communities is a natural result of the various and broadly wide cultures and also the many types of social structures in addition to the philosophical structures and systems of cultures and countries of eastern Europe geographically or for general the region of Asia, and Asia’s culture is its civilization of humanity including different nationalities’ cultural heritage with all its different forms and kinds, but not only the nationalities but also ethnic groups and the societies that are located in this region.

influences and cultures are of European colonial and culture of Pre Columbian in addition to the region that was colonized in history by the countries France, Spain and also the Portugal.

African Culture Cultures of Africa are in fact essential are the culture of Sub Saharan region and also the culture of North Africa, while the continent of Africa consists of a various types of tribes and many Group that differs in social and ethnic aspects, the main characteristic of the African culture is the ethnic groups’ huge number because more than Twenty ethnic groups can be located living at the same country and this example is also happened in many African countries, while the region of North west African culture is strongly tied and influenced by the cultures of South western Asia and also the European culture, in addition to the role of Islam that has a heavy strong influence on the region’s culture specially the world of Arabs, and also the harsh weather and the tough environment has affected and major played in developing and changing the culture of Africa’s sub Saharan resulted in the existence of a various number of musical styles and

Asia contains a lot of ethnic groups abundantly through different climate zones of Asia regions including the tropical areas and also the subtropical areas, in addition to the adaptation of the ethnic groups to the different forms of land such as forests and grasslands in addition to deserts and mountains, While the adaptation of the ethnic groups at the coastal regions of Asia appeared in the various and different methods and types of transportation and harvesting activities, but there are a very wide variety of groups are remaining.

Latin culture Latin America people is named with an expression that can be supposed as informal or formal expression and it is the culture of Latin Americans, and it contains two kinds of cultures the popular cultures such as music and folk art in addition to dance, and also the high cultures such as literature and high art in addition to religion and any other practices that are customary. As the Latin American culture is a product and a result of many combined influences it became rich and distinct. And these combined

This map shows the different cultural geographic regions located in Egypt.

cultural oasis | research

9

arts in addition to a various number of cuisines and languages, because these aspects sprung up and grown between the far flung and distant people.

Middle Eastern Culture The Middle East region is located between the areas of the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea in addition to the continent of Africa and Eurasia region, and the middle east is where the religions centred and it is the religions spiritual birthplace.

According to the famous strong long history of the middle east it became the centre and the source of the whole world activities and affairs such as religious issues and cultural issues in addition to economic issues and political issues and also the strategic issues plus it is sensitive area from the religious aspect, and the countries that are located in the middle ease are common in a lot of things and aspects, such as being the Arabic language is the major spoken language broadly and widely across the whole middle east region with its various dialects, in addition to being the religion the most strong concern and belief to people and a major pillar to them, and it was the official language in the regions of many West Asian countries and also the North African countries and totally respecting the Literary Arabic language.

Not only these regions are the Arabic dialects speakers but there are neighbouring areas and adjacent areas to the Middle Eastern are speaking Arabic although they are non-Arab countries, and ethnic groups in the Middle East became numerous, wide, established longly and also various such as (Kurds and Georgians) in addition to (Pashtuns and Assyrians) in addition to (Maltese and Circassians) in addition to (Yazidis and Shabaks) in addition to (Jews and Azeris) in addition to (Armenians and Lurs) in addition to (Somalis and Turcomans) in addition to (Greeks and Copts) in addition to (Persians and Tats) in addition to (Roma and Mhallami) in addition to (Samaritans and Gagauz) in addition to (Mandaeans and Balochs) in addition to (Turks, Arabs and Egyptians).

10

cultural oasis | research

North Africa

Egypt

Levant Gulf countries

Africa

cultural oasis | research

11

Language

Gulf Arabic

Chadic Arabic

Judeo Arabic

Iraqi Arabic

Moroccan Arabic

Baharna Arabic

Sudanese Arabic

Nubi Arabic

Levantine Arabic

Tunisian Arabic

Najdi Arabic

Sa’idi Arabic Egyptian Arabic

Mediterranean Arabic Juba Arabic

North Mesopotamian Arabic Bedawi Arabic

Algerian Arabic

Omani Arabic

Other Arab Minorities Sparsely Populated

Libyan Arabic

Higazi Arabic

Hassaniya Arabic

Shihhi Arabic

Saharan Arabic

Dhofari Arabic Yemeni Arabic

The area of the Middle East and North Africa (M.E.N.A) official and main languages are actually divided into three families of language types and they are Semitic and Iranian in addition to Turkic, and by finally combining these families together they form 91% of population totally, while from each group of these families there are dominant major three languages are clearly defined and they are Arabic and Persian in addition to Turkish language, while finally combining these languages together they form 77% of population totally in the area, and the Middle East and North Africa region can be defined through these languages or language groups, and also the end of the (M.E.N.A) and its borders is where these languages end in the following aspects:

Berber language specially is important because it is very different to both the Hebrew and the Kurdish languages, while the Hebrew language lies under continuous stress from the Arabic language, and anciently the north African original language was the Berber language then it was replaced with the Arabic language totally, largely and widely, then this language remained an important language for many countries and also vital. But after that most of the languages can be categorized in to one of originally three types, one of them is the natural languages to the (M.E.N.A) and also small, and migrations were the reason of their appearance, or because of the borders of modern state’s mechanism that resulted in the appearance of languages that in fact are a part of NON (M.E.N.A) areas and regions.

The political aspect and ethical aspect in addition to geographical aspect, Understanding the cultures of the middle east can also depend on three languages that lies between the remaining languages in addition to that they are very important and they are the Kurdish language and also the Hebrew language in addition to Berber language, but noting the 12

cultural oasis | research

Religion

Diversity of religions is a main trait and characteristic in the Middle East region, and there are main three dominant religions and they are Islam and Christianity in addition to Judaism, and they are in fact Abrahamic type religions, and also each one of them originated and appeared for the first time in the Middle East. The most dominant religion in the region is Islam including the many forms it is heavily represented in many segments, sects and branches that are diverse, plus some known religions widely and religions with minority of people such as Gnosticism and Zoroastrianism in addition to Shabakism and Yarsanism in addition to Yazidi and Mandean in addition to Druze and Baha’i, and also they spread in the middle east.

Islam The most followed and also prevalent religion widely in the region of the Middle East is Islam, and Muslims who lives in the Middle East are around 20% of the world’s total Muslims population.

Judaism Israel is main country or state that represents the

Judaism in the region of the Middle East, but also there are big populations of Jewish people but in scattered communities in a little number of another countries that are located in the Middle East region, while the Jewish represents 75.3% of population in the Israel, while the rest of the population are Muslims and they represent 20.6%, while rest are Christians and Baha’i in addition to Druze but they are the minorities and they represent 4.1% of the population.

Christianity At the period of the first century AD (Anno Domini) the Christianity religion was originated in the Middle East region and it remained one of the dominant religions before the appearance of islam and its related conquests that has appeared in the mid to late periods of the 7th century AD, and diversity of traditions and beliefs is a main major character of the christianity in the middle ease if it is compared to the rest of the old world, while christians at past in the early period of the 20th century represented 20% of the population, but now they shrinked to 5% of the Middle East population.

cultural oasis | research

13

Traditional art There are a wide variety of several special cultural dances from the region Middle East, and the Styles of dances that nowadays we always refer to are Folkloric dance and Oriental dance in addition to Bellydance that are found in several areas in the Middle East, then they were changed and developed by the persons that live in these regions for the certain purposes such as festivities or cultural celebrations and also entertainment or even women’s dance that is learned at their homes, while some countries are actually large in size such as Egypt and therefore they have a lot of regions inside it so a wider and bigger variety of area, provincial and cultural styles exists in the same country, while other countries are smaller in size so they are more concentrated in culture like Lebanon. Then countries that are larger in size are usually they have more areas and regions with various and different customs.

Some of the main centers and nodes for traditional arts like dance are the countries Egypt and Turkey also Iran (called Persia) and Arabian Gulf also Morocco and Algeria in addition to Tunisia and Lebanon and so Syria and Jordan also Yemen in addition to Nubia and Sudan. Dance arts that are influenced from countries Spain and India are also merged with styles of Middle East during times of history that are called the cultural trade and e change times.

The Gypsies that traveled from India they also brought with them many styles of dance and they are seen now throughout the region of Middle East.

The Andalusian Spain where the dance styles blends a version of Arabian dance with Spanish Flamenco style, while at these days the countries of Middle East we usually identify dancing styles with several and different names and various borders, while the old original names that are related to early belly dance from the era of per Islamic were named Sumeria and Babylonia also Arcadia and Mesopotamia to give names to a few Egyptian and Persian also Greek and Roman in addition to Ottoman ruler ship that rule over several centuries that already not only shaped the geographical boundaries and borders but also came with them a huge flow of various cultural arts.

14

Egypt The southern region of egypt that is near to Nubia and Sudan is named Upper Egypt. This region is very famous because of Valley of the Kings and Queens that lies in it and also its ancient temples.

It contains the areas of Luxor and Aswan in addition to El Saiid region. Cairo lies in the north in Lower Egypt region near to the famous ancient Giza Pyramids and Fayoum in addition to Alexandria, while other regions and areas are the Sahara region and also Western Desert. While it may sound very strange that the south part is called upper Egypt while the north part is called lower Egypt, and this is because the nile river’s water flow because the region of Aswan is the closest region to the water source of the Nile river, then the name upper Nile or upper Egypt now make sense. From dances of (ancient Pharonic) period till the style of (early baladi) that is called (urban folkore) from this century till modern Oriental, Egypt has a stable, vast and strong history of dance. There are many regional, provincial and different cultural styles of (folkoric dance), and for the belly dance type that was widely, extensively and broadly developed in region Cairo, while the Egyptians named their style of dance the (Oriental) or the name (Raqs Sharqi) and that means the dance of eastern region. It is know for its many fusion modern characteristics, that are inspired and influenced by Ottoma influences and also European ballet dance in addition to cabaret dance.

Raqs Assaya

Sufi whirling The dance style of (Sufi whirling) or (Sufi spinning) is a kind of meditation and physically active that is originated and created between Sufis, and it is still

cultural oasis | research

nowadays practiced by the people of the Mevlevi order of the Sufi Dervishes people. It is also a customary dance is performed within the worship ceremony in order to allow dervishes and semazens to reach and connect with all the perfection sources (kemal), and through this they can reach the abandoning of one’s nafs or soul and also personal desires, through listening to music and focusing on God while spinning one’s body in a complete repeated circles, and it has been known and seen as a symbolic representing movements of planets inside the Solar System that are orbiting around the sun. It was explained by people of Sufis that in the Sema ritual symbolism the hair hat of semazen’s camel’s called (sikke) symbolize the ego’s tombstone while his wide and white skirt called (tennure) symbolize the ego’s shroud, and through removing the black cloak then to the truth he is spiritually reborn.

Bellydance It is a dancing style that is coined Western countries and this name is for improvised and solo dances that are based on the style of torso articulation, and also the Belly dance takes a lot of different and many forms that depends on the country, the region, the area or the place it lies in, this difference is for both costumes and dance style, and lately new styles of dance have evolved and developed in the west countries as it is popular thus it spread globally.

Belly dance performance

Sufi whirling

The milaya lef A Milaya lef is a winding sheet and it is a wrap of large black cotton fabric that is over 3 meters long that is used by bint ilbeled to worn in the regions Alexandria and also in old Cairo, and they wear it over normal clothes in addition to wearing the mandil and also the bur’a. For modesty purposes the garment was usually used and also for protection and warmth. Groceries and items could be put and stored inside its empty folded pockets, while small children could also cling to these folded pockets, and we can see in some of the Egyptian old films there was footage of egyptian women wearing these milayas but they didn’t appear dancing as such in them.

Nobian dance It is called the Bouncy or the lively dance, also there is a style is called the costume of Kanuz women that consists of a gathered overdress at the waist part and thighs in addition to ankles, while performance costumes and clothes usually looks like nighties. Men’s costume consists of mid calf tunic in addition to turban and narrow legged pants, and Women in the Fadija regions wear a costume that looks more like a sari that is a wrapped bright fabric over the head and around lower body and it is 6 meters long.

Nobian dance cultural oasis | research

15

Levant It is a group of countries and they are Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan, and in the past they were called ancient Sumeria and also the Babylonia, they were the pioneering regions and countries of writing and also the art styles, because they were prominent in the evolution and also the development of women’s dance. The Balbek region is an ancient site for purposes of goddess worship in the country Lebanon can be one of the examples.

Lebanon and Syria in addition to Jordan have traditions of rich folk and sometimes they are similar to each other such as the group dance (Dabke), which all of the three countries already have versions and different styles of it, but Nowadays the styles of modern dances of the countries Syria and Lebanon in addition to Jordan are very promising and upbeat but the country Lebanon specifically develops a new dance style that is called the ultra modern bellydance.

Dabke It is a Levant Arab dance or called a modern folk circle dance of people from origins possibly called the Canaanite or the Phoenician, and it is a popular dance in the countries Lebanon and Syria in addition to Palestine and Jordan. This dance has different forms that lies between line dancing and circle dancing, and these styles are widely performed at celebrations, weddings and also the joyous occasions. The dancing line is formed from their right to the left. The dancing leader heads the line of the dabke and he is always alternating and turning between facing the watcher audiences and the other dancers.

Dabke 16

North Africa In the country Morocco it has coastal towns such as Casablanca and they are very international and also cosmopolitan, whilst the name Marakkech is a mixture between modernity and old village traditions, and the Tribal Berber people traditions and cultures still exist in the region of Atlas mountains, and they are so close to the country Spain, while the And lusian dancing style is so different and a unique fusion of the styles spanish and Moroccan.

The traditional styles of dance from nearby countries like Tunisia and Algeria are so earthy. The Tuareg dancing styles are performed by dancing on the knees, while the dancers of the people called the (Algerian fringe) or (Ouled Nail) were tribal dancers that are decorated heavily, then by time this has inspired and influenced a lot of modern dancing tribal styles in various regions such as the west countries, while the Majority of dancing styles that were taken from the Maghreb region were folkloric style.

Gulf countries

They form a giant wide stretch of desert land, so the Arabian gulf contains many dancing traditional styles. The (khaleegee) dancing style is the main style in the Gulf countries, it is a flicking movement that is done using the hair and head, while the (zaafen) is a famous and popular dancing folkloric group, and it is usually performed by only men and sometimes it can be performed by only women, while in the country Yemen that is located in southern Arabia land the Belly dance is performed and also enjoyed by many people in the regions of gulf area even in the country Saudi Arabia where this dance is performed but not shown in public because such in these stricter area or countries these dances are performed at home.

cultural oasis | research

Customs Garments, Costumes and clothes generally and always play an important and effective role in Arab countries and culture, because in the daily life of people between men and women it is a significant and symbolic expression of character and also personal affiliation and ethnic aspect or even have some religious meanings, in addition to some effective social roles. The folk costumes or clothing of the countries of the Arab World are well known and famous for its diverse nature, and the reasons of this face is because of the many cultures it includes, and because of the cultures that had passed through it such as the Greek and Roman in addition to Egyptian, Crusaders and the Turk.

The climate has participated also and played its effective role in shaping and forming the Arab countries costumes.

Before the advent and appearance of Islam the main characteristics and basic outlines the shapes the Middle Eastern clothes, garments and costumes were loose and not well defined, but the flowing of religion it encouraged and helped the continuation and development of that style. The Islam religion has laid and put some emphasis and rules on modesty aspect of people behavior and their appearance for both kinds men and women.

A picture of Bedouin women that is wearing the traditional dress for Egyptian women.

An aspect or some factors of clothing that already have a big role on fascinating people in Arab World is the face veiling type. Face veiling style was practiced anciently a long time before Islam appearance in the region of Arab peninsula, in addition to that desert life requires and demands a well protection of the eyes and face from getting hurt from dust storms and also from dusty winds in addition to the

strong sun rays and harmful exposure to the sun rays. Veiling not only was used among Muslims but it was also common between Christian people in the Levant countries, because that tradition goes back to the period of Greeks when only people can wear veils was respectable women including its magnificent colors, ornaments and also embroidery on costumes and clothing items is considered as an important thing of emphasizing and also showing the social status of the person or even confirming on the ethnic aspect and religious notions.

Jordanian traditional clothing

The ornamentation, decorations and also the embroidery style is influenced and taken from embroideries of Anatolian and Greek in addition to Balkan and European. Patterns like (minarets) and (prayer niches) in addition to (trees of life) and (vases) are connecting them with the Islamic Orient. Executing the embroideries are predominantly done on dark colored or black cotton or even mixed silk sateen fabrics with a red thread, while the silver or gold gilded threads are usually used on formal costumes. But today this type or style of embroidery rarely appear and is less performed by hand made techniques but more often performed and created by industrial machines. Nowadays even in their origin a lot of Arabs always wear western clothes and follow western fashions although they tend and like to show a loyalty and a strong will to show their culture and also preserve their heritage in special occasions through wearing their Garments, clothes and traditional costumes.

cultural oasis | research

17

Architectural Style

There was two principal or main building materials that were used in construction purposes in ancient Egypt periods and they were made from mud brick that is unbaked and also stone. By following the Old Kingdom the stone material was generally and widely used for building tombs and also the eternal houses and dwellings of the dead people and also for ancient temples in addition to the eternal houses and dwellings of their gods. Mud brick successfully remained the domestic and also the best material that was used even for special buildings like royal palaces and it was also used for military purposes like building fortresses such as the great walls that are located in the temple of precincts.

In architecture language a monumental or massive structure is usually constructed or made of stone or brick or even was faced with also stone or brick and always having a shape of rectangle for its base and also four triangles or sometimes trapezoid shape that are sloping forming the sides then meeting at an a peak or an apex and also they may be truncated to form a shape of a platform.

The visible legacy and achievement that was dominant in ancient Egyptian civilization was the perfect works of the architectural structures and also the art works of representations, and this was dominant Until the civilization of the Middle Kingdom while most of these structures were for mortuary purposes such as the complexes of the royal tombs including also the pyramids and for sure the mor18

tuary temples not forgetting also the private tombs.

There were also some temples that was dedicated for worship purposes such as the cult of their gods along and throughout the different regions of the country, but most of the mentioned structure were modest in style.

But starting from the New and the beginning of the changing was at the Abu Simbel temple were found and rises high above the Nile river with a sloping rock made of sandstone, while (Ramses) in addition to some sculptors and also labourers were given the task and order of shaping the rock face and hacking into it to expose and show the first four statues that are seated and they were also colossal, and they were for the Pharaoh himself and for the scale they were 65 feet high for each one, and while they cut backward in the flat surface facade against the side which the great four sculptures are seen to people. and finally a result of a temple with an imposing front was achieved perfectly, and the next step or stage was even more majestic and remarkable and it was a cavity witha tall rectangular shape that was cut into the facade from its centre at the ground level, and after continuing the excavation works this space will result in becoming a big massive doorway leading to a majestic interior chamber while the door’s imitation lintel does not even reach in hight to the four seated statues knees.

cultural oasis | research

The Mamluks architecture was built primarily of materials such as stone and it was dominant in the regions that were under their control and they were both two main regions of Egypt country and Greater Syria country. Architectural elements such as doors and panels in addition to mihrabs ere made of Wooden materials, and so for screens of the lattice window that is well known and named with mashrabiyyas. Stone were used as a main material for building Domes, while Stucco material was used for decoration of elements.

Zangids and Ayyubids earlier introduced to the Egyptian architecture and also Syria the four iwan plan style, and lately it was used for the religious buildings as the most common typical floor plan of the Mamluks civilization including all types of mosques and also madrasas, in addition to the numerous various structures that was a complex that combined both building types. A domed mausoleum was often found in these mosques and madrasas for serving the building’s patron.

In the Mamluk civilization tradition the minaret has different sections in its shaft through its component parts that is resulting a three tiered minaret with three levels different in its arrangement, and this kind of minaret always have a squared shape base and then followed up by a shaft with octagonal shape, then it will be proceeded by a shaft with a circular shape which in turn, then a colonnaded upper part will appear, and also there are Balconies

that are resting on a decoration elements are called vaults of muqarnas and they may separate and isolate the sections away from each other, while other minarets with fully octagonal may appear and are also common. Non symmetrical buildings is one of the Mamluk civilization characteristics, but they tend to use the balance aspect over symmetry to give the overall composition a side of beauty.

The Qibla is always emphasised in buildings but the alignment of the structures and buildings may differ in their directions according to the street direction, and as a result a rich variety of sequenced access entries to the buildings that affect and changes in axis dramatically. monumental scales of buildings appeared and Specifically building that are located in Cairo.

In Mamluk Civilization architecture the shapes of Domes usually have a pointed profile and a cylindrical drum, Initially in old times squinches were used but later pendentives were used in many buildings and cases while muqarnasat elements and units are included and they were used in the domes as a zone of transition. While in earlier cases and examples the wooden materials were used in these elements and zones of transition, but later stone prevailed as a building material. Arches with round and pointed styles were both used, but the prevailed type was the pointed arch in later Mamluk civilization architecture especially.

cultural oasis | research

19

Lately mud brick materials creating thick walls with half a metre thick roughly, they were used in constructing buildings, and then using mud mixed with straw that is called mortar to cover these walls, and then resulting a softness to the touch and an effect of smoothness and exterior with highly reflective effect.

A Nubian vault in architecture is a type of vaulted structure formed from a curved surface, while Hassan Fathy the Egyptian architect widely used the mudbrick material in building his structures and then this technique was widely revived, and in Abu al-Riche the Nubian village they rediscovered the technique after that this building technology was broadly recommended and advocated by architects and also environmentalists because this technique was environmentally friendly and also it was totally sustainable because it always makes use of materials that are purely taken from earth directly and without any need or use of timber materials, and origins of this technology are the Sudanese Nubians.

Mud bricks materials were the basic and the main material for construction and building, because of the effect of the river Nile and also the effect of the surroundings that gave the Egyptian architects a beautiful influence and good inspiration from nature.

Giving the city a very beautiful look and impact by using the doors and windows with arches that have semi circular shapes, and also they affects positive20

ly on the social atmosphere and the psychological factor in the Egyptian community specially through using cheerful colors in painting these doors and windows.

Heliopolis architectural style is used in the early 20th century, and development of architectural style took place in Heliopolis area in the eastern Cairo region including the new suburb, while the Heliopolis Oases Company in addition to the Railways of Belgian Cairo Electric were responsible for developing, designing and planning this new suburb region, and this resulted to creating a new architectural style that is distinctive and exclusive that is implemented in this region affecting the design of its structures and buildings positively. The style that has survived revived is a synthesis and a complex of several styles such as the Moorish and traditional Arabic in addition to Persian and European Neoclassical styles.

The major goal and purpose of this architectural style was implemented successfully through applying some aesthetic aspects and also some functional advantages though the combination of the influencing styles, and also through the combination of the qualities and characteristics of these different architectural types for example by bringing the (facades of Moorish and Persian styles) in addition to (the spatial volumes of Arabs) in addition to (the floor plans of Europeans

cultural oasis | research

Problem There are many problems that are related to this topic, but we will highlight two main problems that considered to effect other problems aspects.

Decrease in cultural awareness Having a rich cultural awareness is something that Egypt used to be known for, but with time this awareness started to decrease.

In our point of view this is a major problem, because it’s the root of a lot of social, and political problems. Due to having low cultural awareness people started to disrespect each other and disrespect their own environment and surroundings, such problems could affect people behaviours and responds, these problems could differ from throwing trash on the street and polluting the environment to harming other civilian and harming the buildings.

Decrease Tourism rate Tourism is one of the most important sectors in Egypt’s economy, tourists from inside and outside of Egypt. But with time tourism rate deceased.

This problem is connected with the low cultural awareness, now days people started to lose their identity and they stopped taking care of their own monuments and these are some factors that led to decrease tourism rate, next to the security problems and losing attachment with the place.

If there is a high cultural awareness people will deal with their difference in point of views and their difference in cultural background with a respectful and fruitful way. People would never do something to pollute their environment if they really understand its value and background. that would increase the tourism and people will keep and maintain their monuments and their identity

cultural oasis | research

21

Cultural Oasis Definition Cultural oasis is a building or complex that promotes culture and arts through cultural activities, events and exhibitions.

A cultural oasis is a gathering place where people meet to enjoy or partake in cultural activities, often with a specific cultural designation belonging to a particular nationality or regional culture. Activities may include speaking a particular language, watching or performing any of various arts, cooking and eating the cuisine of the designated culture, etc.

In Conclusion we could say that Culture Oasis includes all of the Items, things and aspects a group or a number of people as a whole does in their lives including their thinking, believing, dressing and doing anything, and also this theory is to study and investigate a group’s culture through studying its music, art, science, literature, thinking. Religion, properties, politics, philosophy, daily activities, routine, sports, problems, habits, customs, clothing and histories.

Design Theories A very important role is already played by the Cultural Oasis in representing heritage and culture through preserving by protecting objects and all related data and information that also related to that culture by enabling the accessibility to these information through Museums, exhibitions, showrooms, public programs, libraries, publications, interactive media, research resources and educational facilities. Through all these techniques understanding any culture will be an easy task to any person because this leads to preservation in addition to appreciation of heritage and cultural plus the identity of the place.

The major work and function of a Cultural Oasis is to apply an important aspect is called the socio-cultural theory and this aspect is to show how the person’s individual thinking and mental approach functioning is in a relation with the social, institutional, cultural, historical and theoretical context, so the focus of the aspect called socio-cultural theory, perspective or point of view is that participation and joining in social activities, interactions and cultural activities leads to reflecting psychological aspect development.

22

Cultural centre relationships with people

Typologies Culture centre for world culture Religion culture centre Learning centre Performing arts centre Community centre Museum

cultural oasis | research

Characteristics It’s a place where people can find and explore cultural, recreational, educational, artistic and various activities that preserves and strengthen their life style, identities in addition to developing their skills, talents and also developing a sense of management and leadership in their society and community.

It actually supports and develops the inter-cultural and intra-cultural various interactions and dialogue between people through creating and inventing a variety of interactive programs which enables all people to learn about and explore their own culture, heritage and history more in depth.

Culture oasis strongly promotes individuals appreciation and also understanding of the contributions and big variety of the many cultures in our community and region by sharing and Exchanging knowledge of our Middle East’s rich heritage, cultural, educational, religious and social legacy that we already own, and this helps in creating a strong historical, ideological and also cultural bridge to help in bringing and collecting together a variety of social and cultural aspects and projects from Middle East region and other regions of the world.

The major and dominant goals of any Cultural Oasis are education plus promotion of cultural experience and also expression in addition to community outreach and also transnational collaborations will happen through creating, promoting, preserving and educating about Middle East’s different arts and various cultures then this would help later in turning the place in to a touristic spot or in to an elite resort through collecting the most important aspects, properties and characteristics of Arab countries uniquely.

The culture oasis helps in creating a well defined meeting point or place for specialists and artists that will surely add, help and provide new cultural programmes for the society that will result to connect from the past to the contemporary period and giving continuity to the cultural timeline, and It aims to open new ideas grounds and discussion places for cultural dialogues through networking people with each other so new creative cultural resources will be created from both sectors the public and the private.

Spaces Included: The Cultural Oasis may contain many of the following spaces: Museum, Art Galleries, Exhibitions, Auditorium, Cinemas, Theatre, Dance Floors, Amphitheatre, Music rooms, Library, Conferences Centres, Restaurants, Food Court, Cafeterias, Gift Shops, Workshops & Multiple event facilities dedicated to cultural, political and social events.

Fraser Coast cultural centre art gallery

Activities Included: Inside Cultural Oasis there are many Arts Performed such as: Prose, literature, poetry, fiction, essays, music, theatre, film, visual arts, performing arts drama, dance, crafts, design, multimedia, training and giving exposure to young and new artists.

Music concert held in Roberto Cantoral cultural centre

In Conclusion we could say that a Cultural Oasis preserves all the diversity dimensions of humanity such as ethnic aspect, cultural aspect and racial aspect too, so this theory is necessary for practical and ethical aspects delivered by the Cultural Oasis at any country or any region, in addition to show a complete system of shared and common traditions, behaviours, beliefs, customs, languages and also shared values plus some artefacts that people of that society usually use to live with their own world and with each other, and that are delivered and influenced from any generation to another generation through some learning methods.

cultural oasis | research

23

Main components Museum Museum is an institute that collect objects of significance to preserve, conservation and display them to the public through temporary or permanent exhibits.

Purpose The museum is dedicated to collect, preserve and display objects of artistic, cultural or scientific significance for the public. Museums have a variety of purposes; to serve as recreational facilities, educational resources or scholarly venues; to the contribution in life quality of the territories where they are located; to encourage civic pride; to attract tourists; and to transmit overtly ideological concepts.

In other words the purpose of museum vary from organisation to organisation. Some support education over conservation, or the way around.

Museums collects valuable objects for conservation and display. Most museums don’t authorise physical contact with the associated antiques or artefacts, but there are some museums that are interactive and encourage physical contact.

Museum planning Museum’s design has developed throughout history, however, museum planning involve planning the space that the collection of the museum will be housed in with the mission of the museum.

The collection that the museums house affects the way the museums are planned and designed with, but overall, they adhere to designing and planning an easily accessible space by the public and easily displayed artefacts.

Types Types of museums vary from small to large institutions, some focus on a specific subject, location or a notable person such as; children’s museum, fine arts museum and archaeology museum, and others might cover different aspects such as encyclopedic museums that have collections that represent the world and usually include history, cultural history, science and art. The museum type and size is reflected in its collection. Normally, a museum houses a core collection of important selected objects in its field.

24

Architectural museums Architecture museums are dedicated to educate the public about architecture and variety of related fields, usually includes engineering, urban design, landscape design, interior design and decoration, and historic preservation.

Archaeology museums Archaeology museums are institutes that are specialise in displaying archaeological artefacts. Many Archaeology museums are in the open air, others display artefacts that are found in archaeological sites inside. Some museums exhibit maritime archaeological materials.

Ourense Archaeology Museum, Spain

Art museums Art museum or art gallery is a space that display and exhibit art, usually in the form of art objects from the visual arts, illustrations, primarily paintings and sculptures. Usually the collections of drawings and old master prints aren’t displayed on the walls, but kept in a print room to preserve it.

North Carolina Museum of Art, USA

cultural oasis | research

Children’s museums Children’s museums are dedicated to provide interactive exhibits and programs that are designed to be manipulated by the children to simulate informal learning experiences for children.

History museums History museums are institutions dedicated to cover the informations of history and its importance to the present and the future. Some history museums cover specialized curatorial aspects of history or a specific territory, other museums are more general.

Maritime museums Maritime museums are institutes specialized in the presentation of maritime history, archaeology and culture.

Memorial Museums Memorial museums are dedicated to educate the public and to commemorate a specific historic event, usually involves mass suffering.

The Children’s Museum in Amman, Jordan.

Encyclopedic museums Encyclopedic museums are large in size, mostly national institutions that are dedicated to offer visitors plenty of informations and data on a variety of subjects that tell both local and global stories.

Encyclopedic museums aim is to give illustrations of every available classification for a field of knowledge.

Ethnology museums Ethnology museums are a type of museum that focus on studying, collecting, preserving and displaying artifacts and objects concerning ethnology and anthropology. The countries who have diverse ethnic groups or a large number of ethnic minorities often construct this type of museum.

Military and war museums Military museums are institutes specialized in military history, they are frequently organized from a national perspective, where a museum in a specific nation will have displays organized around conflicts in which that nation has taken part.

Mobile museums Mobile museum is a museum that make exhibitions from a vehicle.

Natural history museums Natural history and natural science museums focus on nature and culture, and they exhibit work of the natural world.

Open-air museums Open-air museums collect and re-erect old buildings at large outdoor sites, usually in settings of re-created landscapes of the past.

Science museums Science museums and technology museums revolve around marvels and their history, and scientific achievements.

National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan

Open-air museums Open-air museums re-build old structures at large outdoor sites, often in settings of re-created landscapes of the past.

cultural oasis | research

25

Museum time line

From Mouseion to Museum Evidence from Antiquity

The first museum in the world known by the historians is Ennigladi-Nanna’s museum which dates back to 530 BCE.

In the early times museums started as the private collections of families, rich individuals or institutions of art and rare natural objects and relics. The collections were usually displayed in rooms called wonder rooms or cabinets of curiosities.

Mouseion means “seat of the Muses”. The use of the Latin word Museum appeared in the Roman period. The word Museum was being used in Europe in the 17th century for describing collections of curiosities.

The First Public Museums

The University of Oxford is the first institute to receive a private collection, erect a building to house it and make it available to the public. The collection was a gift from Elias Ashmole.

In the 16th century, the earliest recorded example of the public getting access to a private collection with the commandment of the Grimani brothers to the Venetian republic in 1523.

Public Collections

Early Museums

Museums as a building type have a rich history, rising from what may be a natural human innovation to preserve and collect in addition to show and preview and having valuable items in big collections that are made by groups of people or even before the modern age. At the 19th century and most of the 20th century the “Museum” word refers to a building that houses or contains some materials with cultural aspects that accessible for public, later the concentration on the building it self decreased because it was supposed to respond to the people, while museums with Open air design contains a group of buildings that are well preserved and treated as objects, and also is called the (Eco museums) which includes all the translations of all issues that are related to the outdoor environment, and also the another type called the (virtual museums) is located on the internet in an electronic and digital form, the importance of interpretation and preservation in addition to collection of objects and materials that only exists in built up museum will make the virtual mu26

seums always depending on the real museums existence although virtual museums are very interesting and have a lot of benefits.

Classical collecting The collections of historical and also the archaeological items, it doesn’t give the feeling of the museum as it is known nowadays while it’s evolution happened long ago and also the word of museum doesn’t mean this function neglecting its classical old origins, and the items that have historical value or economic value in addition to religious value or aesthetic value in addition to magical or curiosities aspects were gathered in collections worldwidely were undertaken by persons, individuals or by groups. Specialized personal collections was created as a result of the natural history in the period of the 16th century and so increasing the human interest, while in (Italy) were registered about 250 natural history collections at the same century.

cultural oasis | research

Museums and the Public

Museums And Social Change Various social forces influenced the development of the national and regional museums during the 20th century.

After the World War II, remarkable achievements happened to the museums which was reflected both in national and international approach and in the museums as they reacted to a quickly changing, better educated society. Museums turned into an educational facility, a source of relaxation, communication and learning.

The granting of public access to previously private collections had become more common by the 19th century. What followed for roughly the following 100 years was the establishing of public museums by regional and national authorities around the world.

Museums and Public Finance

Changing policies in public sector finance influenced the development of museums. Museum’s administration and directors had to seek for funding from different sources such as the introduction of admission charges, marketing and fundraising expertise, because the contribution of public funds to them has fallen or remained static.

The increase of awareness towards the environment and the need to protect and preserve it contributed in the development of museums, as many historic sites and buildings have been restored and preserved and turned into museums.

Museums and the Environment

The Establishment of Museums Royal Collections During the period of the 15th century King Matthias I of Hungary in Europe has preserved his paintings at the place (Buda) while he put the Roman antiquities at the place (Szombathely Castle), the King Maximilian I of Austria needed a special collection to put in his castle in the place (Vienna), while in the king Augustus of Saxony owned the Dresden palace that contains variety of art and scientific materials that appeared in the Green Vaults, while an archduke was called Ferdinand the prince of the place (Tirol) has preserved an art collection that contained some paintings from China and for Benin ivories in his Ambras Castle near the place (Innsbruck), while other collections in europe that includes the collection of emperor (Rudolf II) at the place (Prague), and also the duke of Bavaria (Albert V) in the period between (1563 to 1571) that owned some buildings that was created to preserve a collection in the place (Munich), and also The polish King (Sigismund II Augustus) he

owned a collection at his Castle (Wawel) in the place (Krakow).

Collections of learned societies They were created for the purposes of cooperating and collecting in addition to discussing and promoting in addition to experimenting, and some of these collections appeared in the early periods of the 16th century, and later some examples appeared such as the Royal Society in (London) at the year [1660], and also the Academy of Sciences in (Paris) at the year [1666], then later by the turn of the century there was similar activities created by groups and organizations such as the Society of Antiquaries in (London) at the year [1707], and also provincial towns witnessed some Collections of learned societies, from this point started the promotions of subjects and the big movement of the learned societies collections, which strongly participated in the formation of the building type that is called a museum in the modern era, then the modern museums appeared.

cultural oasis | research

27

Museums past and present In the early stages, museums started as a private collections of wealthy families, individuals or organisations of art, rare or curious natural antiquities. These antiquities were usually stored and displayed in rooms called wonder rooms or cabinets of curiosities. Cabinets of curiosities were small collections of rare and extraordinary objects which endeavoured to categorise and tell stories about the marvels and peculiarities of the natural world.

The first museum known to historians in Ennigaldi-Nanna’s museum which was located in the state of Ur, located in the nowadays in Dhi Qar Governorate of Iraq. Ennigaldi-Nanna’s museum’s curator was the daughter of the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire Nabonidus, Princess Ennigaldi.

The world’s oldest national museums in the Capitoline museums, it was built in 1471. The museums consists of two buildings facing wach other on the impressive piazza del Champidoglio. Although the most of the building house sculptures, there are art galleries in the second floor.

Under the patronage of two eighteenth-century popes - Clement XIV (1769-1774) and Pius VI (1775-1799) the Vatican Museums were founded.

The two popes were among the first to open collections of art to the public for viewing to promote culture among the people.

The Uffizi Gallery houses a rich amount of unique artworks and masterpieces, the majority from the Renaissance period, thus, it’s one of the most famous museums in the world. The museum is located in the middle of Florence, it hosts works of art by great

Italian artists such as Raffaello, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Giotto, Cimabue and Botticelli. A large part of its collection dates back to the periods between the 12th and 17th centuries.

In 1753, the British Museum was founded and it opened to the public in 1759. The museum is considered to be the first national public museum in the world. The initial foundation for the British Museum’s collection was provided by the physician, naturalist and collector Sir Hans Sloane’s.

Cabinets of Curiosities

530 BC

Ennigaldi-Nanna’s Museum

1471

The Capitoline museums

1506

The Vatican Museums

1581

The Uffizi Gallery

1753

The British Museum 28

cultural oasis | research

1793 1814

The Louvre was built as a fortress in 1190, it was reconstructed to serve as a royal palace in the 16th century. Over the years, it continued expanding. The museum currently covers 60600 sqm as a total area. The Louvre became an art museum when Louis XIV moved the royal residence to Versailles. The Louvre is the world’s largest museum and houses one of the most impressive art collections in history.

The Louvre

The Indian Museum was founded in 1814. It’s the oldest museum in India. The museum is earliest and the largest multipurpose museum in the Asia-Pacific region. It has rare collections of antiques, armour and ornaments, fossils, skeletons, mummies, and Mughal paintings.

The Indian Museum

1937

In 1937, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation was founded. The circular building with curving interior ramp was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1959. The museum house a collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern and contemporary art.

Guggenheim Museum

The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum was founded in 1996, it was designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. The museum’s cupola has been linked to a UFO, it has a diameter of 50 metres with three floors. The hall of Expositions has a wide access slope with a capacity for sixty people.

1996

The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum

2002

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

2010

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth was founded in 2002, it’s located in Texas, USA. The architect Tadao Ando designed the museum. The design of the museum is influenced by the Japanese concept of Zen, which focuses on inner peace and simplicity. The simple form of the museum, connection with nature and selective use of materials stresses this concept. The building is made of glass, steel and concrete, and is surrounded by a large reflecting pool.

After ten years of construction, Maxxi Museum opened its doors to the public in 2010. The museum is located in Rome, Italy. To create a dynamic and interactive space, the museum’s pathways overlap and connect with each other.

Maxxi Museum cultural oasis | research

29

Theatre Theatre is a space (building or an outdoor) that is designed to display and present forms of fine arts through events of dancing, singing, performing arts, speeches, literature and many types of arts performed by live performers communicating these experiences to the audiences.

The nature of theatre design Theatre as an art form doesn’t require a building that is designed purposefully in which to be presented. When audiences gather to experience a performance regularly, attempts are made to organise the space generally to improve the audience’s natural experience, and this is the start of designing a theatre. The simplest and least complex theatres are cleared ground areas around which people can stand or sit to watch a performance. However, the design of a theatre is concerned with elaborating such space to help the performers in achieving the fullest expression of their art and to provide the ideal conditions to experience a theatre to the audience.

Open-air spaces or fully enclosed spaces can be encompassed in theatre design practice. It can include a complete stand-alone permanent structure or a temporary structure put up only on specific or special occasions. Theatres can include purpose-built structures within larger complexes or the modification of structures originally built for other purposes. Theatres tend to be used as multipurpose structures that can provide assembly space for lectures, meetings, concerts, films, performance art, circuses, and even certain types of sporting events because they are well designed for the people gathering and generally allow for controlled access. But at its most essential level, a theatre provides a space for the audience and a space for the performers to enact their performance.

Theatre forms Each theatre is different and unique, but with few exceptions, both Western and Asian theatres can be classified into four fundamental forms, which are: arena stage theatres (also referred to as theatre-inthe-round), thrust stage (or open stage) theatres, end stage theatres (of which proscenium theatres are a subset), and flexible stage theatres (sometimes called black box theatres). The design of all 30

these types is based on the relationship the space establishes between the stage and the house.

Arena theatres are those that have an audience around four sides of the stage. These are often called amphitheatres, centre stage theatres, or island stage theatres, or they are generally referred to as theatre-in-the-round (although the stages can be round, oval, octagonal, square, rectangular, or in a variety of irregular shapes).

Round shape Arena stage theatre

Thrust stage theatres are those in which the stage thrusts out from one side of the space into the midst of the audience. The audience is usually located around three sides of a thrust stage, though they can be located on two sides opposite each other (as they are in transverse stage or alley stage theatres, sometimes called centre stage theatres) or on two adjoining sides (as they are in L-shaped theatres).Thrust stage theatres are also known as open stage theatres and sometimes as courtyard theatres. Thrust stages shapes are most commonly trapezoidal, semicircular, rectangular, or square.

Semicircular shape Thrust stage theatre

cultural oasis | research

End stage theatres are those that have an audience on only one side. Such stages are usually rectangular or square, but they can be triangular (in which case they are called corner stage theatres) or take a variety of irregular shapes that can include side stages (in which case they are referred to as extended stage theatres). End stages are thought to focus the full attention of the audience onto the performances.

The goals of theatre design The design of the theatre is mainly concerned with enhancing the audience experience that can have at a performance. The specific architectural elements considered ideal for enhancing that experience will differ from culture to culture and sometimes even between subcultures within a given culture, but they can still be divided into two general categories: those that optimize the experience of that art for the audience and those that serve the aesthetics deemed appropriate for the art of theatre in a given culture.

Those elements that serve the aesthetics of the art of theatre can involve everything from what the performers need to reach the artistic standards deemed proper before a performance starts to what they need to support the required amount of spectacle during performance, whether it be a bare stage or a stage with enormous movable sets and a spectacular array of props.

Rectangular shape End stage theatre

The proscenium, or “Italian style,� theatres are those the stage is separated from the house by a wall with a large arched opening (the proscenium, which can sometimes be square or rectangular) that allows the audience to see through from the house to the stage.

The proscenium theatre

Flexible stage Theatres, also known as black box theatres, laboratory theatres, modular theatres, multiform theatres, free form theatres, or environmental theatres, they can be reconfigured for each performance, are those that do not establish a fixed relationship between the stage and the house.

The elements that are most often discussed in terms of optimizing the experience had by the audience, by contrast, revolve around audience comfort. It must be recognized, however, that not all designers of theatres see comfort as a prime value.

It is often thought that some discomfort assists in keeping audience energy high. It is also true that comfort is a relative term. In one culture it might mean a mud-free surface on which to stand; in another it might suggest large soft seats with much legroom and precise temperature control.

The precise nature of each architectural element and the exact combination of elements found in any given theatre will be determined by the ability of a theatre’s architect to understand and give expression to what the culture or subculture believes to be ideal. Whatever the abilities of the architect, however, that expression of the ideal will always be compromised by the availability of resources. In order to conserve resources, some elements will be left out while others will be provided at less than an optimum level. Matters of comfort, however that term might be defined, will be applied to only as many members of the audience as is practical rather than to all of the members equally.

cultural oasis | research

31

Theatre time line 754BC - AD476

2000BC

The oldest existing spaces to be classified as “theatrical areas” are in four Minoan palaces on the island of Crete. The oldest of these, at Phaestus, dates to as early as 2000BC, while the one at Amnisus may have been built as late as 700 BC.

Ancient Roman theatre The Romans continued the Greek theatrical tradition.

Their theatres resembled Greek amphitheatres but were built on their own foundations and often enclosed on all sides. The Colosseum in Rome was built between AD72 and AD89, is and example of a traditional Roman theatre. Theatrical events were huge spectacles and could involve acrobatics, dancing, fighting, etc..

Ancient Greek Theatre The Ancient Greeks created purpose-build theatres called amphitheatre. Greek amphitheatres were usually cut into hillside, with tiered seating surrounding the stage in a semicircle. Most theatres in ancient Greece were based on myths and legends, and often involved a ‘chorus’ who commented on the action.

1000BC - 146BC

1500s Medieval theatre Commedia dell’Arte [Italy] This form of Italian theatre became popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. Props and costumes were basic and the plays were performed free for all in raised platforms in public piazzas [squares].

Medieval theatre After the Romans left Britain, theatre all but died out. it was reintroduced during the 10th century in the form of religious dramas, plays with morals and ‘mystery’ plays performed in churches, and later outdoors. At a time when church services were conducted in Latin, plays were designed to teach Christian stories and messages to people who could not read

900-1500s

Elizabethan theatre Theatre during the reign of Elizabeth I has largely become linked with one name (William Shakespeare), arguably the most influential and famous dramatist of all time. During Elizabethan times, plays were staged in special wooden playhouses. The Globe theatre on the banks of the river Thames in London, is a prime example.

The majority of the audience would have stood in the ‘pit’ in front of the stage, while richer audience member sat on seats around the edge.

1558-1603 The Greek people of the Mediterranean region have created some theatrical traditions in the period of (6th) century BCE that have already influenced and mostly common to the design of all the modern theatres, before the Europeans arrival there was some registered traditions that are independent for the Middle East and Africa in addition to the Americas, but sadly the lack of knowledge toward these records and it is not easy to track their development accurately so we could know their influences, and also there is some mystery about the word “theatre” while defining it in these regions,but generally and broadly the word theatre is known in any culture wherever it was as a place or an area that is cre32

ated for invited or called people to gather in to service for its shows and display, and the design of theatres is transformed as it is and blended with pre existing design while transforming this idea to a culture, The oldest two theatres existed in India are looked that there were built based on Greek buildings and models according to Greek standards, but in fact the design of theatres was developed in India according different standards, but sadly Sanskrit theatres didn’t survive so it is so hard to judge their influences on the theatres that exists in other countries in Asia, even the style of makeup and costumes in addition to performance is influenced by the Indian theatre, and also the conventions that happens

cultural oasis | research

1600s - Today Kabuki theatre (Japan) Japanese kabuki theatre is famous for its elaborate costumes and make-up, and unique style of music. it originally used female roles, bit women were banned from performing kabuki in 1629 and male actors continue the tradition today. Performances usually centre on historical events or morality. Speech in one tone and Japanese instruments accompany the action. Features of the kabuki stage include trapdoors, a section the rotates and footbridge into the audience.

Restoration theatre After the English Civil War, puritans banned all stage performances.

However, theaters were reopened in 1660 and bold and witty comedies were popular.

Audiences were made up of rich people, as well as the middle classes and servants. Under the reign of King Charles II, some women were permitted on stage as actresses (female roles had previously been played by boys)

1837-1901 Victorian theatre The technological breakthroughs of the industrial revolution had an impact on theatre in the form of electric lighting and the use of machinery to create visual and audio spectacles. The theatre became a popular pastime for the middle classes in the 1 9th century. Pantomime, vaudeville, melodramas and light operas were popular. Social plays set the character’s living rooms, also became popular.

American Vaudeville Light-hearted variety entertainment, known as Vaudeville, was popular in America during the later 19th and early 20th centuries. it was usually inexpensive and could involve dance, music, comedy, singing, magic, sketches, acrobatics or animal acts.

21st century

Theatre today ranges from big budget musicals and plays on New York’s Broadway and in London West End to local ‘fringe’ productions and amateur dramatics, such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Drama is used to enlighten, amuse, shock, comment and educate.

The 19th century also marked the advent of increased concern for audience comfort and safety.

19th century

1800s - 1900s

1660 - 1714

on stage in other countries that is influenced are also noticeable, Asian theatre’s unique elements of architecture are found in other traditional and cultural forms like in India is called (kathakali), while in Japan it is called (Noh), but in the early periods of the 20th century European styles and models were favoured to Asians and influenced their Asian modern theatre building style, while the eastern Mediterranean countries and also northern India were influenced by the Greek traditions towards the theatres design styles in the period of Hellenistic Age, lately the western Mediterranean countries and also central Europe countries were also influ-

enced by the Greek traditions at the time of the Roman Empire, and also was the Renaissance’s big revival and development of theatre building design, and at this time was the most significant transformation that resulted into the design of theatres that we see today nowadays, and also during the period of the Renaissance Europe has witnessed new design of theatres and it was dominant, and then it quickly spread worldwide through different cultures through the various

cultural oasis | research

33

Theatres past and present Epidaurus was a healing sanctuary in the countryside. The theatre, which could hold 12,000 to 14,000 people, is noted to this day for its almost perfect acoustics and for the circle outline that occupies the lower two-thirds of its U-shaped orchestra. The theatre is one of the earliest theatres in history dating to 400 BC.

400 BC Epidaurus

The Colosseum is an amphitheatre located in the centre of Rome, it was constructed, using stone and concrete, around AD70 to AD72 by the Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty as a gift to the Roman people. Titus, Vespasian’s son, opened the Colosseum (officially known as the Flavian Amphitheatre) with 100 days of games, including wild animal fights and gladiatorial combats. The Colosseum was the largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire.

The Globe Theatre (associated with Shakespeare) was built in 1599 by Shakespeare’s playing company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, in London. Due to fire, the theatre was destroyed in 1613. After the fire a second Globe Theatre was constructed on the same site by June 1614 and closed in 1642.

In the early 1600s, a form of theatre that is called Kabuki began and is still performed today. Kabuki theatre was created by a woman called Okuni, but women were banned from performing shortly after it became popular. It uses extravagant makeup and costumes, a unique kind of music and an all-male cast.

The Margravial Opera House (Markgräfliches OperHaus) is located in the town of Bayreuth, Germany,.

It’s a Baroque opera house built in the mid seventies according to plans designed by he French architect Joseph Saint-Pierre. It’s one of the surviving theatres of the Baroque period in Europe and it has been extensively restored. The UNESCO inscribed the opera house in the World Heritage List in 2012.

The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, commonly known as The Grand was opened in 1894. Designed by Architect Charles J. Phipps and Wolverhampton native builder Henry Gough. It is a Grade II Listed Building with a seating capacity of 1200.

AD70-72 The Colosseum

1599

The Globe Theatre

1600s

Kabuki Theatre

1700s

The Margravial Opera House

1894

The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 34

cultural oasis | research

1899

Richmond Theatre (originally known as the Richmond Theatre and Opera House) is a British Victorian theatre located in London, designed by the architect Frank Matchman, it was constructed in 1899. A mixture of gilt detailing and red plush fabrics covers the seats and front circles in the auditorium.

Richmond Theatre

1912

Det Norske Teatret was constructed after an initiative from Hulda Garborg and Edvard Drabløs in 1912 in Oslo, Norway. It opened to the public in 1913. The theatre primarily performs plays written in or translated into Nynorsk.

The National Theatre of Northern Greece was constructed in 1961 by its first director, Sokratis Karantinos. The integral parts of the National Theatre are the Drama School and the Dance Theatre. Its activity is not limited to theatrical productions but extends to cultural sectors such as education, literature and the arts through the organization of exhibitions, conferences, festivals, theatre-educational programmes and so forth.

Det Norske Teatret

1961

The National Theatre of Northern Greece

2002

Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay

2010

Almonte Theatre

2012

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay was constructed in 2002, it is a waterside structure located on six hectares of waterfront land alongside Marina Bay near the mouth of the Singapore River, the purpose of this theatre is to be the centre for performing arts for the island nation of Singapore. The building contains a concert hall which seats about 1,600 and a theatre for the performing arts with a capacity of about 2,000.

Almonte Theatre is located on the site of an old winery in Spain. The challenge was to integrate the existing buildings that are declared as cultural interest to be a part of a cultural complex of a total of three buildings and common space.

The Wuxi Grand Theatre’s main idea is based on its location. The manmade peninsula is on the northern shore area of Taihy Lake and the highway bridge nearby make this location comparable to that of Sydney Opera House. The building is an impressive landmark due to this location. The building rises up to 50 metres like a enormous sculpture from the terraced base.

Wuxi Grand Theatre cultural oasis | research

35

Library A Library is an area that is used for collecting and also organizing a group of references and sources and also the public people are able to access it and also borrow it, and also digital materials can be found in addition to shelves of books and also some Physical materials like maps and films in addition to prints and manuscripts in addition to newspapers and periodicals in addition to books and documents in addition to much more things, while also the Digital materials like videotapes and micro-form in addition to e-books and Blu-ray Discs in addition to databases and audio books in addition to cassettes and DVDs in addition to CDs. The oldest libraries contained some archives of the oldest types of writing on clay tablets in the script form of cuneiform that are found in rooms of a temple that its history goes back to 2600 BC, and these libraries or archives were mainly used for recording the inventories and also the transactions of commercial activities and also to document the beginning of history and also the prehistory end.

The largest and most famous library in old Egypt and also in the ancient world was the Library of Alexandria that is located in Egypt, It was at its best flourish case at the sponsorship of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and its main function was being a scholarships centre through the period 3rd century BC till 30 BC, starting from its opening and construction until the Roman Rule in Egypt, it was opened during the period [323 to 283] BC during the rule of Ptolemy I or during the period [283 to 246 BC] during the rule of his son Ptolemy II, and this was the oldest organized system that lies in Alexandria.

An imaginary photo of the library of Alexandria 36

The Seattle Public Library’s Central Library The Central Public Library of [The Seattle Library’s] that consists of (11 levels) which is equal to (56 meters) high or (185 feet) in hight it was opened and available to public on the date (Sunday-May 23-2004). It is located at the downtown Seattle in Washington, and it is a building consists of steel and glass.

The Seattle Public Library’s Central Library interior

The Library is 34,000 m² in floor area which equals to 362,987 foot square , and it contains about 1.45 million books and various materials with all its different types, it also contains a parking which is underground and also public that can contain 143 cars inside it in addition to 400 computer that are accessible for public.

The library has a distinct and unique from that cause a strike feeling through its appearance, it also includes several platforms that are floating and also discrete, and it looks to be wrapped in a very big net of steel surrounding a glass layer, and the architects considered this Library building as a new kind of celebration for books and they did a lot of researches and came with a conclusion that the respond of people to printed papers and books still exists although being in the time period of 21st century and although we live in the digital age.

Making the library more inviting to people was the main concern for the architects and avoiding the stuffy style and this was the best perception of building type of the libraries in general. The architects tried to apply the meaning theory of environmental appraisals through communicating with visitor by creating a strange form for the building from outside to tell the people the required functions of the place, and avoiding to make a normal structure and then the functions follow its form.

cultural oasis | research

Art Gallery The art gallery is a space where art works are exhibited and specially the visual arts, while museums is the same but it differs in it content because it may have the ownership or even contain a valuable collection of items that may be for public or private access and view and this is what distinguishes between a museum and an art gallery, while the displayed items and art objects in most of the museums are the textiles and paintings in addition to furniture and costumes in addition to watercolours and pastels in addition to decorative arts and prints in addition to photographs and artists’ books in addition to sculpture and installation art in addition to collages and drawings are also shown.

The oldest creator of the oldest form of an art gallery’s architectural form was Sir John Soane who has designed the Picture Gallery of Dulwich back to the date 1817, it contained a series of rooms that are interconnected using roof lanterns and skylights for indirect natural lighting and also hanged pictures using large wall spaces that are uninterrupted. Public art galleries arose widely at the late periods of the 19th century in America and Europe, then it became a primary element to show some people’s culture in large cities, and the municipal drive of public education and also literacy helped in the development and the appearance of a lot of museums with a lot of galleries side to side.

Queensland Gallery of Modern Art It is a small museum for arts that is located in (Queensland) in (Australia) at the (South Bank) in (Brisbane), while this gallery is just a small part of the container Cultural Centre of Queensland.

Queensland Gallery of Modern Art exterior

In the landscape scale and design using a pavilion became a major issue for architecture in his design because its role as an anchor or a hub through its position, but the negatives is the critical responses between the site and the building including the natural topographies of the site and its urban generated patterns.

Queensland Gallery of Modern Art interior.

The Louvre in Paris, France, is one of the world’s largest museums and the most visited art museum in the world.

cultural oasis | research

37

Chapter II

Design Issues

INTRODUCTION Definition An issue is any matter, concern, question, topic, proposition or situation that a design response in order for a building project to be successful for its clients and users.

The design issues which will be discussed are: Image Image explains our main mission and vision for the project.

Circulation The link between the internal space ( zone ) of any building and the external space, also between spaces vertically and horizontally.

Mood Mood is connected to the quality of the building and they are the feelings of people towards the environment or through the architecture.

Audibility To get a good sound properties with in the building to create a productive places to use.

Flexibility The amount of legibility and clarity of any architectural product associated with amount of adaptable fixations having a durable operations responsive to different cases.

Comfort Approach to the design of building to get benefits from building architecture to decrease energy consumption and increase thermal comfort.

Privacy To have a clearly defined territory and to addresses the necessities and potential risks involved in a certain scenario or environment Security To protect the building from possible dangers.

Legibility Legibility is the degree to which the designed features of the environment aid people in creating an effective mental image, or “cognitive map� of the spatial relationships within a building, and the subsequent ease of wayfinding within the environment.

Personalisation It’s the details, forms, functions of the building that feeds all our senses and emotions, and all these things comes together to engage people and to form a character or a personality to the building.

Interaction The building should be remarkable for all people and inviting at the same time.

Visibility The critical objects or locations which can have great behavioural or cognitive impacts on people in architectural spaces.

40

cultural oasis | research

Image General definition The general impression or concept that an individual, building, or object presents to the public.

Learn

Architectural definition It is the main vision of any project at the early phases of its development providing an early message describing its identity and methodology.

Mission Our mission is to raise cultural awareness among the Egyptian people and to preserve and portray the region contemporary culture, World Heritage environment and history within an Egyptian and international context by creating an active cultural space that contains different types of activities that will be available for people to interact, see, know, criticize and learn through studios, museums, exhibitions, art galleries, gift shops, conference rooms, workrooms, libraries and collective archives.

Another mission is to promote national and international tourism in Egypt, as the Cultural Centre will be a focal point for the Egyptians and tourists to the area who are interested in local and regional culture.

Vision The Cultural Centre is Egypt’s new cultural space facilitating occasions and activities over the entire range of expressions of the human experience from theatre, dance, music and the visual arts to the composed word, with an emphasis on contemporary cultural expression, on supporting Egyptian artists, on cultivating international collaborations and on educating children and individuals of a all ages through a life-long learning.

Listen

Dance

See

Interacet

cultural oasis | research

41

Circulation General definition: The movement of something from one space to another.

Pass by space

Architectural definition The link between the internal space ( zone ) of any building and the external space, also between spaces vertically and horizontally.

Circulation shapes Open on both sides, forming a colonnaded passageway that becomes a physical extension of the space it passes through.

Terminate into a space.

Loose method solid and void.

Pass through space.

Spiral

Grid 42

cultural oasis | research

Radial

Radial

Plaassen Culture Center.

Culture Center / Arkitema Architects

The figure above shows the radial type of circulation inside the Culture Center.

The previous figure shows the radial type of circulation in Plaassen Culture Centre.

The figure above shows the vertical circulation through the outdoor spaces of the building, creating an exterior and interior integration.

The previous figure shows the Vertical circulation inside this Culture centre - made by Arkitema Architects - showing the relation between the levels of the building. the figure also shows the ramp that connects between two vertical spaces letting the view obvious from various levelling points

cultural oasis | research

43

Mood General definition A temporary condition or situation occurs in human mind or an emotion as a result of human responses to the setting.

Architectural definition The three items called Atmosphere and Mood plus Ambiance are almost relative in addition to that they are totally connected to the building’s quality and to the setting situation and they are also the feelings of individuals or persons towards the environment or the setting.

a container of a soul, then a soul could be a container of any place, and each one of them (place and soul) has the same powers and dominance of Judgment. It’s also related to the experience of the individual towards the space character & its atmosphere throw some methods such as making relationships between spaces like connecting, disconnecting and integrating spaces in addition to opening, enclosing and creating spaces in relation with each other, and so the difference between a certain space that doesn’t have any light or sound, and another space that has a light and sound totally combined together then they create a totally different new atmosphere which will affect visitors mood and emotions.

Colour Psychology Cultures diversity made Colours have a difference in its meanings, through time and years a change happened to colours meanings that became very different from each other, Colours is a strong factor between a lot of tools that a re used when we try to construct a building or a certain space.

Mood is an exchangeable relationship between human properties that already exists that are called immaterial realm (non-physical) and Physical Elements, surfaces or any materials of the setting, and also psychological emotions is a result of human perception, mental mapping in addition to imagination.

People can Judge and evaluate the atmosphere of architecture through their Emotional Sensibility, and also they can experience any place through an exchange that happens between a subject and an object, leading to a meaning that when an individual enters a place the place also enters him, in other words we could say that the bond and attachment between a place and a human being is a two ways relationship because any place is as much as being 44

The general model of colour psychology relies on six basic principles: Colours have psychological aspects that can affect people and individuals, and the main model of colour psychology depends on six basic principles: • Colour carries a specific defined meaning.

• Colour meaning lies between two meanings either from learning or biologically innate.

• Colour perception can be used for evaluation automatically by any individual perception.

• Colour evaluation results to a motivated behaviour.

• Colour usually influences & affects automatically.

• Colour meaning has to work within context or setting.

Yellow refers to feeling cheerful or energetic in addition to intellect and joy or feeling happy. Yellow usually produces a warm effect and also arouses the cheerfulness plus it stimulates the mental activity, and it always generates energy in muscles.

Orange making people feel friendly and vital or feeling inviting and energetic in addition to that it is a playful colour because it represents the enthusi-

cultural oasis | research

asm and fascination, also happiness and creativity plus determination and attraction while it arouses the feeling of success and encouragement plus the stimulation.

Red refers to the fire and colour of blood, so it refers to energy and war plus danger and strength in addition to power and determination and so passion and desire and the same for love.

Green refers to nature, and also everything that is related to it. It is known as a refreshing and healing colour plus being soothing and prestigious so it’s used in money papers and banks.

Blue refers to the sky and sea, and it is used to feel the depth and stability, while it symbolizes the feeling of trust and loyalty plus wisdom and confidence in addition to intelligence and faith not to forget also truth and heaven.

Black makes people feel conservative and mysterious plus sophisticated, and it strongly reflects power and elegance plus formality and mystery.

Showing in the above sketch, the use of colours according to the human scale of psychological emotions. For example the use of the green in this tall building reflects the admiration and trust. Also the use of brown colours reflects the interest and anticipation that can occur through such building.

White refers to purity and innocence plus softness and also the feel of Ivory whispers quiet in addition to feeling pleasant and understated elegance.

Plassen Culture Centre

The figure is showing a clear intersection between the red and yellow colours leading to a direct effect on visitors mood when they enter the building and also the effect can be felt from the outside.

Showing in the above sketch, the use of colours according to the human scale of psychological emotions. For example the use of the green in this tall building reflects the admiration and trust. Also the use of brown colours reflects the interest and anticipation that can occur through such building.

cultural oasis | research

45

Audibility General definition Perceived quality or fact or ear level discernible.

Architectural definition Architectural acoustics is also known as (building acoustics) are links between science and design, in order to get a decent sound properties, in construction made a useful spot use. Architectural Acoustics are done by acoustics experts configured properly.

Control There should be the best acoustics control, the space noise should be controlled by space. Utilization of material can be produced by the reflection, absorption or diffusion of the influence of the noise control sound. Similarly, to ensure that the space from external noise, sound processing expert with different treatments should be used.

Noise Control

Design In order to have a decent sound should be based on the use of space and design, and sound behavior. Acoustic design will be more valuable, and to spare no effort in the off chance that it planned to first design. Concave shape, comprises a parabolic wall divider and domed ceilings, the most terrible shape for a space in which the voice is required.

Concave shape of the center into a sound range of different areas to make it sound louder than the space, which also created the late reflections.

46

cultural oasis | research

Flexibility General definition The nature of effortlessly bend without breaking.

Architectural definition The vision of how understandable and clear of any building measure and measurement of solid fixation connections and adaptation projects gaze accept different cases.

Flexibility Degree Service flexibility Changes in the number of higher-level functions endorsed space use or occasions, such as MPU or have a place for the occasion.

Long term adaptability Physical or Functional change on a space that keeps stable for a long period of time that makes it almost became the normal situation of the space..

Modifiability Physical change of the space member, which may change part or by including an evacuated space, for example in the region, having a cover removable or portable divider. Long-term flexibility, stable a long time, making it almost becomes a physical or functional changes in the space under ordinary conditions of space.

Alternative components A&B, it is unrealistic to assume that the initial decision will be repeated every time a component is replaced.

With movable partition technology, rooms are allowed to resize their space by folding in or out the partitions whenever its needed.

cultural oasis | research

47

Interaction

Visibility

General definition Equality of activity or influence.

General definition Visibility in the project or measure light can be unerring separation.

Architectural definition Interaction of two or more objects such cases an activity has occurred in one impact.

The “Architecture of place” idea is about making design ennobles individual - it makes them feel the power, if necessary, and aspire to be In places, they remember in their daily lives. All individuals should feel welcomed when they enter a building.

Architectural definition Basic items or areas, you can design space incredible individual behaviour or cognitive impact.

Directional visibility index measures the extent to which the observer can see all the focus on the setting.

The idea of an “Architecture of Place” is about creating design that ennobles people — that makes them feel empowered, important, and excited to be in the places they remember in their daily lives.

The building should be remarkable for all people and inviting at the same time.

(a) Azimuth to determine the orientation of the target visible distinguish perception from every angle in the horizontal emphasis restrictions. Human reason it does not perform a full 360-degree field of view When identifying the target visible from every point of perception. (b) Radius limits the search radius distance. (c) Angular size of the object is a horizontal angle of the observed object in front of the eye. Visible in the investigation to identify the target, it limits the apparent size of a project.

48

cultural oasis | research

Comfort General definition A condition of physical simplicity and opportunity from pain or constraints.

Architectural definition Methods of the design of the building, to build from modelling to reduce energy consumption, also increase the advantage of improved thermal comfort obtained. Consideration of architectural design as a passive design should have an excellent execution of the construction (in comfort and energy use wording) and it is not complicated, low usage cost and low usage of mechanical systems.

Passive Design Lighting also reduces the need for electric lighting requirements also helps bright and profitable indoor environment.

Passive heating buildings windows configuration determines what building materials can learn more at holding down the solar heat, consider a decent protective envelope lose undesirable heat.

There is a passive cooling shading devices to ensure overheated buildings. Before the sun shades on the outside to keep in line with the envelope of the building. Interior shades so permit the sun to get into the window, and heating inside.

Passive ventilation based on their use by the inflow of fresh air from the outside, while the advantages of the air flow pattern and design of building according to them.

Thermal Comfort Passive design principle objective is to achieve human thermal comfort around them -a personal thermal view. To improve comfort, air temperature, surface temperature, wind velocity and humidity should also be considered. The key to solving this condition range, the design of target for building user comfort. cultural oasis | research

49

Privacy General definition: The combination of an clearly characterized territory possessed by a certain gathering of people.

Architectural definition Measures for the property to show the boundaries of their information transferred through the building to the surroundings. In the light of the above, the optical spatial boundary can go in two or more discrete spaces or brings together (to reduce or increase the communication). “Architectural privacy refers to the visual and acoustic isolation supplied by an environment. A work area completely enclosed by soundproof walls with lockable doors embodies a high degree of architectural privacy� Eric Sundstrom et al Public Unrestricted communication Visibility communication Vocal communication Accessibility communication Proximity communication Olfactory communication

Private Restricted communication No Visibility communication No Vocal communication No Accessibility communication No Proximity communication No Olfactory communication

50

Defined territory occupied by a certain group of people

Gradient of privacy Accessibility, visibility, proximity, voice and smell are five parameters in such a manner similar to the ki esthetic specialized faculties (muscle At the same time the skin), visual (eye), touch (hands and feet), hearing (ears) and inhalation (nose). Limit (limit or expand) the corresponding of the single person with its surrounding.

Semi Private Semi-restricted communication Visibility communication Low levels of Vocal communication No Accessibility communication Proximity communication No Olfactory communication

cultural oasis | research

Security General definition The condition of being free from danger or risk.

Architectural definition Security building design for the necessities of life, including in certain potentially dangerous situations or environments bundled with a security plan. It also pointed out when and where the application of security controls. Configuration process is generally repetitive.

Site and building security is subject to greater attention for large venues, and typically addresses perimeter site access, parking, and vehicular circulation policies; confirming and screening all deliveries and prohibiting deliveries on event days. Building design issues include monitoring Robbery Basic arts, heritage, and public safety is important .Museum safety experts in cultural facilities, and so on. Clarify how to ensure that the museum robbery gatecrashers from precious art and electronic technology to locate the building does not affect the appearance changing building aesthetics.

Vandalism Unique design of the safety standards arrangements have been effectively used as bollbards, divider, fences, porch and entryways at public facilities in subways, schools and courthouses Safety Disaster and emergency preparedness arrangements are per family, work environment, but also the basic practice of public facilities. Home and business security address Different risk from theft, terrorism, also controls power to prepare for natural disasters do such as floods, storms, tornadoes and wildfires.

Site Security Requirements The site security requirements, including the edge buffer zones should a website and construction funds required to complete. this requirement can be used to avoid the need for important sites characteristics, in particular adequate setbacks and help reduce the more expensive measures require.

For example, blast hardening.

Access Control and Electronic Security Electronic security, including reconnaissance, jamming detection and screening, to protect an important part of the office; electronic security in many regions and Security workforce posted satisfactory management standards and other guidance documents. These criteria are to solve the access control Planning - stairs and hall design components included - in order to get control must be considered at this point is the fact that when the design concept for the building initially considered.

Site Lighting Lighting level of success in site: vehicle and pedestrian entrances, (give specific data entrepreneurship) horizontal maintained foot candles; and Border and vehicular and pedestrian traffic areas, grades keep foot candles. In most cases, the boundary illumination should be constant, on both sides of the boundary of the obstacle, so as not significant enough hot and chilly spots and CCTV and other observations help.

Site Signage Confusion at the site circulation, parking, entrances and exits that can help secure the position of the loss site. Signs should be to the sidelines and in the entrance; there should be the right position directional, parking, signs preventive tourists, representatives, service vehicles, and pedestrians. Unless the different requirements needed to identify the signs should not be given most sensitive areas.

Landscaping Landscape design components that are inviting appeal scalable security. Case studies, plants can deflect undesirable section; the lake and the source can be pieced vehicle access; and site grading can also restrict access. From landscaping to allow cover criminals or hinder the work force and CCTV security point of view, understanding and accepted CPTED standard abstained.

cultural oasis | research

51

Legibility General definition Legibility is a human perception and it is the quality and the ability of being clear enough in a place to read, walk through it and find my way in it.

Architectural definition Legibility for designed item and features of the setting or the environment is the degree of being able to create an mental image or create a cognitive map of the space and connect some spatial relationships within any structure or any building and it also should be easy in way-finding in the setting or within the environment.

According to a famous person called “Kevin Lynch” in “1960” he has stated unique main Five items or Elements that makes any building or any urban fabric easy to read and also legible for individuals and people and also very easy for them in way finding inside this environment.

Paths

District

Edge

Node

Landmark

Lynch’s five components of urban structure

Paths: They are the main traveling corridors such as streets, river ways, sidewalks, pedestrians path, trails and any other channels and they are always linear in which people travel, and it was noted that paths were usually the predominant elements and most memorable in people’s and individual’s image with any other items are being located or even arranged and related all along paths.

Edges: They are borders and may be barriers and also more or less to be penetrable according to its function and according to the place to be surrounded, and it also makes a region or place close off from another place, or they may appear as seams or lines along a certain way which two places are connected and joined together.

52

Districts: They’re areas or a group of items that have a lot of common characteristics then they can be grouped together, they can be medium in size or large areas, Observers enter this district mentally always have some common character attributes while unique physical characteristics may include or contain thematic continuities like texture and space also form and detail in addition to symbol and building.

Nodes: They are main points concentrated in behaviour and also strategic spots inside a place or a city where an observer is able to enter, and also they are the intensive foci and also from which people are travelling.

Landmarks: they are elements unique in its characteristics such as being unique in height or colour, and also its key physical characteristics counts and important because it carries some aspects that are unique or even memorable in the place or the context. Some examples for landmarks are towers and spires also hills are located distant and also they are typically viewable and seen from a lot of angles from different distances, and there are also smaller elements such as: sculptures and signs also trees that are special in shape are perfectly being visible in special conditions only from certain approaches and limited in restricted localities.

These are the dominant and reoccurring items and elements that are recognized on both scales by city planner and the lower scale the citizen’s, and these elements are used to build and construct a legible system or structure into the place, city or any urban environment. They also represent some basic items or symbols we daily use to construct our mental image, map or mental framework of a district or a city. Later they became famous and the common language that any architect, designer or planner can utilize and use to speak and contact with the user easily.

cultural oasis | research

Personalisation General definition Personalisation is a way to design, create or construct something through collecting user information that are implicit or explicit to be suitable for a particular or certain individual especially.

Architectural definition Personalisation is the details and forms also functions and utilities of the building, place or environment that totally feeds all your senses, feelings and emotions, while all these items and things gather and comes together to make you involved and engage you and your senses and to create and form a special character or a certain personality to the designed building or structure, like the sounds you hear when you walk on any building’s materials, and also we can’t neglect the touch, smell and also the look of these surfaces and materials, because they form some characteristics and defined personality to the space, setting, structure or the building.

or even before they set their feet inside this building or place.

Building Elements and Character Defining Features Smell of Space Touch of Elements Acoustical Issues Visual Aspects Colours & Paints Surface Finishes and Materials Interior Features Legibility & Mind Mapping Psychological Feeling Architectural Innovation & Creativity Masses & Proportions Arrangement of Spaces Floor Plans Projections Openings Sections Projections Elevations Projections Technical Details Maintenance Economy Sustainability Efficiency Mechanical System Efficiency Architectural Innovation & Creativity

All these buildings have the same name “A House” but each one of them has its own characteristics and Personality.

Personality aspect of the building is very important because it helps us as users to form and create our mental images, experiences and also mental maps, in addition to find our way inside the building as users and the building or the structure will be felt like if it was a void in case of it doesn’t have a well defined personality or a special character to make it special in design and in the container environment. Personality aspect also shapes and defines the Reputation of the place that will be a main factor in judging the quality of this place, and personality can be defined through some evaluation or judging variables such as being easy in maintenance it needs and also the safety for occupants they use the place in addition to the psychological relaxation.

So we could say that Reputation is also very important because it helps in giving a strong impression of the setting, environment or the building to the people or the users even before they visit, go there

Plaassen Culture Center

Culture Center

Sami Cultural Center Sajos

The previous figure is viewing three different types of buildings that contain the same cultural activities, with totally different types of architecture styles, different characters and also different personalities.

The personality of any building or structure is clear in the masses, scale and proportions of each building, also the arrangement of its interior spaces and openings can affect personality of the building because of the difference in characteristics.

cultural oasis | research

53

Chapter III

Case Studies

Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain considered as an introduction of new era in architecture . The building expressive quality is signalled to both critics and architects, a big change has happened, the most important matters were not only on examination of its style only. The study of the museum remarkable components and design and building processes which made a paradigm shift in architectural pedagogy and historiography.

Guggenheim Museum Architect: Frank Gehry Location: Bilbao,Spain Year:1997

Concept Frank Gehry’s design proposal tried to achieve an interconnection between Spain and the Guggenheim’s legacy. Also due it location on a sea port it had some inspiration from the ship form.

Architecture Theacurves onathe exterior of the buildingawere intended to appeararandom; the architectasaid that “thearandomnessaof the curves areadesigned to catchathe light”. The interior “is designedaaround a large,alight-filled atrium with views of Bilbao’s estuary andathe surrounding hills of theaBasque country”. The atrium,awhichaGehry nicknamedaThe Flower because ofaits shape,aservesaas the organizing centre ofatheamuseum.

Cultural Frame One of the main goals of the project is to raise the profile and importance of the city and to energies its civic life and cultural by creating an new and important and arresting new art museum. That goal were achieved because Bilbao was a declining Basque port on the Nervion River didn’t had visitors or focus and now the museum formed the centrepiece of a revived civic centre that attracts visitors back to the increasingly abandoned industrial site.

The way art and architecture can totally change the identity of a city and its people, refereed as The ‘bilbao effect’.The decision to build an new, valuable,expensive art museum represents a belief in the power and cultural importance of art and a desire to participate in a global intellectual culture.

58

cultural oasis | research

cultural oasis | research

59

Zoning Legend (1) Auditorium (2) Gallery (3) Store (4) Fish Gallery (5) Atrium (6)Tickets (7) Store (8) Facilities (9) Ponds

First Floor Plan 60

cultural oasis | research

Legend (1) Accessible (2) Library (3) Restaurant (4) Gallery (5) Atrium

Second Floor Plan

Legend (1) Roof (2) Stairs (3) Void (4) Gallery (5) Atrium

Third Floor Plan cultural oasis | research

61

Circulation

Entrance Visitors (Public) Service (Privet) Public Node Privet Node

Radial Circulation

Construction The museum’s design and construction serve as an object lesson in Gehr’s style and method. Like many of Gehry’s other works, it has a structure that consists of radically sculpted and organic contours.

Sited as it’s in a port town, it’s intended to resem-

ble a ship. Its brilliantly reflective titanium panels resemble fish scales, echoing the other organic life, (in particular, fish like) forms that recur commonly Gehry’s designs. as well as the river Nervion upon which the museum sites.

cultural oasis | research

63

Flexibility There is an open area in the museum’s park for artists to make Sculptures and every period of time they build a new magnificent one in different areas to increase the number of visitors.

Puppy sculpture by Jeff Koons

64

The spider sculpture Maman

by Louise Bourgeois

cultural oasis | research

Tulip 'balloons' by Jeff Koons

Events are held in many places in the museum not only the Auditorium but also in gallery, atrium and in the roof.

Learning Violin

Painting

Filming

Speech

cultural oasis | research

65

Durability The museum exterior surfaces are mad from three different elements. Cladding materials are titanium, stone, and glass. Each material is located for both form and functional reasons. The Titanium cladding is for the galleries, glass is for the administration the, and limestone for the public facilities.

Titanium Cladding It is half a millimeter thick, each piece is unique and has been designed with a computer program. To achieve the free-floating for a secondary structure was designed on top of the primary structure,that allowed the building to be safe structurally. A thin layer of galvanized sheet is installed on the secondary studs,their are waterproofed on the outer edge.

The titanium panels are then installed over the waterproof membrane. Curved around and behind the hangers overlapped with another panel Lime Stone The use of the stone is to avoid at any cost the checkerboard effect, also as a changing in th facade. It perceived to be both stationary and strong in its chosen locations on the building.

Glass It is treated to provide light to the interior while protect it against heat and radiation. It is made from Three layers of glass, two on the interior and one on the exterior. These layers achieved acoustically and thermally insulation.

66

cultural oasis | research

The form and connection of the materials is what makes it so unique, also it reflects creativity it´s not only a Museum not only designed to house a permanent exhibition of the collection, but more to enable artists to create installations

The atrium is the centre for three floors of galleries and they are connected by a system of curved walkways suspended from the ceiling,their is enough space to display large-format artworks

cultural oasis | research

67

Luxor Cultural Center

The Project is partially constructed near Sidi Al-Wahsh, the fatimid mosque in the heart of Luxor the town, the part that has been completed is the main hall of the large complex it is naturally ventilated and cooled through a large malkaf, but it was meaningless because the malkaf was closed so the roof was left without any function.

Luxor Cultural Center Architect: Hasan Fathy Location: Luxor, Egypt Year: 1970

Concept The main concept for the cross section of the building was the use of Natural Ventilation through wind Catchers “Malkaf”

in addition to using the concept of pharaonic floor plans like the house of “Amarna Hill” the 18th family and so its cross section,

House in [Amarna Hill] the18th family

and using the elevation of “Neb Amoun’s” House the 19th family leading the Architect to his final design.

Wind catcher cross section

And using cross ventilation like the guest room of “Karna Village” Neb Amoun’s house 19th family elevation

Guest room of “Karna Village” Section A-A

Cross section

70

Library Floor Plan [Luxor Cultural Centre cultural oasis | research

Section B-B

Section and Elevation Zoning Showing the interior of the closed theatre in comparison with the interior of the library in furniture, openings, levels & heights. While the elevations shows the skyline of the building and the roofing system viewing the combination between flat roofs,

repeated domes and wind catchers, displaying the different types of openings between rectangular arches and circular arches and showing the wooden elements like the “Mashrabya� window for the closed theatre.

The skyline of the structure emphasizes the surrounding urban skyline as well as emphasizes the image of the Egyptian culture. as the height of the building affects the humans psychology by making him feel the authenticity of the Egyptian history. The use of the dome and Malkaf represents the history of Islamic architecture. cultural oasis | research

71

Plan Zoning

Legend (1) Mosque (2) Lecture Hall (3) Library (4) Art Gallery (5) Drawing Studios (6) Workshops (7) Children Zone (8) Closed Theatre (9) Open Theatre (10) Garage

72

Master Plan

cultural oasis | research

Circulation Flexibility and Circulation It’s flexible in movements through spaces because of the well defined main paths, spines and nodes, but the project flexibility is limited in spaces zoning in floor plan because each place is specified for a special activity and it’s to hard to switch between activities and spaces.

Entrance Visitors (Public)

Grid Circulation

Public Node

cultural oasis | research

73

Economy, Maintenance & Energy Efficiency There is no need to use electrical devices or artificial elements in the project because it’s totally ventilated naturally through wind catchers and clear storey windows creating well air cross circulation

through the building, and the Project will be low cost in maintenance because of the absence of electrical devices.

Personalisation and Image The Project carries the character of the ancient Egyptian elevations and floor plans which gave the building a special architectural character and reflects the culture of the ancient Egyptian people to the visitors.

Legibility The project is easy to read and easy for people in way finding, and there are many land marks like the tomb and there are many nodes in between paths in addition to the two remarkable theatres.

Mood, Interaction and Comfort People may easily get in to the happy mood and be interested because of the variety of activities and the recreational facilities in addition to the feeling of fresh air that accesses all the building spaces from wind catchers, clear storey windows and many open air areas.

74

cultural oasis | research

Olfactory Each part of the project is well defined with a special certain activity which reflect on the sense of smell such as the drawing halls will be surrounded with the colouring tools smell, and the library will be surrounded with the books smells, and the closed theatre will be surrounded with the smell of chairs and so on.

Audibility The closed theatre hall is well treated acoustically and the open theatre is oriented well and open air for sound distribution away from the building.

Interaction Children zone consists of connected spaces in an interactive way that helps children to be active all the time while making direct relationships between children in different spaces facing each other in a closed zone which easily can be secured too.

Educational zone have it’s own entrance, its spaces and components are created as an open floor plan and next to each other creating a harmonic interactive relationship between showrooms, seminar lecture halls and lecturers rooms with an easy clear circulation and good connections between them through openings and path ways.

cultural oasis | research

75

76

cultural oasis | research

King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture The‘King Abdulaziz a Centre for World Culture‘ is located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, within close proximity to the ‘prosperity well’, a national landmark commemorating the place where oil was first discovered in the Arab State designed by Norwegian firm snøhetta, the 80,000 square meter fully integrated institution will house world class archives, library, learning centre, a four-gallery museum and children’s museum (presenting rotating and permanent exhibitions), cafés and gift shops, and will play host to youth enrichment and innovation programs, as well as act as a major venue for live and multimedia events.

cultural oasis | research

77

King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture Architect: Snohetta Location: [Dhahran, Saudi Arabia] Year: 2007

Concept The unique shape is inspired by the geology of Saudi Arabia and the shape of the rock which preserve petroleum. It’s not just a building it is going to be a national landmark which represent where the oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia.

Inspiration There are two approaches for this building as form and zoning, the form is inspired from the geology of Saudi Arabia and the shape of the rock. The chronological element is the approach for this cultural centre design as zoning. the building is layered according to the time periods, as the structures below the ground that include the museum and the archives represents the past. The structures on the ground level which contain the performing arts spaces represents The present. The learning function in the Knowledge Tower, which is higher than the rest of the structures represents the future.

78

Components This project will provide a diverse activities which serve local population and it connect on regional, national and global. It will contain different cultural facilities cinema, exhibition, auditorium, library, archive and museum. The library will be as the centre of learning having almost 200,000 books and it’s categories of users and categorized for all ages.

The auditorium have a space enough for 930 seat and will provide a different range of events such as symphony concerts, opera, lectures and others.

The smaller cinemas used for to display of art performances . The great exhibition hall will contains a large scale travelling exhibitions, and it provides the suitable setting for banquets, social events and conferences. The museum spaces are oriented around the central light, which is the source of the light as function, and as source of inspiration for the architecture and the component of the museum in as a concept. Both the museum and archive facilities connect the exciting cultural life of the centre to the past and to the roots of the society from which this building is conceived.

cultural oasis | research

cultural oasis | research

79

Layout Zoning

Legend (1) Knowledge Tower (2) Key Stone (3) Auditorium (4) Library (5) Great Hall (6) Great Hall Oasis (7) Children Oasis

80

cultural oasis | research

Section and Elevation Zoning

The architectural design of the culture center has a chronological element. Below the ground represents the past includes the museum and archives.

The ground level represents the present time and

includes the performing art spaces. The future is represented by the tower above the ground floor which known as “The knowledge tower�

The project consists of five rocks, each one with a unique interior and exterior design. The building itself symbolizes the ever evolving timeline representing our past (heritage preservation), present

(to celebrate our role in the present world) and the future (to achieve our dreams). This unique building will be one of the most technologically advances in the world.

cultural oasis | research

81

Plan Zoning

Legend (1) Main Entrance (2) Cultural Oasis (3) Great Hall (4) Off Plaza (5) Library (6) The Source (7) Plaza (8) Auditorium (9) Children Discovery Zone (10) Cinema [Multimedia Theatre] (11) Administration (12) Administration Oasis (13) Second Entrance (14) Keystone (15) Tower 82

General Plan

cultural oasis | research

Circulation

Entrance Visitors (Public) Service (Privet)

Radial Circulation

Public Node Privet Node

cultural oasis | research

83

Materials

84

cultural oasis | research

Sustainability Stainless-steel tubes are shaped to bent around the shapes of the stones (350 km long is totally measured). The material of the tubes is very futuristic and will create air mirages and mirror heat waves around the stones. The cladding have two role, Shade and ventilation for the isolated walls, also it will converts sun rays into solar heat which reach temperature 80 C. This Cultural Centre is guided by LEED’s international standards of excellence and will be energy efficient for years to come.

In this building they used natural lighting and ventilation, with respecting the features of orientation and using it for lighting and ventilation, in order to prevent the excessive exposure of Saudi Arabia’s sun they used stainless steel façades to work as a ventilated solar shield, also they used the water feature as a method of energy efficiency. Any built up heat and solar gain will be deflected by the metallic surface and it will flush out naturally due to 300mm cavity between the inner faceted walls of pebble and the steel tube facade.

cultural oasis | research

85

Structure In this project they used the fin wall concept, the concept if the fin wall considered every fin to be toggle-fixed, thus having nominal lateral to resist bulking. According to architectural restrictions the tallest fins can have 500 meter depth as a maximum depth for the tallest fins so it can satisfy the

deflection criteria (according to hand calculations).

However, minor axis bending due to fins inclination up to 13 inch in the glazing plane would cause long-term sag and excessive stress (shown by more detailed calculations)

Fin and glazing paired to form a stable L-shaped unit-model and deflection results under wind pressure

Typical horizontal section - Children’s Oasis

In the construction of this project steel structure is widely used. Library, auditorium and the great hall are all steel structure.

Building tower and the top of it consists of reinforced concrete and steel structure again.

86

cultural oasis | research

The harmony and rhythm of the King Abdulaziz centre for culture composition is not only static but also dynamic, expressive of the working teams and the energy found in the people that settle Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco. Calling wonder of the fixed endurance and extreme hard labour under cruel conditions in the pioneer strike of oil.

The Past and the Future Culture is created from our past, no company or community can create future without culture. The design of King Abdulaziz culture centre involves both past and future within our present. Both in terms of logic and architectural expression this design drills down into the past and goes forward to the future.

Introvert and Extrovert The design of king abdulaziz centre is introverted and extroverted. Below the museum level and archive functions are connected around the inner void looking into the truth to be found within Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco. Above the museum level the structure reaches out of the ground, relating it to the world beyond Repository and beacon It’s location is under the level of the Museum and Archive becomes a true warehouse of knowledge, in the protection of the surroundings and store for the upcoming children. However Children’s Exhibit and library are symboled as beacons to scientists across the world.

Diversity and Unity The design consists of very unique and discrete components which takes the form of complex composition. the balance and unity of the building comes from it’s mutuality each component is made as a unique entity, expressive of it’s own individual requirements and needs.

Teamwork All the components of the building works with each other, we can’t remove one component of it. The result is a expression called teamwork. Each part can be adjusted to follow up the specific and individual need. This form of flexibility is individual and specific, not universal and general. cultural oasis | research

87

88

cultural oasis | research

Heydar Aliyev Center

The Centre will present to the city of Baku, Azerbaijan a major new venue and landmark building for the city. Dedicated to the former president of Azerbaijan, the cultural center major components are a conference hall, a library and a museum.

The site surrounding the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre is designated for offices ,residential,a commercial center and hotel . to connect the project with the urban fabric the land between the city’s main thoroughfare and the cultural center and the will become a cultural hub- as it connect a cultural spaces and outdoor piazza for the Cultural Centre, also as a welcoming space for the visitors.

cultural oasis | research

89

Heydar Aliyev Center Architect: Zaha Hadid Location: [Baku, Azerbaijan] Year: 2012

The centre breaks from the rigid and often monumental Soviet architecture that is so prevalent in Baku, aspiring instead to express the sensibilities of Azeri culture and the optimism of a nation that looks to the future.

Integration The building fluid form gives an opportunity to connect the cultural spaces with each other,and at the same time, it ensure that each element of the Centre get its own identity and privacy.

Concept The Heydar Aliyev Centre was designed to have a fluid connection between the outer plaza and the building itself. having the building to be connected with the ground without Edges that made it a part of Baku’s urban fabric, having a big space between the city centre and the building that used for cultural events and festivals.

90

cultural oasis | research

cultural oasis | research

91

Layout Zoning Legend 1. Main Entrance 2. Courtyard 3. Book Store And Gift Shop 4. West entrance 5. VIP Entrance 6. Cafe Entrance 7.Reflecting Pool

Topography Due to the topographic level high difference that split the site in two. This problem were solved by using the advantage of this change in a precisely terraced landscape that provided alternative

92

connections and paths between public plaza, underground parking, and building. This solution successfully converts an disadvantage of the site into a key design feature, and avoids additional cost and landfill.

cultural oasis | research

Section Zoning

cultural oasis | research

93

Plan Zoning

Legend 1. Auditorium 2. Multi-purpose Hall 3. Auditorium bar 4. Welcome zone 5. Corridor 6. Museum Lobby 7. Courtyard

94

Master Plan

cultural oasis | research

cultural oasis | research

95

Circulation

Entrance Visitors (Public) Service (Privet)

Radial Circulation

Public Node Privet Node 96

cultural oasis | research

Flexibility

Events Not only the audoitorium that hold the events.

Many places at the culture center hold diffrent events like corridors, mpu, library, museum or even outdoor events The plaza, as the ground surface; accessible to

all as part of Baku’s urban fabric, rises to envelop an equally public interior space and define a sequence of event spaces dedicated to the collective celebration of contemporary and traditional Azeri culture.

cultural oasis | research

97

Exterior Analysis One of the most critical elements of the project was the development of the building skin.the facade achieved a continuous connected appearance, that appears homogeneous,the form and the color

of the building reflect as if it is a part of the urban fabric and it flow smoothly and connect with the visitors.

Interior Analysis The harmony in the interior as it reflects the exterior concept of the continuity and connection,and

98

the bridges reflects the connectivity between the spaces.

cultural oasis | research

Audibility The worst shaped for rooms which hold important speech is concave, round, parabolic walls and domed ceilings. Sound are focused in specific areas in the concave shapes making some zones in

the room acoustically louder than other zones and produces late reflections that are far from time-sync with the original sound form loudspeaker or stage.

Sound reflections Straight solid surfaces can create sound reflections but in case of auditorium sound arrives perfectly for the audience but those who seats between the stage and balcony it’s difficult for them to understand the speech because they hear both the original and reflected sound which arrives seconds late than the original one making sound garbled and unintelligible but in this auditorium they minimized the seats between the balcony and the stage so nearly no audience receives bad or distorted sound Sound separation All the associated facilities of the auditorium have direct access to the plaza. The void created by the outer skin have the main entrance and stretched between library tower and the volume of the museum. The secondary entrance is located on the north side of building.

cultural oasis | research

99

Durability Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester (GFRP) and Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) were chosen as perfect cladding materials, as they allow for the extreme plasticity of the design of the building while

responding to different demands related to a variety of zones and situations: plaza, envelope and transitional zones.

Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) GFRC is a composite of fine aggregate, Portland cement, water,glass fibre reinforcement acrylic co-polymer, and additives. As steel reinforce the conventional concrete, Glass fibre reinforces the concrete much more. The glass fibre reinforcement results from much higher tensile and flexural strengths than normal concrete,allowing thin-wall casting application to use them. GFRC is a durable material that can be cast into unlimited shapes, colours and textures and it’s extremely lightweight.

Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester (GFRP) Reinforced glass fiber polyester have great role in construction industry because it have several advantages comparing to traditional materials due to it’s extreme durability under aggressive environments.

The stress-deflection diagram of a bending test shows the influence of different fiber types on the material properties of the concrete

Some representative flexural strength vs. deflection curves of textile polyester concrete.

100

cultural oasis | research

Safety Hazards Fire Reasons During the welding operations the fire safety rules were not properly applied.

Damage Exterior The fire occurred mainly on the ceiling of the museum which itself was not damaged, only1000 square metres of roof was burned.

Interior The fire did not cause any damage to the inner part of the centre.

Treatments Protection Systems It equipped with modern and advanced fire protection system but at the same time,the fire was so strong,that even fire-fighting helicopters were attracted.

Materials The centre has been built from fire-resistant materials which prevents the fire from spreading. during the fire the roofing sheets had not deformed, and the insulating material melted, but did not burn.

Smoke Control special pressurization systems prevent the spread of smoke into the escape staircases in case of fire.

cultural oasis | research

101

Structure The Heydar Aliyev Centre consists of 2 structural systems: Space Frame with a single movement joint and Concrete. The space frame offers significant time saving throughout construction process and enables the construction of this free form structure.

Concrete Walls and Columns

102

Interior Concrete Slabs

cultural oasis | research

Space frame Steel Structure

Chapter IV

SITE ANALYSIS

Alexandria

Cairo

Luxor 2

416 km

Complex 1,200/km2 High Diverse Architecture High Tourists Rate Hot Dry

Cairo S.W.O.T Analysis

Strength

Capital of Egypt

Cultural activities

Diversity in Architectural style

Diversity in transportation

Mosque

Cultural Back ground Security 108

Informal settelment

Church

Citadell

El Sawy cu wheel

ultural

Weakness

Crowd

Low Pedestrain Areas

Pollution

High rate of street chidren

Cairo Tower

Culture Raisness Centre

Low culture awareness

Opera 109

Cairo S.W.O.T Analysis

Opportunity

Highest Education level in Egypt

Large no. of NGOs

Diversity in Culture

Diversity in transportation

Mosque

Security 110

Informal settlement

Church

Citadel

El Sawy cu wheel

ultural

Threat

Street Children

Harassment towards tourists

Low sustained environment

Low security level

Cairo Tower

Culture Raisness Centre

Opera 111

Luxor S.W.O.T Analysis

Strength

Contains about a third of the most valuable monuments of the world

Variety of transportation means

High Tourism rate

Historical Sites

112

Church

Informal settlements

Mosque

Luxor Temple

Weakness

Hot desert climate and hottest summer days in Egypt Crash

1997 massacre

Pollution

2013 Air Balloon Crash Hotel

Train Station

Police Station

Floating Hotel tour

113

Luxor S.W.O.T Analysis

Opportunity

World’s biggest open museum

Nile river cruises

Luxor International Airport

Luxor Railway Station

114

Church

Informal settlements

Mosque

Luxor Temple

Threat

Bad Economy

Technological Problems

Sexual Harassment

Egyptian regulations Hotel

Train Station

Police Station

Floating Hotel tour

115

Alexandria S.W.O.T Analysis

Strength

Largest sea port

Walk ability

Diversity in Architectural style

Diversity in transportation

Mosque

Informal settlement

Roman Village

Security

Green spaces

Sport facilities

Cultural Back ground

116

Weakness

Pollution

High Traffic

High Humidity

Informal Settlement

Alexandria library

Culture Raisness Center Commercial Facilities 117

Alexandria S.W.O.T Analysis

Opportunity

Largest sea port

Walk ability

Cultural Diversity

Diversity in transportation

Mosque

Informal settelment

Roman Village

Security

Green spaces

Sport facilities

Tourist Attraction

118

Threat

Low cultural awareness

Sewage problem

Weather problems

Security

Alexandria library

Culture Raisness Center Commercial Facilities

Limited access to the capital

119

ALEXANDRIA

“Between Culture and History”

Introduction Introduction Alexandria extends about 32 km (20 mi) along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country which makes it the second biggest city and the second largest metropolitan region in Egypt after Greater Cairo and also as for the population. Additionally, it is the biggest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. Alexandria is Egypt’s biggest seaport, serving nearly 80% of Egypt’s imports and exports. It also has large industrial clusters that contribute to Egypt’s goods because of its natural gas and oil pipelines from Suez. As mentioned, Alexandria is considered a crucial touristic resort on Egypt.

Alexandria was founded around a little Ancient Egyptian town c.331 BC by Alexander the Great. It turned into a critical centre of the Hellenistic civilization and remained the capital of Hellenistic and Roman & Byzantine Egypt for just about 1000 years until the Muslim triumph of Egypt in AD 641, when another capital was founded at Fustat (later assimilated into Cairo). Hellenistic Alexandria was best known for the Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharaohs), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; its Great Library (the biggest in the aged world; now

replaced by a new one); and the Necropolis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Progressing maritime archaeology in the harbour of Alexandria, which started in 1994, is uncovering subtle elements of Alexandria both before the arrival of Alexander, when a city named Rhacotis existed there, and amid the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Alexandria has Four harbors; in particular the Western Harbour, which is the principle harbour of the nation that handles around 60% of the country’s imports and exports, El Dekhiela Harbor west of the Western Harbour, the Eastern Harbour which is a fishing and yachting harbour, and Abu Qir Harbour at the northern east of the governorate. It is business harbour for general freight and phosphates.

Tourism in Alexandria Tourism action is considered as a main and vital economic movement in Alexandria, which the country gave a huge regard for, as a fundamental hotspot for money and outside currency, alongside the touristic possibilities that the city has.

The various types of tourism that the city enjoys are as follow: • Archaeological and Heritage tourism (Cultural and

Conference tourism) As the city have a significant number of the historical monuments, Roman as the Romanic cemetery and the Pompey’s Pillar, Islamic as the Qaitbay Citadel, in addition to museums like the Roman one and the open theatre. Adding to that areas with exceptional nature, as Gomrok (custons), Turkish and Komeldeka municipalities, the structures of Salah Salem and Ahmad Orabi streets, Tahrir, Orabi, Saadzaghlol and the mosques squares.

The revitalization project of the Alexandria library which prosperous the meeting tourism and the scientific trade between Egypt from one side and the Arab and Western world from other side, likewise a few famous castles as Raselteen, Montazah, Safa and Fatmaelzahraa.

• Sunken monuments and Leisure tourism Landmarks found underneath the sea level close Alexandria Bibliotheca, which existing in the Abo Qir and Eastern Port zones. Concerning leisure tourism, the city offers numerous theatres, cinemas, parks and gardens, likewise numerous relaxation quiet territories.

• Beach tourism There are lots of joyful beaches along the sea with some gulfs which adds to the place giving it the opportunity to attract guests from all over the world to visit this touristic resort especially in summer.

There are several types of beaches like the bathing beaches, beach parks, and sea ports beaches. This variation permits people to enjoy the mild weather and light waves.

• Medical tourism Hospitals and universities that are private and public

are available in Alexandria as well as military which offer a lot of medical services to local and close village’s inhabitants.

• Business tourism Alexandria is considered as an imperative sea port on the Mediterranean Sea, additionally as a business and industrial hub, where people travel across the country for trade reasons or vacation anytime in the year. It also has free trade zones exporting to countries around the world.

• Sport tourism Alexandria also gives attention to sports by spending on plenty of sports clubs with various sports games. Those clubs hosts other clubs from various countries around Egypt to run competitions along the year, thus in need to improve this kind of tourism.

• Roots tourism Alexandria is a country with several nationalities like Greek and Italian resident. Some of those foreigners who used to live there tend to visit their country of origin from time to time.

• Religious tourism Alexandria has numerous religious dedications Islamic and Christian structures, as the mosque of Elmorsi Abu Elabas and the mosques around it, and the main Diocese and Cathedrals of Egypt.

Time line of Alexandria

331 BCE

Rhacotis renamed “Alexandria� by Alexander the Great

283 BCE

Library of Alexandria opens

247 BCE

Lighthouse of Alexandria built

122 BCE

Hadrian rebuilds city

1477

Citadel of Qaitbay established.

1775

El-Mursi Abul Abbas Mosque built.

1798

City besieged by French forces.

1921

Alexandria Opera House opens

1932

Al-Haramlik Palace built.

1952

Egyptian Revolution

2002

Bibliotheca Alexandrina inaugurated

2003

Alexandria National Museum inaugurated.

122

cultural oasis | research

Why Alexandria?

• Remarkable archaeological and cultural heritage assets that are traversing different periods and constitute rich urban fabric and current landmarks • Accommodates essential transportation foundation, with Egypt’s two crucial and leading seaports that handle by imports and exports of 60% and 47 % respectively. It also has two international airports, good highways and rail connections to various countries nearby and the rest of Egypt • The capacity to further enhance its economic base in sectors like tourism as Alexandria remains the fundamental touristic city in Egypt but just gets 3 % of Egypt’s worldwide guests every year • Alexandria has won its unique location because it is placed along the Mediterranean Sea, which provided it with the commercial and historical significance for centuries. Alexandria is one of the most seasoned urban communities at the junction of Western and Arab social and business trade.

• One of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world is in Alexandria, the ancient lighthouse pharos, which gives the city and remarkable position in the world as well as the most famous library that was established on the Ptolemic era • Alexandria is relatively close to Cairo and Giza • Nowadays, Alexandria plays and imperative and fundamental part in the Egyptian economy and gloats huge development potentials, coming from the city’s economic enrichments, cultural heritage, human resources and the accessibility of free area to address urbanization pressures. Alexandria hosts Egypt’s oldest and biggest port. The greater part of Egypt’s international trade passes through this port whose limit is evaluated to be 75% of the aggregate limit of Egypt’s ports on the Mediterranean Sea • Alexandria has various prestigious historical museums, for example, the Greco-Roman, the Royal Jewelery, the Fine Arts, the Cavafy and the Mahmoud Said Museum • The government’s plan is to revitalize the arts and the cultural awareness in Alexandria in the upcoming five years • Reserving the cultural sites and making a connection between all cultural spaces found in Alexandria The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has additionally been an imperative expansion to the city’s cultural menu.

In 1972 the idea of restoring the ancient library was initially proposed by Mostafa El-Abbadi, a profes-

sor at Alexandria University. The Egyptian government supported the idea and decided to sponsor the project, it then revived from UNESCO international publicity and support. Opened in 2002, this gives a large chance to restore the cultural awareness through numerous cultural hubs and activities.

Center of Arts

Qaet Bay Citadel

Alexandria Library

Alexandria Opera house

cultural oasis | research

123

Site I Description The site is located in the Montazah district near King Farouk Palace on El-Gaish road. Ezzbet Al Arab is an informal settlement located beside the site which will impact the project design and goals.

Different architecture styles can be found the are surrounding the site such as Contemporary, modern and renaissance.

Location

Strength Located on a main road.

Easy accessible site.

The site is located in a multi-cultural area.

Located near Al Montazah park which is an attraction place for tourists and locals.

Surrounded by residential area and mixed use buildings.

Weaknesses Traffic jam.

The existence of informal settlements beside the site.

Lack of cultural places.

High rise buildings are beside the site which will block the view on one direction.

Urban Fabric

Opportunities The site is near cultural heritage site.

Upgrade the surrounding area.

Interact with the people living in the informal areas and provide job opportunities for them in the project.

Cultural exposure.

Threats Air pollution The site has a security problem due to the existence of the informal settlement beside it.

The informal settlement will continue growing if no action is done and it will enclose the project.

124

cultural oasis | research

20000 sqm

Accessibility

Fekry Abaza St

Malak Hefni St

El-Gaish Rd

Nour Al Islam St

cultural oasis | research

125

Street Hierarchy

Main Street Secondary Street cul de sac

Legibility

Path 126

Node

Edge

District

cultural oasis | research

Landmark

Surroundings AL-MontazaH Park

Women’s Health center

Montazah palace

Alsalamlk Hotel

Residential Area

IT Academy

Plaza Park Royal Univer

Informal Area

cultural oasis | research

127

Site II Description The site is located in Camp Cesar district near Alexandria University on Ahmed Kamha street.

Strength Located on two streets.

The availability of transportations as there is a train station nearby and also a tram lane.

Surrounded by educational institutes and residential buildings.

The availability of green areas near the site.

Location

Weaknesses Located on secondary streets.

High rise buildings in front the site which will block the view on two sides.

The area of the site is relatively small.

Relatively hard accessibility due to the high rise buildings near the site and also because it’s located on secondary streets.

Opportunities Having cultural activities with the contribution of the surrounding educational institutes.

Raise awareness about the culture among the people.

Urban Fabric

Threats Air pollution.

Noise generated from the play fields beside the site.

5000 sqm

128

cultural oasis | research

Accessibility

Omar Lotfy St

El-Gaish Rd

Ahmed Kamha St

Ahmed Lotfy El-Sayed St

cultural oasis | research

Abou Quer Rd

129

Street Hierarchy

Main Street Secondary Street cul de sac

Legibility

Path 130

Node

Edge

District

cultural oasis | research

Landmark

Surroundings Saint Marc College

Industrial Technical Institute

Residential Area

Sporting Club

Sport Club

Faculty of Science

Alexandria University Univer

Gamal Abd Al Naser Hospital

cultural oasis | research

131

Site III Description The site is located in Azarita district near Alexandria Library on El-Gaish Road. It’s used as a parking space and there is an abandoned building located in the site borders. Roman, baroque, modern and contemporary architecture styles are seen in the area that surrounds the site.

Location

Strength Located on a main road.

Vital area.

Surrounded by four streets.

Sea view.

Easy accessible site.

Surrounded by cultural places such as Alexandria Library and Mohamed Abdel Wahab Theatre.

Multi-Cultural area.

Located in an area that has different architecture styles.

Weaknesses High Traffic.

The project might loose it’s value since it’s beside Alexandria Library.

Urban Fabric

Opportunities The site is surrounded by landmarks, educational institutes and mixed use buildings.

Doing various cultural activities with the contribution of the surrounding cultural and educational institutes.

Introduce the people to the existing different cultures that exist in the area.

Create a touristic and a cultural node that has it’s own character.

Threats Air pollution Traffic jam.

Noise from the surrounding streets High humidity during summer.

132

10000 sqm

cultural oasis | research

Accessibility

Omar Lotfy St

Ali Moustafa Moshrfah St

Chompolion St Suez Canal RD

El-Gaish Rd

Istanbol - Salah Moustafa

cultural oasis | research

133

Street Hierarchy

Main Street Secondary Street cul de sac

Legibility

Path 134

Node

Edge

District

cultural oasis | research

Landmark

Surroundings Mohammed Abdel Wahab Theatre

Women’s Health center

Residential Area

alexandria library

Bayram El-Tunsi Theatre

National Museum Univer cultural oasis | research

El Shlalat Garden

Faculty of Science

135

Locations Analysis

Strength

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

136

Cairo

Luxor

Alexandria

Capital of Egypt Diversity of transportation Diversity of architectural styles Cultural activities Cultural background

Contains valuable monuments Variety of transportation High tourism rate Historical sites

Largest sea port Pedestrian areas Diversity of architectural styles Different religious communities Cultural background

Crowded city Low pedestrian areas Pollution Un-organised transportation Traffic

Hot desert climate 1997 massacre Pollution 2013 air balloon crash

Pollution High humidity Informal settlements Poor potentials to receive tourists High traffic

Diversity of cultural events Large number of NGO Highest educational level Centralization Tourists attraction

World’s biggest open museum Nile river cruises International airport Railway station

Expansion of the port with modernization Pedestrian areas Cultural diversity Diversity of transportation

Harassments toward tourists Street children Informal areas Security level

Weak economy Technological problems Harassment Strict regulations

Low culture awareness Sewage problems Security problems Limited access to the capital

cultural oasis | research

Sites Analysis

Site I Strength

Site II

Located on a main road.

Easy accessible site.

The site is located in a multi-cultural area.

Located near Al Montazah park which is an attraction place for tourists and locals.

Surrounded by residential area and mixed use buildings.

Site III

Located on two streets.

Located on a main road.

The availability of transporVital area. tations as there is a train Surrounded by four streets. station nearby and also a Sea view. tram lane.

Easy accessible site.

Surrounded by educational Surrounded by cultural institutes and residential places such as Alexandria buildings.

Library and Mohamed The availability of green Abdel Wahab Theatre. areas near the site.

Multi-Cultural area.

Located in an area that has different architecture styles.

Weaknesses

Traffic jam.

Located on secondary The existence of informal streets. settlements beside the site. High rise buildings in front Lack of cultural places. the site which will block the High rise buildings are view on two sides. beside the site which will The area of the site is relablock the view on one tively small. direction.

Relatively hard accessibility due to the high rise buildings near the site and also because it’s located on secondary streets.

Opportunities

The site is near cultural heritage site.

Upgrade the surrounding area.

Interact with the people living in the informal areas and provide job opportunities for them in the project.

Cultural exposure.

Having cultural activities with the contribution of the surrounding educational institutes.

Raise awareness about the culture among the people.

The site is surrounded by landmarks, educational institutes and mixed use buildings.

Doing various cultural activities with the contribution of the surrounding cultural and educational institutes.

Introduce the people to the existing different cultures that exist in the area.

Create a touristic and a cultural node that has it’s own character.

Threats

Air pollution The site has a security problem due to the existence of the informal settlement beside it.

The informal settlement will continue growing if no action is done and it will enclose the project.

Air pollution.

Noise generated from the play fields beside the site.

Air pollution Traffic jam.

Noise from the surrounding streets High humidity during summer.

cultural oasis | research

High Traffic.

The project might loose it’s value since it’s beside Alexandria Library.

137

Chapter V

DESIGN GUIDELINES

Museums and Art Galleries Design guidelines - Museums & art galleries have a lot or properties in common and same concerns.

- Objects displayed are divided into objects for study, and objects for display.

- Create Well secured spaces to keep the valuable items safe from damage or theft.

- Try to have indirect sun light into the space & avoid dust access.

- Make an easy floor plan for easy way finding and easy path ways to reach displayed items without effort.

- Make a suitable logical arrangement, shapes & sequence of Spaces.

- Each group of items with the same characteristics should have a separate room & each item a wall to it self.

- Normal human angle of vision from eye level is (27 Degrees) while standing.

- Well Lit Pictures should be put away with 10 meters.

140

cultural oasis | research

- Small picture should be hanged to make the horizon in the picture at the eye level.

- Allow hanging surface per picture between 3-5m2 - Allow ground surface per sculpture between 6-10m2 .

- Art galleries consists of separate wings & there is no continuous circular route.

- Quality of light is neccessary & Critical if using natural indirect north light or even artificial lighting instead.

- Both museums and art galleries must have side rooms for conservation workshops, packing & administration.

cultural oasis | research

141

Libraries Design guidelines - Public libraries support & provide communities with a wide choice of information media & literature.

- Availability of free access to the open shelves & counters for loans from the closed stacks.

- Arrange the information in a systematic way such as arrangement by subject.

- Allowable services for photocopying, reading and printing from micro-forms such as microfiche and microfilm.

- Locate open shelves in reading rooms & accessible book stacks as well as in restricted-access closed stacks.

- Availability of a literature search on data bases stored on CD-ROM & an on-line literature search.

- The number of reading places and areas depends on the number of the available various subjects.

- The number of book shelves depends on the type of organisation, accessibility for users.

- Proportions of reference stocks & loan for both open and closed access depend on the type of organisation.

- Collecting and presenting different information of media forms in an accessible way like books and journals.

- Floor Area required for an open workstation depends on width of table & distance between tables.

142

Easy accessibility to reading room areas with space for reading and working & situated on few levels.

- Clear & easy to understand directional system with read signs giving directions to book shelves & services.

- Staircases should be the accessibility to the reading rooms & operational areas which on different floors.

- Access to reading rooms can be through only one entrance and exit or control gates equipped with book security equipment - Lifts & elevators must be provided near staircases for book transport for the use of disabled people.

- Circulation routes and paths should be >1.2m wide & clear spaces between shelves at least 1.31.4 m wide.

- Avoid overlapping and crossings of paths and routes for book transport, staff and users.

- Control gates should be near the central information desk or the lending desk for functional reasons.

cultural oasis | research

cultural oasis | research

143

Libraries Design guidelines - Safety film in cinema makes fire separation materials are no longer required for the projection room.

- Create 1 m of space behind the projector and at the operating side, 2.80m high, ventilation, noise insulation to the auditorium side.

- Projection rooms may be combined for several auditoriums.

- The centre of projector or the projected beam should not be rotated more than 5째 vertically or horizontally from the centre of the cinema screen.

144

cultural oasis | research

- Large projection screens should be curved with a radius centred on the last row of seats.

- Distance of the projector from the screen gives various picture sizes.

- Movable blinds or curtains limit the projection screen to the side for the same picture height.

- The lowest edge of the projection screen minimum height is 1.20 m above the floor.

- The auditorium should have no outside light other than emergency lighting.

- Non-reflective materials are found in walls and ceiling and in not too bright colours.

- The viewing angle from the centre of the picture to the first row of seats should not exceed 30째.

Different Interior design for Cinema Halls & A Floor Plan for Cinema Halls Complex

cultural oasis | research

145

Theatres Design guidelines - Maximum seating capacity area of auditorium and stage or playing area depends on the format selected and each type of production has its own aural and visual limitations.

- Factors that is used to calculate seating capacity include levels, acoustics, circulation, sight lines, seating density, size and shape of platform or stage.

- Auditorium size is an area of minimum 0.5 m2 per person for sitting people, as a seat width X row spacing of at least 0.45 m2 per seat, plus an additional minimum of 0.5m x 0.9 m i.e. approximately 0.05 m2 per seat.

- Maximum length of rows of 16 seats per aisle & 25 seats per aisle if one side exit door is provided per 3-4 rows (Exit is 1 m width ) as 150 persons can use one exit or escape route.

- Volume of room according to acoustic require-

146

ments, reverberation & technical ventilation reasons are 1-playhouses approximately is 4-5m3/Person. & 2-opera approximately is 6-8m3/Person of air volume.

cultural oasis | research

- Proportions of auditorium are taken according to person’s psychological perception and viewing angle, and so the requirement for a good view from all seats: 1-(30°) for good view without head movement, but slight eye movement.

2-(60°) for Good view with slight head movement and slight eye movement.

3-(110°) for Maximum perception angle without head movement - Auditorium proportions such as Opera, multi-purpose theatre & traditional playhouse firstly the maximum distance of last row from the start of stage is (24m) for playhouse (maximum distance while recognising facial expressions is still possible) (32 m) for opera (recognising important move-

ments is still possible).

- Auditorium width is calculated so the spectators are able to see the stage clearly and they are taken from the classical theatres of the 18th and 19th century which have often good acoustics & comfortable proportions and they are based on special rules of proportion and dimensions.

cultural oasis | research

147

Restaurants Design guidelines - Eat comfortably is the restaurant space requirements supposed to achieve.

- One person needs a table area of around 40cm deep and 60cm wide.

- Providence of clearance between adjacent diners so an overall width of 80-85cm is good for a dining table.

- Round tables require more floor area, round tables, or tables with six or eight sides, with a diameter of 90-120cm are perfect & ideal for four people and can also take extra one or two more diners.

Space requirements for server diner Table/Seating plans

148

cultural oasis | research

cultural oasis | research

149

Shops Design guidelines - Customers pick their own goods in shops from shelf units that should be no higher than 1.8m and no lower than 0.3m above floor level.

- circulation routes and paths is critical and attention must be paid in larger shops - Shops should begin at the trolley or basket pickup and end at the check-outs area.

150

cultural oasis | research

Parking and Turning Design guidelines - Wide yellow or white painted lines usually outline parking spaces by 12-20mm.

- Provide buffers, braking bars or railings up to enough height to stop cars from crossing the edge.

- Face to face parked cars should have transverse barriers about 10cm high to be used as frontal stops.

- Guide rails in the floor along the side have ability to define the parking limits, - Garage parking spaces for cars length is 5 m and a width of 2.30 m, but more than 3.50m wide for disabled.

cultural oasis | research

151

Loading deck Design guidelines - Gaps between vehicles & dock ramps should to be safely bridged or connected to allow loading and unloading operations to be transferred and carried out smoothly and easily.

- Loading bridges and ramps should safely link a dock with any type of vehicle due to their different heights.

- The loading platform of the truck or vehicle can be either lower or higher than the bridge or ramp.

- Forklift trucks can be used as a mobile lift platforms with a continuous height adjustment to any particular level during loading or unloading.

- The height of mobile drive-on ramps for railway trucks loading, lorries and containers can be automatically adjusted to be suitable for the suspension of the truck during loading and unloading.

152

cultural oasis | research

Disabled Design guidelines - Designing an environment for disabled people needs to be accommodated to wheelchairs and allow the space for moving around it in safe way.

- Corridors is preferred to be 2.00 m wide & Clear opening of doors is 0.95 m.

- Height of light switches and electrical sockets between 1.00-1.05 m and it’s prefered to use large buttons or surfaces for witches and control devices.

- Ramps should be straight with maximum incline of 5-7%, maximum length is 6 m and ideal width between the handrails is 1.20 m.

- Urban planning consideration should also be given to provide wheelchair users an easy access to amenities such as restaurants, toilets, car parks, public transport and buildings.

cultural oasis | research

153

Design program Total space requirements represented in programmatic summary Museum & Art Gallery Main Museum Hall (500) m2 Art Galleries (2 Exhibitions) (500) m2 Administration (150) m2 Storage (4 Rooms) (100) m2 Toilets (50) m2 - TOTAL Net Area (1300) m2 - Circulation Factor (1.2) - TOTAL Gross Area (1560) m2 Library Reading Hall (Adults) (400) m2 Reading Hall (Children) (100) m2 Book Stacks (250) m2 Librarian (50) m2 Multimedia Rooms (4 Rooms) (100) m2 Toilets (50) m2 - TOTAL Net Area (950) m2 - Circulation Factor (1.2) - TOTAL Gross Area (1140) m2 Cinemas Cinemas (4 Halls) (600) m2 Cafeterias (4 Cafés) (120) m2 Administration Rooms (4 Rooms) (50) m2 Toilets 154

(50) m2 - TOTAL Net Area (820) m2 - Circulation Factor (1.2) - TOTAL Gross Area (984) m2 Theatres Theatre Main Hall (300 Persons) (600) m2 Entrance Lobby (80) m2 Performance Rooms (2 Rooms) (30) m2 Changing Rooms (8 Rooms) (100) m2 Storage Rooms (2 Rooms) (60) m2 Administration Rooms (4 Rooms) (50) m2 Cafeterias (5 Cafés) (150) m2 Toilets (50) m2 - TOTAL Net Area (1120) m2 - Circulation Factor (1.2) - TOTAL Gross Area (1344) m2 Restaurants Oriental Coffee Shops (2 Coffe Shops) (500) m2 Restaurants (4 Restaurants) (1000) m2 Toilets (50) m2 - TOTAL Net Area (1550) m2 - Circulation Factor (1.2) - TOTAL Gross Area (1860) m2

Shops cultural oasis | research

Fashion & Clothing Shops (10 Shops) (200) m2 Jewellery & Accessories Shops (10 Shops) (200) m2 Arts & Crafts Shops (10 Shops) (200) m2 Toilets (50) m2 - TOTAL Net Area (650) m2 - Circulation Factor (1.2) - TOTAL Gross Area (780) m2 Parking Parking Area for 100 Cars (2500) m2 Parking Area for 10 Buses (500) m2 TOTAL Gross Area (3000) m2 Foot Print (7668) Approx (7700) m2

cultural oasis | research

155

Chapter VI

Individual Work

Individual Work Ayman Mohamed 158

cultural oasis | research

Personal Ideology Abstract Most of the Arab countries “Middle East & North Africa Region” are now Living & facing Political Fights, Economic Problems & Loosing Identity of being an Arabian country, and this is because of the Lack of true Social Activities that reflects our Identity to foreign people & tourists in addition to Lack of Knowledge, Awareness & Education between a huge amount of people within different number of ages, genders & cultural identities. by time these factors led us to a lot of complicated physical and nonphysical problems in our countries nationally, socially, politically, economically & Psychologically which led us Internationally to be wrongly Understood & less respected.

same region with a lot of common things in nature, civilization and cultural aspects, this place will be easy in way finding inside the buildings, and will be unique in its urban fabric, while respecting our Arabian identity by using key elements of architecture that reflects our heritage and history through architectural elements to avoid building a project empty of our middle east & Arabian identity.

Mission Is to participate partially in solving Middle East & Arab countries nowadays problems that are lastly appeared such as some messages about us “Arabs” that have been wrongly delivered and Mistakenly understood by other countries and other people that are different from our culture, and that happened also because of the lack of communication between us and the outer world so i’ve got an outcome and its to construct a setting that reflects our real traditions, Habits, Science, Acheivements, Civilizations & All Our Positives Correctly to just be on the right track with the surrounding countries.

Objective Is to Give visitors & tourists a new experience about the middle east culture, knowledge & history through some different activities represented in some buildings & architectural spaces to deliver our message about the eastern civilizations along the history timeline, and by achieving this goal this will be the project’s success and the main key of being famous and world widely visited and this may be one of the best solutions of the current problems that our arab countries are facing now a days of misunderstanding our culture completely.

Conclusion Building an architectural setting that consists of several buildings, each building has its own activity and its own experience that delivers to the visitors. all these items gather on one plot surrounded by one outline representing some countries in the cultural oasis | research

159

Concept I

Solar System Mechanical & Structural Concept, the concept is inspired from the gravity laws that have centred the sun in the middle of the system as the largest object and the most powerful one, and everything else in its gravity field is spinning around it in a very accurate motion all the time without misleading it’s defined path.

My Main Building in the project will be the “Museum” so I’ll make it represent my project’s Sun in the middle of my plot as the Centre of Gravity and the secondary buildings that are serving it are around it radially like Planets and these buildings may be the Auditorium, Library & the Art Galleries, then the buildings with less importance will follow these secondary buildings like if they are their Moons.

Technical Studies Using Solar Cells as an Energy source will give the system a kind of Sustainability Aspect & will provide & Increase the importance of the Museum as it represents the sun & the Solar Energy are generated from the Sun rays in addition to that the project will be given a rating in the green building international rating systems.

160

cultural oasis | research

Concept II The Dynamic Architecture Concept Dynamic movement is to get that building out of the static traditional form & make it look Dynamic & Interacts with users too through its components and elements, like the shape of the building may changes continuously in order to adjust the building to the sun and the wind or orient it to the view or the visual Axis that are available in the surroundings and adjust the building to our momentary requirements in addition to a revolution is born from combining technology and luxury with environment.

We may use different forms of Dynamic systems applications like: Dynamic Facades & Movable Elevations

Technical Studies

Kiefer Technic Showroom (Opened/Closed) Louvers

cultural oasis | research

161

Dynamic Facades & Using Computers to manage the facade shape

162

cultural oasis | research

Different types of Dynamic Facades

CJ Research Center’s Kinetic Folding Facade

Thematic Pavilion (Closed/Opened) Louvers

cultural oasis | research

163

Dynamic Ceiling & Self Cleaning Curtain Walls

Dynamic Ceilings Interior Design

Installation Options & Ways to Suspend Link Infusions accent canopies

Self Cleaning Curtain Walls Components

164

cultural oasis | research

Concept III Interactive Technologies in Museums Using Interactive devices & technologies helps visitors to find their interest easily and smoothly without suffering, getting bored going through Museum Fatigue feeling. Through these interactive facilities they see, hear, touch & get involved easily with the Museum atmosphere and it helps visitors to reach their destiny directly & easily escape from walking long distances, getting lost or failing in finding their way inside the place & it connects every part of the building through some computers using software and applications interacting with visitors mobile devices to communicate with them, announce posts to them, Invite them to events or even giving them instructions on how to Enter, Exit the place or Escape from a fire or any other emergency situation that could occur inside the building may help in saving lives & taking fast actions lead us to save time in these situation & also easy to locate the failure location.

Interactive Head up Displays

Interactive Elements Computer Simulated

Interactive Touch Screens

Interactive Interfaces for Children

Visual & Audible Media

Mobile Devices Access cultural oasis | research

Interactive Lighting 165

Computer Simulations & Information Flow

166

cultural oasis | research

Individual Work Diyaa Abu-Eisheh cultural oasis | research

167

Personal Ideology Abstract Culture is what defines us, what makes us different from each other and unites us, we create it and shape it the way we like it to be. The more we learn about the other cultures in the world, the more tolerant, open-minded and global we become. Many people in the developing countries neglect their own culture and identity to adapt the developed countries culture as they assume it’s the right thing to do. The lack of knowledge of their culture and the globalisation are some of the factors for that problem. By creating a space that teaches, develops, supports, inspires and communicates the people’s culture and history, we can overcome such problems and strengthen our communities.

Mission My mission is to create a space that preserve, promote, educate, inspire, support, collect and represent human achievements through a creative environment that is architecturally and culturally distinct. The culture oasis will be an attraction and attachment and will transform our cities and make our communities open, welcoming, attractive and vibrant. It will connect the local, region and the world culture heritage together through its events and collections, this will encourage the people and make them understand and appreciate the visual world, and give them a unique experience. The culture oasis is going to promote Egypt as a cultural hub regionally and internationally, by showcasing our past, present and future. Which will encourage tourists from all over the world to travel to Egypt in order to learn and experience the region cultures as a main goal, and the world cultures as a secondary goal.

Objective To develop and promote the rich diversity and uniqueness of various arts of the region and upgrade and enrich consciousness to the people about their cultural heritage. The culture oasis will connect all the culture spaces with each other through shared events and programs. A walking tour routes will be introduced to the people in order to let them explore the unique culture heritage and cultural spaces located in Alexandria.

168

cultural oasis | research

Concept I Diversity The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It’s the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It’s about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

The culture oasis will embrace this diversity architecturally, and presents a unique opportunity to examine cultural diversity. It involves having a multitude of people from different backgrounds and cultures together in the same environment working for the same goals. In trying to cultivate tolerance, acceptance, and appreciation of cultural diversity, cultural oasis should keep a basic, but paradoxical, multicultural concept: All people share the same basic needs and values, but differ in how they meet those needs and express those values.

cultural oasis | research

169

Concept II Connectivity The concept of connectivity is to link our past with our present through connecting the cultural spaces located near the site with the culture oasis and also with each other by the contribution between them to have various cultural activities.

The culture oasis will act as a bridge that links the past with the present and future and it will create a cultural zone with the surrounding cultural spaces that has its own character and identity, and will introduce the people to the existing different culture spaces that exist in the city.

[Production]

[Connection]

[Understanding]

Bayram El-Tunsi Theatre Alexandria Library

Culture Oasis

Mohammed Abdel Wahab Theatre

Alexandria Opera House

El Shlalat Garden

The Mortals Park

Roman Ruins 170

cultural oasis | research

Concept III Flexibility Flexibility means the ability to be easily modified.

The idea of flexibility is to design a building that can reshape or change the way we need it to be. It can be done internally by using partitions,... etc, or externally by having a dynamic building that can change its shape and adjusting it to sunrise and sunset, to the wind and to the view, thus becoming part of nature. The building will be a result of technology which is our future. A new icon for the city that will reshape its future. “Designed by Time, Shaped by Life�.

cultural oasis | research

171

Technological Study I ‘Selfie’ façade with balls A kinetic façade built like a giant pin-bed machine can reproduce portraits in a huge matrixaof0LEDlights. Visitors entering the0pavilion can0have photographs0taken0of their faces, from five0angles simultaneously.0These0images are digitally constructed into a 3D image, which is sent to computers controlling the façade. On0the building’s0side, faces are0magnified 35 times.

The façade0itselfaconsists of a large array of actuators, or0large aluminium0rods that move back and forth. At the end of each actuator is a polymer ball, and within each is a powerful0RGB led light.

The balls help diffuse the light, making the projected image soft and clear. As the actuators move in and out to recreate the shape of the visitor’s face, the lights add the right colours. In this way, a giant screen is created, that can even show moving images.

Each actuator has one poly-carbonate light-sphere attached to it. To support the actuators, a strong steel support was bolted onto the main construction of the building. Each actuator is controlled independently, and react relatively quickly. This means that it only takes about one minute for an image to be rendered.

172

cultural oasis | research

Technological Study II Aperture Aperture is aafacadeainstallationawith interactive andanarrativeadisplaying modes.aConsisting of an irisadiaphragmamatrix, the facade’s surface with its apertures’ variableaopening diameters isaenriched by aadynamic translucency, that createsanew imagery asawell as a newachannel for communication betweenainside andaoutside.

An irisadiaphragm is an apertureawith a variable openingadiameter. The majority ofainstances of irises can be found in aperture settingsain camera lenses as aameans ofaregulating depthaof field and theaamount of light thatais exposedaby either film or sensor in capturing anaimage. Aperture, being anaarray of irises, isapart of a building’s facade. Composed ofasingle aperture-modulesawith receptor (LDR—light dependent resistor) andaactuator (servo-motor/iris), aperture actsalike an autonomous skin, which is also capable of precise externalacontrol. Visualainformation isatransmitted from theainside of the building to the outside, the surface permeabilityais regulated when the aperture’saopening diameters areachanged. Each of the apertures inathe array canabe used to represent a pixel of anaimage.

Set toainteractiveamode, each single aperture and all the apertures asaentity “see” what happens on the inside ofathe facade and react accordingly: like theahuman eye’sairis and irises in objectives, they react to light, wideningaand contracting with corresponding increases andadecreases inaintensity of incomingalight. If no humanaactivity is to be distinguished on the inside, a “memory” mode recalls images andaabstract animationsacaptured throughout the day andadisplays them.

Facade

Irises

Conversion

Analogouslyato the processaof taking aaphotograph,apeople standing inafront of theawall are exposedato the aperture grid,ajust like to photographicafilm. The duration of theaimage fading out, as the aperturesaclose, is itself a reflectionaof how long aaperson hasabeen standing inafront of aperture.

interaction cultural oasis | research

173

Technological Study III Green Roof A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. Container gardens on roofs, where plants are maintained in pots, are not generally considered to be true green roofs, although this is debated. Rooftop ponds are another form of green roofs which are usedato treat greywater.

Greenaroofs serveaseveral purposes for a building, such as absorbingarainwater, providing insulation, creating a habitat forawildlife, increasingabenevolence and decreasing stress of theapeopleaaround the roof byaproviding a moreaaesthetically pleasing landscape, and helpingato loweraurban air temperaturesaand mitigateathe heat islandaeffect.

Green roofs are used to: Reduce heating (by adding massaand thermal resistance value) Reduce cooling (by evaporativeacooling) loads on a building by fiftyato ninety percent.

Reduceastormwater runaoff.

Natural HabitataCreation.

Filterapollutants andacarbon dioxideaout of the air.

Filter pollutantsaand heavy metalsaout ofarainwater.

Helpato insulateaa building forasound.

If installed correctlyamany living roofsacan contribute to LEEDapoints.

Increaseaagriculturalaspace.

174

cultural oasis | research

Individual Work Mohammad Adham cultural oasis | research

175

Personal Ideology “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”

Abstract Culture is the intellectual heritage characterizing all nations from each other. Where the nature of the culture and its characteristics vary from one community to another, in close link which connects between the reality of the nation’s heritage of intellectual, cultural, and culture to grow with the cultural growth of the nation, and it is also going down with this backwardness that afflicts those of the nation, which expresses itself civilized culture that reached.

Culture is considered the mirror that reflects values, systems, mindsets and symbols that all together form our behaviour.

Mission My mission is to sustain an environment that meets all human needs for recreation and creativity. Not only this, but this cultural complex can be a start of the reunion of the Arabian nation and be the first cultural oasis that preserve and restore our Arabian heritage in one place. Introducing different cultures from the middle east and preserving our own Egyptian culture.

Revitalization of cultural awareness in Egypt through different activities. Reserving our Arabian culture through artistic events and galleries.

Introducing the middle eastern culture to the world through one space in Egypt.

Objective Developing the problem of the low cultural awareness by finding out a stable methodology throughout this problem, I believe that designing a space comes as a reason of solving a problem. As for this case here‘s the problem that we want to raise among the streets of Egypt the awareness of our heritage as well as revitalizing our values not only with some building but with a full system that sustain our culture.

Raising the cultural awareness level in Egypt.

Preserving our past.

Protecting our present.

Sustaining our future.

176

cultural oasis | research

“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.”

Concept Concept I Overlapping To remain historical memories of old industrial district, and to create cultural and creativity industries with nature involve, the concept are the overlap of cities pattern. Furthermore, in the development of city in three-dimensions, development can’t just wipe out the old patterns, but can overlap the pattern in vertical way such as history, natural, business and culture, and it can create much opportunity for spatial possibilities.

Concept II A journey to the past The main concept is to get the nostalgic feelings once the person enter the cultural oasis. By getting exposed to various aspects; landscape, colours, heights and spaces, those aspects reflects the main culture of the region.

Concept III “ENTER –EXPLORE –ENGAGE” Anchor spaces and design elements to invite people to ENTER into the complex enhancing their experience with every entry.

Play of the built mass and spread of the functions to allow visitors to EXPLORE potential giving the sense of belonging.

The social harmony and spatial framework to ENGAGE visitor into the process towards a complete product.

cultural oasis | research

177

Technological Study Smart Glass This is about windows with variable opacity. For wearable computing, smart windows or switchable windows in its application to windows or skylights refers to glass or glazing that changes light transmission properties under the application of voltage, light or heat.

Smart glass controls the amount of light (and thereby heat) transmission. When activated, the glass changes from translucent to transparent, changing from blocking some (or all) wavelengths of light to letting light pass through.

Smart glass technologies include electrochromic, photochromic, thermochromic, suspended particle, micro-blind and liquid crystal devices.

When installed in the envelope of buildings, smart glass creates climate adaptive building shells, with the ability to save costs for heating, air-conditioning and lighting and avoid the cost of installing and maintaining motorized light screens or blinds or curtains. Most smart glass blocks ultraviolet light, reducing fabric fading; for SPDtype smart glass, this is achieved in conjunction with low emissivity coatings.

In suspended particle devices (SPDs), a thin film laminate of rod-like nano-scale particles is suspended in a liquid and placed between two pieces of glass or plastic, or attached to one layer. When no voltage is applied, the suspended particles are randomly organized, thus blocking and absorbing light. When voltage is applied, the suspended particles align and let light pass. Varying the voltage of the film varies the orientation of the suspended particles, thereby regulating the tint of the glazing and the amount of light transmitted.

Critical aspects of smart glass include material costs, installation costs, electricity costs and durability, as well as functional features such as the speed of control, possibilities for dimming, and the degree of transparency 178

cultural oasis | research

Interactive and Responsive Architecture The physical setup for the immersive design environment links multiple projectors, infrared motion sensors, and visualization and analysis software. Image courtesy of Bess Krietemeyer Centre for Architecture, Science and Ecology (CASE)

Continually evolving surface, pattern and opacity Tessellate™ is a self-contained, framed screen whose perforated pattern can continually shift and evolve; creating a dynamic architectural element that regulates light and solar gain, ventilation and airflow, privacy, and views.

Tessellate™ consists of a series of stacked panels that can be constructed of various metals or plastics. As these layers overlap, the result is a kaleidoscopic visual display of patterns aligning and then diverging into a fine, light-diffusing mesh.

ABI works closely with its clients to customize Tessellate™ to fit their architectural vision — from geometric grids, to non-standard freeform patterns.

Kinect motion sensors and overlaps with individual pattern designs create emergent visual effects. The left shows a viewing ‘portal’ as it tracks a participant and opens for views locally and on the right how the bioresponsive building envelope blends a dynamic pattern and unique user interaction. Photo courtesy of Michael Villardi In recent years, workshop participants have expanded beyond developing design software and have begun developing interactive hardware. The “Bioresponsive Building Envelopes” cluster at Smartgeometry 2012 in Rensselaer, New York developed a unique computational approach to designing interactive facades.

cultural oasis | research

179

Individual Work Mohamed Yosry 180

cultural oasis | research

Personal Ideology Abstract: This project intends to stress the need for creating a platform for different cultures in Alexandria which will encourage people to come to Alexandria from different countries and explore their cultural and social potential in one place, enhancing quality of life.

Also providing primary surfaces to the city which give it it’s overall appearance. A platform which will offer boundless opportunities for every kind of art and culture in the Arab world.

Mission • Promote positive values and community development and improve the situation of the cultural and tourism in Egypt. • What we want is for culture to be considered part of our everyday lives, rather than something produced and consumed by the elite

cultural oasis | research

181

Concept Concept I The concept is to find new cultural movement patterns into Alexandria and to create a pedestrian flow of tourists and visitors into it. The proposal aims to accentuate all values of the context and targets to solve most of the identified problems to achieve more environmentally solutions which fulfils the needs of both site visitors but also its inhabitants. In this way, visitors will be able to enjoy unique experience in the most historical cities in Egypt.

So making the building with a high rise component as a landmark with a plaza in the center to keep people connected with the presented culture elements and events, sharing the experience of the culture in such a historical city, using also a green spaces for showing presented cultural elements and arts that makes them travel through the place to different kinds of cultures.

182

cultural oasis | research

Concept Concept II The concept is to place the cultural oasis between the culturally significant ancient capitals and the contemporary metropolis. Trying to break the traditional “cultural centre” dismantling a cluster redefining the cultural oasis’s views of social and urban values, thus achieving a “place of cultural diversity” spirit. The concept primarily uses interesting paths and opening allowing people to interact with the cultural oasis, attract tourists to learn and enjoy.

Making the a distinctive building that breaks the traditional “cultural centre” and welcoming at the same time would be very attractive for tourists and residents to visit and give them the eager to know more about the different cultures.

cultural oasis | research

183

Technological Study I Is it possible that buildings can change its faรงade like a chameleon?

Solve the appearance has become a key point to achieve the desired effect transparent. Building opportunities for lighting control material vector Foiltec Texlon polymer membrane system EFTE cushion system provides unparalleled design opportunities of climate envelope, which provides unlimited possibilities, while using development daylight and artificial light sources. Cushions filled with 80% of nitrogen, it allows the creation of lighting effects.

184

cultural oasis | research

Technological Study II Canvas Structure Canvas structure provides the perfect high-quality coverage of any features or applications. Using high-quality fabrics, frames and hardware components, which are easy to assemble and erect temporary shelters, and quickly took the installation and removal process, saving you time and money.

They can be many options, including side walls, custom fabrics, graphic stripes, personnel doors, and many other features lining manufactured.

cultural oasis | research

185

Technological Study III Responsive façade Intense heat and glare can make a comfortable indoor environment is relatively impossible, if not properly addressed, the facade of which requires a responsible cultural cues from “mashrabiya”, a traditional Islamic grid shading devices.

Parameters describing the geometry of the facade of the drive panel, it can change in response to sun exposure and the angle of incidence on different

186

days of the year to simulate.

As a curtain screen, sitting two meters outside the building façades a separate frame. Each triangle is coated with glass fibre and programmed into the movement of the sun in order to reduce solar gain and glare respond. In the evening, all the screen turns off.

cultural oasis | research

Individual Work Omar Marwan cultural oasis | research

187

Personal Ideology Abstract The remarkable decline of the economic and cultural level in the last few years is the major problem in Egypt. The reason is that people lost their interest in culture and tourists don’t care anymore about visiting Egypt because of the lack of safety in it.

Egypt can be one of the most technological countries in the middle east if we raised culture awareness and make a reason for tourists to come and visit Egypt.

Concept I The concept is to place a culture oasis that connect between the user and the urban fabric of the site which have many informal surrounding areas.

This concept might help the inhabitants to react with the building without the feeling of stranger and the tourists will find it new to their culture which make the place interesting to them.

Mission Making cultural facilities that can help inhabitants understanding the country’s problems and try to participate in solving it and a museum to attract tourists to visit our country and understanding our culture.

Objective Raising cultural awareness in Egypt and increasing internal and external tourism rate.

188

cultural oasis | research

Concept II The concept is to place a culture oasis that connect between the user and the urban fabric of The concept is to connect all the middle east countries to each other by showing every country’s monuments and it’s historical timeline in order to making inhabitants better understanding Arabic countries culture and making tourists excited to know every country’s culture and traditions.

The project will have a huge plaza in the middle of the projects that hold events and the surrounding is a museum that held every Arabic country individually in separated sections and every day is a new event showing one country’s traditions.

cultural oasis | research

189

Concept III This concept is to make tourists and inhabitants not only visit the museum but also to participate in creating better future for our country because the museum will preview the historical and cultural background of Egypt and also reviewing it’s problems which prevent it from developing. The project will be two floors the ground floor is the museum and huge court in the centre which will be the creative zone that kids and adults will create ideas and the first floor is a workshop to presents their ideas physically.

190

cultural oasis | research

Technological Study I The Parans Solar Lighting System Parans solar receivers capture sunlight from the outside of the building and it’s transferred through the indoor environment and building structure by the Optical fibres. Inside building parans luminaires made the natural sunlight flows out to lighten every room in the building.

Benefits Parans Solar Lighting system fills the indoor areas with healthy natural sunlight, which improve and have many positive effects to our health.

Parans Solar Receiver The sunlight can be tracked all over the day by the parans SP3 solar receivers which is places in roofs or facades. Optical lenses can transfer the natural sunlight inside the building by concentrating and capturing great amount of it through out the day Parans Solar Cable The natural sunlight can reach diffrent zones and deep inside the building to areas than natural sunlight hardly reach it by flexible, thin fibers that have optimized light transmission to capture sunlight and transport it.

Parans Solar Luminaires Inside the building, Parans Solar Luminaires make the sunlight flows without using electricity creating healthy and beautiful illuminations by providing high quality available light. cultural oasis | research

191

Technological Study I Thermochromic Glass Due to the excessive sun exposure in egypt all the year i would like to use thermochromic glass in my project.

Thermochromic smart glass changes the properties of the light transmission according to the amount of the absorbed heat. it is used in the reduction of the amount of energy consumption of the buildings by delf-tinting it and to control the heat amount that enters the room. Nowadays thermochromic glass is used widely in architecture because of it’s ease of installation and low cost compared to other glasses.

Smartglass can be automatically or manually adjusted to control the amount of natural sunlight, heat passign through out the building and glare.

While glass is the favorate used product in building

facade, solar heat gain ,glare and Ultra Violet expo sure make problems and can make the glass not practical making you wants to invest soo expensive solar shading devices.

In order to reduce the need of air condiitoning during summer and heating during winter months you have to usesmart glass technology in glass facades. Providing controllable solar shading during exccecive light conditions and the ability to adjust the glass to maximize the natural daylight when it’s needed making it valuable and unique.

192

cultural oasis | research

Individual Work Tarek Al Rimawi cultural oasis | research

193

Personal Ideology Abstract Now days Egypt is going through a hard time in terms of tourism rate and cultural awareness, which is affecting its economy and social life. the main mission is to make Egypt a focal point for tourists again, by making a focal and safe places for tourists to visit and to raise the culture awareness which effects how people will react to such project.

Mission The Mission is to raise the tourism rate in Egypt for both tourists from inside and outside of Egypt, and creating a new attraction point for tourist to visit.

Also to strength the Culture level by presenting a variety of culture and heritage in Egypt. and to add the next step that could change the way people behave towards the environment by having a sustainability approach, which will increase both the tourism rate and the cultural level Objective 1- Tourism aspect: - To be a focal point for tourists to visit from both outside and inside of Egypt -To be a place that people visits on a frequent base, by including them in differ events and festivals.

2- Cultural aspect: - The building should reflect the diverse culture and history of Egypt.

- Raise the cultural level and identity for people 3- Environmental Aspect : - The building should be place to present the value of the environment and to be an example how deal with .

Conclusion Now days Egypt is going thru a hard time in terms of tourism rate and cultural awareness, which is affecting its economy and social life. the main mission is to make Egypt a focal point for tourists again, by making a focal and safe places for tourists to visit and to raise the culture awareness which effects how people will react to such project.

Knowledge Health

Tourism Attraction Explore

Life

Egypt

Local Awareness Heritage Social

History

Global Economy Sustainable Environment Behaviour

Culture Image

Integration 194

cultural oasis | research

Concept Concept I This concept is inspired from the traditional Egyptian dance (Al Tanora dance) this dance represent a part of the Egyptian culture, It’s not just a dance, it have a lot of symbolism and meanings.

When the tanoura dancer moves himself he is like the sun and the dancers around him like the planets. When the dancer raises his arm up and points his left arm down, this represents the joining of earth and heaven together.

The movement of the dancer creates a unique and diverse curves that are used in this concept, which is going to make a building more than just a building it will have a cultural and humanism character.

This building will be the centre of other buildings representing the sun and the other planets.

This concept have a sustainable approach by having the facade solids and voids arranged according to the natural lighting and wind direction, also it have the green roof solution, and the use of smart facade.

cultural oasis | research

195

Concept Concept II This concept have a sustainable approach by having the different layers with different length over each other creating a shading system, also it have the green roof solution and smart facade system This concept is inspired from the Egyptian historical and cultural years, it have more than six hundred years of history and culture that is, both world famous and mysterious posing questions that even the most. Learned experts still cannot answer.

Each layer of the building will represent a historical layer and having intersection between layers will represent the connection between their periods , so the building itself will present the historical layers of Egypt .It will be a time-line that show the variety of Egyptian history and culture.

This concept have a sustainable approach by having the different layers with different length over each other creating a shading system, also it have the green roof solution and smart facade system.

196

cultural oasis | research

Concept III The concept is inspired from the origami (Folding paper) art, Origami artists can produce a panoply of shapes and forms using only a single sheet of paper. The edges, forms , and continuity that could be reflected from the origami is a key for this concept it will bring a unique shape.

Although it does not represent any of the Egyption history,culture,and background, but it unique will be a new focal point for people to see and to interact with, it will be an extreme different concept from what people are used to see and experience

cultural oasis | research

197

Technical Studies I Green Roofs Their are many functions of green roofs such as protecting the building from excessive heat and reduce the air temperature, it Reduce urban heat island effect, also absorbing the rainwater it affect the users behaviours by providing the thermal comfort they need and reducing stress by have a pleasant landscape on the roof. common green roof build up consists of Roof resistant barrier Protection Fabric Drainage layer Filter layer Growing medium Vegetation Appropriate components

Their are two types of Green roofs : intensive semi-intensive, or extensive, depending on the the amount of maintenance they need and depth of planting medium and . Extensive green roof support (50- 120 kg/m2). and the intensive roof support (390-730 kg/m2).

198

cultural oasis | research

Technical Studies II Energy Slabs These type of tiles covert the energy from people footsteps into electrical power, each time a person walks over a tile, a renewable energy is generated from the footstep. The energy can be stored in batteries, or used A typical tile is produced out of about 100% recycled materials, with the top surface made from recycled truck tires.

Mechanism When a step compresses the slab by almost 5 mm Power is generated. The piezoelectric effect is involved and induction by copper coils and magnets. Each step generates up to 7 watts at 12 volts DC, equal an energy that is enough to run an LED street lamp for 30 seconds.

Durability The Pavegen tiles are designed to withstand harsh outdoor locations with high footfall. The slabs are waterproof to allow them to operate efficiently in both internal and external environments

cultural oasis | research

199

Technical Studies III Kinect Membrane Facade Each building requires a different approach . Its direction and the climate are the main concerns. For a fact, the equipment for the design of a dynamic facade is complex and cannot be placed on every building. Carrying out the building’s outside covering procedures is connected with establishing particular details about the application – heating, lighting, cooling, also the users personal comfort, connected with preferences

-The Façade allows a good control of the lighting conditions during the daytime -The used up energy can be reduced in half -Control of the used energy -A suitable temperature and pleasant lighting is assured -Saving electric energy, the emissions of carbon dioxide are reduced and conditions for a healthier environment can be established -Synthetic lighting can now be regulated automatically

200

cultural oasis | research

References

E-Journal Article Adam Williams (2014) ‘Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center awarded Design of the Year prize’, Gizmag. [Online].

Available at: http://www.gizmag.com/zaha-hadid-heydar-aliyev-center-baku-azerbaijan/32783/ (Accessed: 2nd november 2014).

Andrea Borghini (2013) ‘Philosophy of Culture’, Abou Education. [Online]. Available at: http://philosophy.about.com/od/Philosophical-Theories-Ideas/a/Philosophy-Of-Culture. htm (Accessed: 15 October 2014 ).

Donaire Arquitectos (2011) ‘Theatre in Almonte ‘, Dezeen. [Online]. Available at: http:// www.dezeen.com/2011/09/14/theatre-in-almonte-by-donaire-arquitectos/ (Accessed: 17 November 2014).

Pagnotta, Brian. “AD Classics: The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao / Frank Gehry” 01 Sep 2013. ArchDaily. [Online].Available at: http://www.archdaily.com/?p=422470 (Accessed: 01 January 2015).

Kevin Holden Platt (2013) ‘Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center Review ‘, The Architectural Review . [Online]. Available at: http://www.architectural-review.com/buildings/heydar-aliyev-centre-baku-zaha-hadid-architects/8656751.article (Accessed: 2 november 2014).

Mark Dion (2003) ‘History of the wunderkammern’, Tate,. [Online]. Available at: http://www. tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/mark-dion-tate-thames-dig/wunderkammen (Accessed: 25 November 2014).

Max Fisher (2014) ‘40 maps that explain the Middle East’, Abou Education. [Online]. Available at: http://www.vox.com/a/maps-explain-the-middle-east (Accessed: 5 November 2014).

Raimon Panikkar (2000) ‘Religion, Philosophy and Culture’, polylog. [Online]. Available at: http://them.polylog.org/1/fpr-en.htm (Accessed: : 10 October 2014 ).

Sama N ( 2012) ‘Thermal Comfort and Feel Good Environments’, word press. [Online].

Available at: http://saman3230.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/thermal-comfort/ (Accessed: 14 November 2014).

Tarek Saaid (2008) ‘Snøhetta Wins ‘King Abdulaziz Center for Knowledge and Culture’ Competition in Saudi Arabia’, Bustler. [Online]. Available at: http://www.bustler.net/index. php/article/snhetta_wins_king_abdulaziz_center_for_knowledge_and_culture_competition_in/ (Accessed: 5 November 2014).

202

cultural oasis | research

Electronic Book CertainTeed (2010) NOISE CONTROL . [Online]. Available at: http://www.certainteed.com/ resources/NoiseControl%20Brochure%2030-29-121.pdf (Accessed: 29 December 2014 ).

Gensler (2012) CIRCULATION: DEFINING AND PLANNING. [Online]. Available at: http:// www.gsa.gov/portal/mediaId/190511/fileName/Circulation_-_Defining_and_Planning_%28May_2012%29.action (Accessed: 14 December 2014 ).

Greden, Lara V. (2005) Flexibility in building design : a real options approach and valuation methodology to address risk. [Online]. Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/30366 (Accessed: 14 December 2014 ).

John M (2010) Base Theater Design Standards. [Online]. Available at: https://www.wbdg. org/ccb/AF/AFDG/basetheater.pdf (Accessed: 14 December 2014 ).

Katie Cacace, Marita Nikaki and Anna Stefanidou (2012) An Evaluation of the Cladding Materials . [Online]. Available at: http://isites.harvard.edu (Accessed: 5 December 2014 ).

Oswell, David (2010) Cultural Theory: Genealogies, Orientations and Territories. GOLDSMITHS Research Online [Online]. Available at: http://www.dezeen.com/2011/09/14/theatre-in-almonte-by-donaire-arquitectos/ (Accessed: 28 December 2014 ). prof. Ch.Passas (2011) Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. [Online]. Available at: http://isites. harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic502069.files/guggenheim.pdf (Accessed: 5 December 2014 ).

Sarah Slaughter ( 2001 ) ‘Design strategies to increase building flexibility’, Archidaily, 29 (3), pp. [Online]. Available at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/ abs/10.1080/09613210010027693#preview (Accessed: 14 November 2014).

Merin, Gili. “AD Classics: Niterói Contemporary Art Museum / Oscar Niemeyer” 21 Aug 2013. ArchDaily. [Online]. Available at: http://www.archdaily.com/?p=417751 (Accessed: 18 December 2014 ).

William F. (Bill) Blitzer (2004) Light in Design – An Application Guide. [Online]. Available at: http://www.ies.org/pdf/education/lightindesign.pdf (Accessed: 15 December 2014 ).

The Big Myth (2011) EGYPTIAN CULTURE. [Online]. Available at: http://www.distanttrain. com/ (Accessed: 12 December 2014 ).

cultural oasis | research

203

Book Addison, M., and D. Nall. 2001. “Cooling via underfloor air distribution: Current design issues and analysis options.” From: Cooling Frontiers: The Advanced Edge of Cooling Research and Applications in the Built Environment. College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Arizona State University.

Bruggen, Coosje Van (1997) Frank O. Gehry: Guggenheim Musuem Bilbao, York, NY: Guggenheim Museum Publications.

Christian Schittich (2013) Designing Circulation Areas: Staged paths and innovative floorplan concepts, : Christian Schittich.

Ernst Neufert,Peter Neufert (2000) Neufert Architects’ Data, Third Edition.Germany: Bauwelt-Verlag.

Ian Ellingham and William Fawcett. New Generation Whole-life Costing: property and construction decision making under uncertainty, Taylor & Francis, 2006.

William Fawcett, Martin Hughes, Hannes Krieg, Stefan Albrecht and Anders Vennström.

‘Flexible strategies for long-term sustainability under uncertainty’ Building Research & Information vol.40, no.6, 2012.

Website A&E Television Networks (2015) Theatre in Almonte , Available at: http://www.history.com/ topics/ancient-history/colosseum (Accessed: 28 December 2014 ).

Allhitecture, Available at: http://www.allhitecture.com (Accessed: 18 October 2014).

Gulf/2000 Project (2013 ) Gulf 2000 Project, Available at: http://gulf2000.columbia.edu (Accessed: 20 November 2014).

Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (2014) King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Available at: kingabdulazizcenter.com (Accessed: 10 November 2014). cabinetexhibition (2014) Cabinet Exhibition , Available at: https://cabinetexhibition2012. wordpress.com/ (Accessed: 5 December 2014 ) The National Gallery (2014) Theatre in Almonte , Available at: http://www.nationalgallery. org.uk/paintings/history/collectors-and-benefactors/bridgewater-syndicate/*/viewPage/2 (Accessed: 15 December 2014 ).

204

cultural oasis | research