WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE FOR BOOSTING TOURISM AND WELFARE OF CITIZENS IN GEM REGION

Sara Sayed Mahmoud

Architecture & Engineering Technology Credit Hour Program, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University

Abstract

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) region represents a rich and influential historical site that acts as a magnet for tourists, internal visitors and for residents. The area currently hosts one type of tourism, which is cultural tourism, to which the traveler’s/visitor’s expenditures head to. Currently, the area gathers a wide range of tourists, besides the overgrowing population already existing within the area. By the year 2030, this region is expected to host a highly increased flow of tourists (besides the existing residents), beyond which the site with its current state can bear. While this state of condensed population is expected to induce feelings of stress, anxiety and dis-orientation among the masses; the objective of this research project is to introduce a wellness center architectural typology, that shall feed the area’s need for supportive touristic facilities that the area lacks, besides aiming to enhance the state of wellbeing and health of its users; through detoxification and enhancing their physiological, psychological as well as mental states and thus perform better. The introduction of this new type of tourism (wellness tourism) in the region, is un-precedented and shall aim to elevate the area’s current touristic value.

The methodology begins with research among the available literature (which may include qualitative and quantitative methods). It shall then investigate the bonds between the built environment and the human behavior, while studying the variables that affect the human behavior and different psychological states. Then a series of case studies are analyzed, and the research findings shall be adopted and implemented on the project, while taking into account the appropriate social considerations. The expected outcome of this project is to elevate the region’s touristic value, through providing healing spaces for the residents and visitors to de-toxify and heal from the overly urbanized environment and to reconnect with nature; by introducing a re-interpreted version of well-being and health.

Key words

Wellness Tourism, Wellness Architecture, Therapeutic Architecture, Environmental Psychology, Evidence Based Design (EBD), Well-being, Healing Architecture, GEM.

WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE FOR BOOSTING TOURISM AND WELFARE OF CITIZENS IN GEM REGION Sara Sayed Mahmoud functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); to monitor the impacts of the different stimulus and the corresponding brain responses.

2.3.2. Environmental Features and Impacts on Behavior

Space can be customized to imply alertness/attentiveness, power, hierarchy and nostalgia. Examples of external environmental stimulus include: when a space evokes a sense of territoriality and is unconsciously perceived as a safe environment, fight and flight signals are held back and stress levels are reduced. Spaces that exhibit a sense of power, usually leads to spontaneity. While places that imply a high level of spontaneity, lends a creative trigger among the space users. Heightened ceiling settings

induce an expanded sense of freedom, while low ceilings, induce attentiveness and concentration. (Gonçalves, R., and Paiva, A. 2014). Researchers introduced the concept of priming, with which certain features are expected to trigger certain responses among users; thus, priorly controlling their behavior, based on a pre-known settings. An example of priming could be found in an experiment shown in figure 13, where staff workers are expected to pay for their drinks made in the kitchenette where a pricelist has been hung and an image of either eyes or flowers has been placed above this pricelist. Research has found that staff members have paid three times as much when the image content included eyes rather than flowers (Bateson, M. et al., 2006)

Neuroscience alone is not capable of delivering the optimum architectural products. Rather a wholistic understanding of brain dynamics, users and the nature of the building; is capable of producing a successful architectural output. By tapping into the environments that undermine the flight and flight responses, reduce stress levels, imply a heightened state of control over surroundings, while decreasing ambiguity, and maintaining interest; a general sense of well-being is expected to be fostered in

Figure 13: Priming example, Source: Bateson, M. et al., 2006

Figure 7: Brain Wave Types and corresponding conscious states, source:Michael, K. et al., 2006Figure 8: Priming example, Source: Bateson, M.et al., 2006

The building also includes a roof bar and a restaurant over-looking the lavish courtyard landscape, as shown in fig. 28, 29 and 30. Other preparatory zones include the lounge and reception areas.

Figure 28: Restaurant overlooking courtyard. Source: (archdaily, 2021)

Figure 29: Restaurant View from courtyard. Source: (Contents, 2021) Figure 30: Rooft top bar, source: (archdaily, 2021)

3.2.4. Communicating with the Senses (nature and material selection)

The architect has carefully picked his palette and materials to reflect the Japanese minimalist traditions using local materials, besides providing an atmosphere of warmth and coziness to the interiors. The project makes most use of chiseled wood (of Japanese origin) (fig.31), mixed with floor veneers and light tones of wood colored furniture (beige to grey tones) (fig.32). Also, wood has been used in screens covering the building’s façade mimicking Japanese shoji screens. The project also makes use of slate stone in the ground floor facade, which is then followed by lighter materials in 3rd and 4th floors (fig.33); guiding the users from a sense of roughness and texture, to a sense of softness (as the treatment rooms begin to unfold in the upper floors) (archdaily, 2021).

As shown in fig.34, marble mosaics have been used in the rooftop bar, again inspired by the art of Kintsugi and the idea of broken elements, assembled into new ones; restoring them. While bamboo is used to cover the ceiling.

The atmosphere of the hallways provides a feeling of peacefulness and tranquility, as a result of the effects of indirect lighting, courts, glass surfaces, water features and the continuous dialogue with nature (as shown in fig.35). The hallways also imply a strong sense of texture, for example: the concrete wall with bamboo texture, besides the landscape of the interior and the usage of rocks and pebbles in the interior landscape, as shown in fig.36 and 37. These treatments provide an increased sense of texture and interest regarding the sense of touch. (archdaily, 2021)

Figure 31: Chiseled wood and wood veneers in Interiors, source: (achdaily, 2021) Figure 32: Light wood color tones of furniture, source: (Content, 2021)

the environment. The continuous connection with the outdoors, allows visitors to be vigilant of the time of the day (through watching the environmental changes across the day), and be sensually aware of their surroundings. This floor also includes one of the psycho-therapy floors; which is also designed to be one of the experience-rich spaces, in order to help visitors with traumas and mental illnesses feel more happy, excited as well as at ease. Fig. 54 shows the multiple floors of the psycho-therapy zone, while fig.55 shows a single floor of the psycho-therapy zone.

The second-floor plan as shown in fig. 53 represents the zone of physical well-being. The plan includes yoga studio, gymnasium and a physical therapy zone for those interested to apply certain body treatments or enhance their performance and recover post physical traumas. In addition, the psychotherapy zone is repeated among the rest of the floors till the 4rth floor.

Figure 54: interior shot showing multiple floors of psycho-therapy zone Source: author

Figure 55: Interior shot showing one of the floors of the psycho-therapy zone Source: author