On 21 and 22 September, RIBA hosted the Powered by RIBA design charette with students from RIBA-validated architecture courses in Egypt as part of the Cityscape intelligence architecture workshop, held at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in Cairo.
In keeping with the theme, Building a Greener Cairo, the students were tasked to create a design proposal focused on the link between architecture and sustainability and on how to create a sustainable intervention in Cairo and make it a great city for its visitors and citizens alike.
The student's design criteria for the charette made sensitive considerations to the context and materials of the site chosen by students in Cairo and considered the following agenda:
- create green interventions and green designs
- create a carbon net zero proposal
- preserve heritage and historical areas
- address environmental degradation
The charette was held over the course of two consecutive days. On the first day, during the live design workshop, students were given the opportunity to develop their ideas, participate in brainstorming sessions based on the theme and brief, and collaborate with one another in their own teams with guidance and advice from the grand jury.
During the live review workshop that took place on the second day of the competition, the students were given the opportunity to present and discuss their proposals to the grand jury and to the audience.
After careful deliberation by the grand jury, the below proposals from the students were ranked first place, second place and shared third place.
First place winner
Proposal title: The green crack: bridging the social gap
School: Arab Academy for Science and Technology Alexandria
Students:
- George Adel El Menchawy
- Yasmine El Sayed Saber
- Malak Moataz El Salmy
- Nayra Essam Gouda
Brief description:
Where one lives should never be a determinant of citizen rights or restrict opportunities for economic and social mobility. However, this is not always the case in Cairo. The quality of life and available opportunities can diverge dramatically from one neighbourhood to another leading to great injustice. When unequal neighbourhoods are very close together or even adjacent, this creates visible inequality which becomes apparent to both.
In order to demonstrate this issue, the site lying between Al Mokkattam cliff and Al Zabaleen neighbourhood was chosen as it perfectly fits the issue. The cliff of Al Mokattam forms an edge between the upper rich neighbourhood that is referred to as Uptown Mokattam, and the lower poor neighbourhood, Al Zabaleen. The poor neighbourhood in this example has also a huge problem with waste management since the garbage of Cairo is being collected, sorted and stored in this neighbourhood.
The design’s idea was to provide a sustainable solution that would erode this edge in order to connect the two sides of it and allow interaction through a well-designed connection that deals with the present injustice and inequality. The solution should also preserve the desert identity of the cliff and the character of Cairo. Thus, the solution could achieve social sustainability through green methods.
Second place winner
Proposal title: One step towards nearly zero carbon
School: Arab Academy for Science and Technology Smart Village
Students:
- Hanna Ahmed Hiekal
- Sohair Taher El Geziry
- Khaled Ossama Kamel
- Shahenda Essam Mohamed Abdelwahab
Brief description:
Our team decided to think of multiple solutions, all trying to achieve nearly zero carbon. In Cairo, we chose the areas near the Nile; El Zamalek, Nl Gezira, and a condensed area at el Sayeda Zeinab. Started first by finding the problems, figured out their causes then suggested solutions. For the condensed areas thought of making overhanging green pedestrian walks/ bridges so residents could walk, jog or cycle above the condensed areas safely while surrounding famous landmarks such as Ibn Tulun mosque.
Suggested making tanks under the buildings to filter the grey water and reuse it to water the green roofs and facades or any surrounding green areas while the black water may be used as fertilizers. In addition to that, to minimise the use of ACs. Suggested cooling down the buildings by passing cool water from the Nile River through pipes inside the building’s walls and floors. Last but not least, to benefit from the huge amount of vehicles used every day, came up with the suggestion of making a device like that of a speed bump, with a spring inside, each time a car passes over it, the mechanical system absorbs its kinetic energy and transfers it into electrical power. All integrating and working in harmony trying to reach zero carbon.
Third place winner (shared)
Proposal title: Injecting modularity; Developing a self-sufficient community
School: Arab Academy for Science and Technology Smart Village
Students:
- Farah Moustafa Sami
- Tarek Ahmed Abdul Karim
- Shahd Osama Khaled
- Merhan Mohamed Ali Adam
Brief description:
As a team, we chose to find solutions to the problem of lack of greenery and the degradation of nature in Cairo. We picked Nasr-City as a site and started trying to implement sustainability on the existing modular layout by creating a prototype of green hubs, in place of unused voids, that would consist of open green spaces used for different purposes (e.g. waste management, greenhouses, heritage/culture awareness activities...). We also suggested the utilisation of the huge number of unused rooftops by planting them as well as the façades.
Third place winner (shared)
Proposal Title: The inundation of the pyramids of Giza
School: Arab Academy for Science and Technology Alexandria
Students:
- Farah Gheith
- Omar Walid
- Lujaina Abdelmohsen
- Aya Saeed
Brief description:
The inundation of the pyramids is a proposal to relink the Nile route with an axial touristic street leading up to the pyramids. The idea proposes the refurbishment of the Nile Boat Houses to be used as a transportation hub and double as a waste collecting agent. The street of El-Tersa, parallel to the popular Al-Haram street, is where the proposed route will begin, in which users will be able to begin their journey with a Nile cruise, and end it with an elevated pedestrian path that brings them to an intimate view of the pyramids.
For our climatic treatment, we used the basic elements of earth and life and accentuated them through environmental treatments, proposing vertical water walls along the street, that act as humidifiers in order to improve air quality. Bringing together modern Egypt and ancient Egypt seamlessly in a greener, more pedestrian-friendly experience.
Download the students' proposal project full summary and description of their works. (PDF)
Judging panel
- Head judge: Sandra Woodall FRIBA, FRSA, AoU, MAPM, Managing Director at TangramGulf, RIBA Gulf Chapter UAE Representative
- Judge 2: Hamdi Mahmoud, Dip(Hons) Arch, MA (Urban Design), RIBA, CEO and Managing Director at TangramGulf
- Judge 3: Simon Collingwood, Head of Client Solutions at Cityscape
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