Cairo Informal Residence Settlements Transformation

The Integrated Workshop Outcome Cario-In Transformation — Case study for Helwan Cairo Informal Settlements Transformation Prof. Dr. Ing. Andrea Haase Cand. MA Tino Ahlmann Cand. BA Elena Erichsen Cand. BA Artamnuay Arthit Cand. BA Songshan Zhou Cand. MA Xiaoyi Zhang Cand. MA Ziming Fan Cand. MA Feier Ma Cand. MA Yong Han Cand. MA Ren Wang Cand. MA Minghao Wu

El Malaq Cario-In Transformation Winter Semester 2017 Prof. Dr. Ing. Andrea Haase Xiaoyi Zhang Feier Ma Ziming Fan Yong Han Elena Erichsen Artamnuay Arthit Songshan Zhou

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Programme / Informal Settlements & Agriculture

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Project / Situation

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Project / Situation

Decentralized agriculture land in high-density informal settlements The living condition in areas with high density of buildings is in low quality of built environment – rough road with soil, bare construction without protection and decoration. People live in the buildings without public and green space.

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Project / Outcome

Reasons for Selection - Horizontal space is not enough, but vertical walls can be used. - Front space of the door stairs can be used as a transition from public space to private space. Descriptions Ecological wall can be used to improve the building environment. Some rattan crops and low crops can be used as the vegetation of the ecological wall. The space in front of the building can be planted and to separate the public road and semi-private space.

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Project / Situation

Decentralized agriculture land in mediumdensity informal settlements - Medium-density of constructions, lack of open and green space. -The constructions are closed and there is no relationship with environment.

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Project / Outcome

Reasons for Selection - Consideration of the rationality of the structure. - Make the facades open. - Good connection between outside(productive landscape) and inside(public communication space). Descriptions The first floor can be lifted and as a multifunctional public space. (Communication, rest, territory storage and so on). The roof also can be used for agriculture.

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Project / Example of case

Reasons for Selection - Bricks are used a lot in informal settlements but in a

https://www.archdaily.com/797369/16-details-of-impressive-brickwork

single form . - The picture shows that brick can create many different kinds of elevation facades and interior space. - As the case of Art Museum shown, brick is a kind of traditional material which can easily show local culture.

Red Brick Art Museum/ Architect: Yugan Dong/ Beijing, China http://www.archiposition.com/travel/inspirations/item/1472-beijing-architecture-map-galleries.html

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Project / Situation

Informal

settlements

near

intensive

agriculture land The constructions near the large agricultural land are monotonous and the elevations are closed. There are no changeable and no relationship with the agricultural environment.

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Project / Outcome

Reasons for Selection - The brick wall is simply an enclosed structure so can change in form to create a changing facade that allows the building to connect with the environment. - Brick as a kind of local material can be accepted easily. - Brick is a kind of natural material and it can be suitable to the environment. Descriptions The use of bricks not only shows local cultural characteristics, but also is closer to the natural environment, and makes many facades and internal space changes. It can also create courtyard which can develop agriculture production in local families.

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Programme / Food Production

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Project / Situation

The distribution of population density decreases f rom the internal original immigrant area to the outside outcomer area. In fact, the population density in El Malqa is not as high as it looks.

Egypt 2010 population density

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Project / Situation

Reuse the abandoned temporary buildings for social activities.

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Project / Example of case Decentralized spatial units of productive space

Self-sufficiency in food and energy is achieved

through

a

limited

and

comprehensive space. The concept combines a variety of innovative technologies, such as energy positive homes, renewable energy, energy storage, door-step high-yield organic food production, vertical farming aquaponics/aeroponics, water management and waste-to-resource systems.

ReGen Villages(2016) / Architects : EFFEKT / Location : Almere, The Netherlands / Area 15500 sqm https://www.archdaily.com/794167/innovative-self-sustaining-village-model-could-be-the-future-of-semi-urban-living

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Project / Example of case Decentralized spatial units of productive space

An effective way to achieve intensive farmland, agricultural p roduc t ion and f ood saf et y g u a r a n t e e t h r o u g h such a s c ie n t if i c m a n a ge m e n t a n d irrigation method.

Door-step high-yield organic food production

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Project / Outcome

A comprehensive space that includes social space / public cowshed / food production / infrastructure system core and so on.

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Programme / Water System

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Project / Situation

The canal blocked by garbage and animal carcasses

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Project / Example of case Enrichment of landuse by floating field agriculture

Take full advantage of abandoned factories and a small amount of farmland. The project combines low-tech aquaponics with a contemporary dyke-pond system. Cocoon-spinning silkworms inside a pavilion are fed from mulberry trees, filtering ponds with water-cleansing plants and grasses provide food for fish, and specially cultivated micro-algae is harvested to purify the water and produce fish feed.

A floating ecosystem of plant-filled boxes / Architects :Thomas Chung / Location : Shekhou, China https://inhabitat.com/abandoned-factory-in-china-becomes-a-giant-floating-field-of-fish-and-algae/

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Project / Example of case Enrichment of landuse by floating field agriculture

Multiple cycles are integrated to enable wastewater recycling, crop production, and water purification.

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Project / Outcome

Transformate abandoned factories and canals into floating fields for Agricultural Tourism and food production.

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Programme / Infrastructure and Energy

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Project / Situation

The hierarchy of roads is not claer. Except the arterial roads surrounding the site, there‘s none formal street. Roads are formed

according

to

the

partition of infomal buildings.

Egypt 2017 satellite map

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Project / Situation

Street Network - Different width of roads

- Main roads. - Vehicles / Donkey-carts can pass through.

- Roads by the channel..

- Local streets. - Main pedestrian way.

- Alleys.

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Project / Outcome

The concept of the project is to define the hierarchy of roads. According to the width of roads and

their

functions

and

potential capacities, build up a sustainable

transportation

systems for environmental and economical benefits.

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Plaza by the Channel

Project / Outcome

Roads by the Channel

- A system that pedestrian pathways

combine

with

landscape and plaza. - Bridges on the channel. - Connecting two sides of channel and enhance the communication.

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Project / Outcome

Along the river shore we will create a green space with trees. Over the river are three bridges to connect both sides.

Along

the green space will be steps leading down to the canal. There people can sit next to the water to take in the surroundings and relax.

Transform the canal to an open urban space

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Project / Outcome

A part of the canal will have a market place. T here are booths were people can sell groceries and produce, which are made in Helwan. The booths are made out of steel and connect with rods to the ground. We want to turn around the current problems of the canal and create a new attraction for Helwan.

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Project / Outcome

The Chaipattana Aerator is a low speed surface aerator for which His Majesty holds a patent in Thailand. A lot of different models have been developed in the years after its invention. Such devices may significantly improve the water quality of lakes / ponds which have no natural source of air / oxygen.

The Chaipattana Aerator

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Project / Outcome

Water is a habitat not only for fish, but also for a lot of bacteria and plants. Similar to organisms on land, oxygen is necessary for them to survive. Fish and crustaceans have gills to absorb the oxygen for respiration. They need a minimum of 4 mg O2 per liter of H2O to survive without damage. The ability of water to dissolve oxygen is 9.1 mg/l @ 20 °C (maximum, lower at higher temperature). However, this is only a theoretical value. The actual value is lower because of other substances dissolved in water or because fish absorb the

1) motor

oxygen. On the other hand, oxygen can be

2) gear(box)

introduced through various other mechanisms.

3) bearing 4) ...

The amount of dissolved oxygen is therefore a balance between absorber, donator, temperature, and other substances dissolved. If this balance is seriously disturbed, this is called waste water.

5) pivot 6) wheel 7) basket 8) floating body 9) transverse connector 10) ... 11) stand Water & Oxygen, dissolved Oxygen

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Project / Outcome In case of polluted/waste water, the aerator is used in combination with a water hyacinth. The aerator adds oxygen to the polluted water and the hyacinth filters / treats the water. To avoid (or cure) that, it is possible to enrich the water with air. This is very advantageous for still waters like lakes or ponds, where no natural flow takes place. Here, the aerator produces some waterflow to enrich the water with air (which consists of approx. 21 % of oxygen). The model RX-2 consists of two wheels with six baskets mounted in them. The baskets are open on top and have a lot of small holes at the walls and at the bottom. This ensures that, when the wheels turn, the baskets are filled quickly when diving into the water and empty slowly in a lot of thin water jets, maximizing its efficiency by creating turbulence in the water. Water & Oxygen, dissolved Oxygen

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Project / Outcome

Street Market

Local Streets

-

Extension of public uses on private lands ( breaking stairs).

- Commodity trading. - Goods exchange.

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Project / Outcome

Arcades in the Alleys

Alleys

- Differentiation space by arcades. - Distinguish semi-private space in front of housing and public space (alleys).

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Project / Outcome

De-centered Stops

- Connecting the site with capital Cairo and Helwan city. - Convenient

access

for

residents to other public space and facilities.

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Project / Outcome

Bus Stops on Collectors

- Microbuses

can

pass

through the road. - Bus stops made of wood or local material.

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Programme / Health

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Project / Situation

This is an area where people. gather

to

communicate

and

relax.

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Project / Situation

Tradition maqad was simple and cude.

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Project / Outcome

“New Maqad” with garbage classification.

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Project / Outcome In order to optimize the living quality of the informal area in Helwan, my project responds to the existing environmental problems, intervenes in a purely container attitude to solve the functional requirements of the environment, at the same time, create a livly living places. It is properly organized and combined with the garbage collection points. Small green space is reserved inside for simple and transparent. The building use wood and stone from local area.

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Project / Outcome

Garbage Disposal Center — Service radium is 800 meters

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Project / Example of case

The turnover basket low cost, durable, can be a large number of copy combinations, easy assembly, quality and cheap, modulus, good transportation, load capacity amazing, but itself has a good building component properties, environmentally friendly economic recyclable, non-toxic and tasteless You can rest assured that playing.

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Project / Outcome

Using turnover baskets to build an outdoor space device for residents in informal area to rest and gather, Turnover baskets are normal things in the informal area, which supermarket loaded with fruits or drinks. The box can be planted as a green garden, It also can put some books into it as small village. By discovering the innovative value of ordinary materials in life, inhabitate can also see the power of creativity and rethink the world around them.

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Project / Situation

Trash or garbage (e.g. paper, plastic, or food waste) discarded by people on the ground, along with accidental or intentional dumping of rubbish, that are washed by rainfall into storm drains and eventually discharged into surface waters.

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Project / Outcome

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Cairo Informal Residence Settlements Transformation DIA Win17/18 Prof. Dr. Ing. Andrea Haase Cand. MA Minghao Wu Cand. MA Ren Wang

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Research Site Helwan

This is our first research area in Cairo. It is an informal area which has a lot of unplanned problems. People here are lack of clear awareness of what kind of unhealthy environment they are living with. Besides, the inconvenient facilities and transportation waste their time. The people here are poor and lack of education. They don't have awareness to have a better life. Sad story is that they even don't see the outside world. Shall we alarm them or how to advise them to change? 69

Helwan Informal Settlements Problems

Unplanned livestock breeding area can bring people some troubles. Here has some potential to be a good landscape corner but now the plants are damaged by the livestock here. The livestock inside the living community also bring some bad smells or some illness for people.

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Unplanned agricultural land still work here and bring precious green space. But the two edges of the land are damaged. The edge near the buildings are damaged by people and people have inconvenient transportation there. On the road edge the garbages are throwed into the farming land because there is no middle space to separate the road and the agricultural land.

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Architectures are only in single function. There are too many rooms but few residents. So they waste a lot material and architecture space and their community is boring somehow. People there have few activities together. Long time later, it is not good for their mental and physical health.

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Informal public facility and communication center. It doesn't has good use. People don't like to stay there. It is too dark and don't have good atmosphere for people to enjoy their public activities there.

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Polluted agricultural irrigation canal and wrong garbage arrangement. As a result they destroy the landscape there and bring bad health condition. Then they will spend more on irrigation and health care.

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Site for Design

We choose a small part with the same problems as a site to make our design.

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Traffic and Overall Space Changing

The traffic and rural space before changing Before the transformation, the area is well connected with the outside world because of the multi-directional road. However, for internal residents, there are too many detours and dead ends, which are inconvenient to use. In terms of space, one of the major conflicts is too high density. At the same time, the function of space is simple and there is no transition.

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Case of China's urban villages

So we try to change this situation. This is a case study of the renovation of China's urban villages that I am currently researching. The principle is space is divided into three categories: public, semi-public, private. Compared to the status quo, we need to plan semi-public space. The specific method is: 1. Optimize the road network; 2. Demolition of some houses, the remaining space is used for the surrounding houses; 3. Landscape along the streets.

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Public

Semi-Public

Private

The traffic and rural space after changing

This is the transformation aftrer consideration. Solve the problem of internal traffic congestion and high spatial density Roads and spaces are optimized by the new green space. And the different type of space make the residents more comfortable.

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Canal Design bad view for residence Garbage

Polluted river Polluted agricultural land

Nobody wants to get close to the river for it's bad situation and smell. AS the center of the residence area, It should has good view condition, but now it has no good landscape view. Nowadays

Now for me I am thinking the different questions: 1.how can I create good landscape. 2.how can I solve the water pollution. 3,how can I move the garbage and repair the canal.

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Canal Design

Green Filter Island

Buried Garbage

The answer to my questions: 1. Try to move the garbage in two ways, the first is to buried some harmless garbage on the canal bank as basis to save transportation money, the second is to move harmful garbage to city garbage collection point. 2. Try to use some green islands as water filter. The bottom for the island can use some bottles. 3. On the two sides of the canal now can give some vertical landscape and 80 provide some playground for child.

Garbage Management

Separated Garbage

Garbage Transportation

We use the site as a example. First we should divide the big informal area into different small communities. Then families in every community donate money to buy the garbage barrels and garbage transportation vehicles. Then according to the community area to decide how many garbage collection point should be arranged. 81

Garbage Management Using an old ladder as a bookshelf.

Convert folding chairs into a shelf and closet.

Use plastic bottles as a garden sprinkler, drip irrigation system or plant container.

Source： HTTP://www.quora.com/Inno vation-How-do-I-makeuseful-household-thingsfrom-waste

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Agricultural Landuse Plan and Protection of Agriculture

The existed agricultural lands are not well protected and near road area and near residence area don't have good landscape feeling. Besides they don't have good shape, they extend into the residence area, so it will bring trouble to residence community but also to the agricultural land.

Existed agricultural land

Semi-agricultural land

Unplanned area

Now for me I am thinking the different questions: 1.Replan some semi-agricultural land into agricultural landscape land. And make the agricultural land more regular which means we can move some agricultural land corners into landscape corners. 2.On the edge of agricultural land we give some vertical agricultural structure to stop people get inside and make good road landscape and facade feeling. 3,Try to use some unplanned area into agricultural land.

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Agricultural Landuse Plan and Protection of Agriculture

residence edge area: In this way people can get good vegetation and landscape. Besides it can decrease the temperature of the wall during summer.

Abandoned area: We can use the old structure to build some new agricultural space and new public space.

Road edge area: The vertical agricultural plants can protect the agricultural land. Increase the economy incomes and help to force the road space.

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Architectural Space Adjustment

Unfinished roof space

Unoccupied residence space

Unoccupied commercial space

Now for me I am thinking the different questions: 1.Is that possible to reduce unused commercial space and break the inside wall to connect better in the community, and also increase more commercial potential chance. 2.Is that possible to give some roof on the building top. And the top floor doesn't use for residence but for chicken breeding or store space, in this way it can be cooler in summer. 3,Try to use the inside unused residential space into some public functions like kids education or some communication center. In this way they can get better communication with the neighbors.

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Architectural Space Adjustment Roof public space

commercial center

In the big informal area, there can be divided into different small community as we make the assumption in garbage management chapter before. And in every community there can be a center, on the roof can be used for public space because of the less ground space and too much population. In this way it can bring more people flow and if we build a big commercial center on the first several floors, it can give the area some income from outside area.

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Conditions and Conclusions - Workshop Cairo Prof. Dr. Ing. Andrea Haase Dessau - January 2018

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The immense challenge for teaching and research of the workshop at IUSD, Ain Shams University Cairo, from 18th23 November 2917, was to approach to the reality of informal settlements, - different types of - at the inner and outer urban edges of Cairo, by means of theory, observation, discussion and, above all, sensual perception. Theory about stages of urban transformation was prepared by IUSD in terms of guest lectures and students’ analysis on the basis of field studies, mainly related to the case of Helwan City. Theory was provided in terms of academic sources of knowledge like experts’ science, to be worked on by detailing, clustering and discussing already existing and also recently gained and deepened aspects knowledge, altogether collected and evaluated by the IUSD students, having been made transparent for the workshop. This basis was extremely helpful and essential for the sensual perception in place. Sensual perception of processes of urban transformation was taken in place, relative to the everyday life of working and living under extreme conditions of struggling, mainly with waste and lack of water management. Memories of the different situations reflect on the existing conditions. Memories refer, above all, to the faces of children, having seen so much in their lives, looking as determined as if they would be adults, and many adults, looking as naively as children, having stopped developing their awareness at a certain point, when too many duties overlaid each other. Spatial synthesis - Analysis and perception have been demanded for answering the open questions about projects, programs, plans and policies. The case of Istable Antar, regarded by Tino Ahlmann, has been given a lot of consideration in terms of “process-thinking”. This was an important mile-stone for the whole workshop. The case of Helwan, having been worked on by all the other students, appeared firstly to be an opportunity to come up with design-ideas. This opportunity was tested by Elena Erichsen, Arthit Artamnuay and Songshan Zhou for the area of the canal. The urban layout and ways of water- and waste management were taken into consideration in order to qualify the channel as a major public area, attractive for market activities, for staying and for the selling of goods to visitors. The strategy behind was to bind all ideas for self-organisation in the area initially to this spatial pilot-project with aimed to spill-over effects on the levels of health and ecology/ economy as well as a resulting community brand to be shown to the outside of the settlement

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Working on needed projects for Helwan in Germany, far away from the reality to be perceived directly, was difficult for the master students in terms of searching for and finding sectoral answers to the cycle of problems: It was even more difficult, to define and to allocate solutions in form of comprehensive projects and their perspectives for the more abstract levels of program, plan and policy in relationship with local conditions of space. However, that was exactly the request from the side of the DIA-International Master Course of Architecture, Dessau/ Germany. Following the three major categories of Henri Lefebvre (use, image, concept of space) was causing a framework for binding different options and aims of potential interventions from different potential actors to the local morphology of built form and open spaces and to the decentral distribution of infrastructure. Reading the existing structure led to different conceptual ideas about concepts. However, finally, after the collection and discussion of different cases of reference for an anticipation of how to qualify the area in accordance to self-organisation, it became very clear that only those cases of reference would help to find relevant answers which would also give answers to the urban management of the processes to be agreed, guided and supported locally. Especially the final presentations of the first part of the master-theses – which had concentrated on the Helwan study as the major case of learning from informality - brought up the recognition that more research was needed to dig deeply into values, means and criteria for urban transformation. Research would – on one side – be far away and would nevertheless – on the other side – apply global knowledge by adapting it to local conditions of feasibility and implementation for the benefit of individuals and groups, building the wider community. Such knowledge about local conditions will have to be searched for by deepening into research (like interviews of key persons) for finding solutions on the sides of sectoral and equally spatial aspects – as part of the process of accepting and guiding self-organization. The overall learning outcome of the studio “Cairo – in transformation” might be typological answers about how to modify local routines by spatial structures for the benefit of built and agricultural environment. These answers are about: how far to give space to urbanization and how much and where to protect agriculture. These answers have to be found yet. 89