Browsing by Author "Amer, Nihal"

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Community Participation in Self-Developed Areas and Development Projects
(Technische Universität Berlin, 4/24/2018) Amer, Nihal
Community participation in self-developed areas is a key issue in contributing to the success of public housing. The main objective of this paper is to explore the factors that lead to the success of projects designed through participatory approach and cohousing design and the possibility of applying them while planning and designing new cities in Egypt. Accordingly, reasons behind achieving a highly appreciated housing are highlighted. The idea of participatory design is presented showing its fundamental characteristics and how residents actively participate in the design and operation of their neighborhood. A descriptive analysis of self-developed area in Germany (Southern part of Tubingen) and USA ("The Village" Cohousing project, Wisconsin) are presented. A recent participatory project in Egypt, about Maspero Triangle development urban project, indicating the importance of community engagement in the development process is highlighted. Finally, the means of achieving a successful participatory design in self-developed areas are pointed out, showing the importance of its application in Egypt. Accordingly, it is deduced how the physical design of the neighborhood through community participation encourages both individual space and social contact.
Cultural and Behavioral Factors in Upgrading Deteriorated Urban Space - Case Study: Old Cairo
(Scopus, 2016) Amer, Nihal; Abdelhalim, Eman
Cairo has been suffering from growth of deteriorated areas in many old districts. Such deterioration is accompanied by a massive decline in the social, cultural and economic characteristics. Cultural and behavioral aspects are not fully taken into consideration while upgrading deteriorated areas in Egypt. The present work tackles the relation between residents’ culture and the use of urban space. The paper introduces a sequential matrix that relates cultural and behavioral patterns with the aim of finding the main development entries for deteriorated spaces. The way in which distinguished sociologists and urban designers tried to understand the nature of urban planning and human behavior is examined. Their theories are analyzed and categorized within the scope of the present work and an estimated sequential matrix is reached. The non-physical attributes are converted into physical dimensions to be measured and calculated in a numerical matrix. This matrix and its implementations as a checklist for Darb El Labbana area has been framed. Accordingly, development entries are identified and 3d development proposal is presented.
Greening the Architectural Curriculum in Egyptian Institutions of Higher Education
(Building Simulation Conference Cairo, 2013) Amer, Nihal
Egypt is taking serious steps towards sustainability and energy efficiency. The Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Development (MHUUD) has an interest in promoting green buildings as part of its overall sustainable development policies. The Housing and Building National Research Center (HBNRC) took the initiative to establish the Egyptian Green Building Council (GBC-Egypt). In response to the need for an Egyptian green building assessment system, the HBNRC has produced the Green Pyramid Rating System (GPRS). It is important to raise awareness among the practicing and academic architects to the seriousness of having green buildings as the next future direction for Egyptian buildings. In the Egyptian architectural education, inclusions of sustainability aspects are fragmented relying mainly upon individual efforts of lecturers that are familiar and inclined towards the subject matter. The present paper attempts to integrate the concept of sustainability into the thinking and teaching of architecture in Egypt. This will be achieved by modifying present educational approach and practice. There is a need to review the existing curriculum of schools of architecture to include the important aspects of sustainability in the courses content. Two Egyptian universities are selected: Cairo University (CU) and October University of Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), and compared with the College of Architecture in Arizona, USA. Introducing sustainability design studios and sustainability related courses to the architectural education are essential. Change in architectural curriculum in Egyptian universities is discussed.