Green roofs are an effective way to solve many environmental problems. New cities in Egypt have recently suffered from increasing energy consumption as a result of increasing construction density resulting from population growth, which has decreased green spaces in Egyptian cities. This paper aims to improve the energy consumption of cooling and heating energy in social housing in new urban cities in Egypt, reduce high temperatures inside and outside building, and decrease the urban heat island effect. To achieve these aims, the study suggests a method that is based on modifying the traditional roof of residential construction in Egypt by converting it to a green roof. An integrated analysis model including a strategy shows the environmental and climatic benefits of using green roofs to provide the external outdoor temperature of social housing buildings. The result revealed that green roofs, which are used by 50% of green roofs in traditional buildings, were shown to be efficient in reducing annual energy consumption by 12% and decreasing the average temperature inside buildings by 2.44°C, whereas the average temperature outside was reduced by 3°C.
11 November 2019 in Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop strategies of re-imaging the Rosetta historic district through choosing the suitable uses and their specific locations in compliance with the urban design fabric of the historic core. These strategies are to be fulfilled using Space Syntax as an urban analysis tool, in the context of “connectivity analysis.” Design/methodology/approach: The research methodology follows the combined strategy between three methods of research: a SWOT analysis, to reveal the historic core status; an experimental research approach, which stimulates the chosen area via Space Syntax; and the third is a case study of the Rosetta historic core. Findings: The re-usage of the Rosetta old core was not originally planned as commercial and to host movable vendors, but the core was forced to adapt afterwards to suit this usage, while the Souk and those big new residential building urban blocks have clearly deformed the historic image of the Rosetta historic core. Moving from one space to another, it was found that well-connected spaces have higher movement density, such as Al Souk Street, while less dense spaces can tolerate more movement without conflicting with highly dense ones. The existing commercial activities can be classified into movable activities – which can be easily relocated – and shop-based, which need a developmental approach in their original locations. The disconnected district can be used as a commercial zone for the movable vendors, to which human flow can be successfully directed in order to reduce the density in the more connected spaces. Originality/value: The research value lies in exploring how to re-image urban heritage via relocating the places reused with unsuitable activities through Space Syntax.
World Heritage sites face many challenges that affect the quality of life (QOL), it is thus empirical that more research studies shed light upon this important topic. This research examines the most important problems of Egyptian World Heritage Sites, with a focus on the Memphis site due to its outstanding universal value (OUV) and the posed threats that may affect its global value. The necessity of maintaining world heritage sites in accordance with UNESCO's guidelines has recently come to the state's attention so a supreme committee was formed, according to a presidential decree. Thus, this paper aims to present an applied strategy for managing Memphis site in an integrated manner to contribute to raising the QOL indicators while maintaining the OUV of the site through a multiphase research approach; first the theoretical approach, where a literature review and the basic concepts; second, an empirical desk-based literature review of similar sites. This in turn yielded quantitative and qualitative results and allowed for the measurement of the link between QOL and heritage sites management. Then a third phase which consisted of devising an applicable strategy management plan for Memphis site. The strategy has been proposed in light of the country’s vision, strategy for sustainable development: Egypt vision 2030, and the strategic plan for Greater Cairo Region 2050.
The unstable climate causes many related risks, including heavy rainfall. In the past, Egypt experienced rainfall over time. Although Egypt is still classified as a low-precipitation country, it can experience extreme rainfall events, resulting in flash floods. Many fragile materials related to heritage building façades may be affected by the change in rainfall rates without any risk assessment plan. This research aims to confront the hazards of raindrop strikes, as the need for making a risk management plan has arisen in order to preserve heritage buildings from heavy rainfall. The research methodology uses the ABC risk assessment quantitative method in addition to experts’ multi-round assessments and tornado diagrams to analyze the magnitude of risks in order to create a risk assessment plan for a group of heritage buildings in Historic Cairo as a pilot study that can be generalized for similar cases. The final output is framed into a cause-and-effect model for rainfall risk problem solving, generated by rainfall risk causes and effects on the heritage building facades.
18 June 2020 in Bulletin of the Faculty of Engineering. Mansoura University