#helwan

Dessau Institute of Architecture Masters Programme

Elective Peter Ruge, SDM XII - ‘On the G-Road’

Mohamed Mansour Elzainy, Hossameldin Badr, Amro Ibrahim Hamead, Mitkovets Lada - Vertical Village

During the initial conceptualization, several factors have been considered mainly based on the ‘Triangle of Sustainability’, which is - the environmental factors, the social factors and the economic factors. These factors have been taken into account since the beginning of the design process, where the decision was taken to use sustainable material and reuse building materials. Based on the site chosen (Helwan - Egypt), we decided to use environmentally friendly materials such as sugar cane - for the facades and to cover the tower’s wooden beams. The structural stability of the building is calculated using a simulation program called ‘Karampa’. This software would provide the stress and strain, the smallest thickness required of the wooden beams, as well as the least amount of wood to be used to minimise the wastage (the article about this is also available in the Helwan).

For the purpose of reusing building materials, the wood from the old buildings is repurposed into floors & beams and the old bricks are used for the facade of the new building. As recycled materials, about 70% the glass from the old windows and about 80% of the insulation material from the old building are recycled for the new units. Additionaly, solar power on top of the new steel structure is proposed.