Raghad Ibrahim

New Gourna is a controversial project from the Egyptian liberal era that is still vibrant with resistant qualities valid for the current ‘neo liberal’ era. It embodies a unique moment; in-between tradition and modernity, in-between national and reform projects, or in-between success and failure. This research argues for the validity of an In-Between resistance that goes beyond opposition to offer a wide range of possibilities. Such resistance would work between tradition and modernity to explore the hidden potentialities. From this view point, New Gourna is revisited; the aim is to examine its in-between stance and to extract its inherited qualities that would inspire the Egyptian contemporary practice. The paper runs two lines of inquiry to explore New Gourna in the context of two main projects that emerged during this time; the national identity project and the countryside reform project. The resistant qualities of New Gourna are deduced from within the two projects and its acceptance is analyzed. Finally the paper points to the consistency of concepts and divergence of practice New Gourna manifests.

KEYWORDS: Resistance- New Gourna- Hassan Fathy- Identity- countryside reform

Aesthetics in Cairo used to focus on the discussion of the psychological aspect and its related theories such as the Gestalt. This approach seemed that it does not address the full potential of studying aesthetics whether theoretically or contextually. Therefore, the authors of this paper proposed an alternative approach to study the subject when they had the opportunity to do so a few years ago. Naturally, they were faced by a number of challenges regarding the content as well as the context of the subject
The authors suggested an approach that attempted to relate ‘theorizing’ with ‘observations’ as means to approach the aesthetical experience. In addition, they encouraged the students to create, make, and ‘reconstruct’ their observations in order to cultivate their sensitivity to beauty.
The aim was to investigate a number of issues, namely:
- The exploration of the deep qualities of traditional architecture.
- The relevance of these traditional qualities to the making of architecture today.
This approach was first introduced in fall 2006 at Cairo University. In each following cycle, a different traditional architectural element was used to contemplate the issues of aesthetics; a courtyard, a doorway, a ceiling, etc. This paper attempts to reflect on the experiment with special concern to its first two cycles.
The paper runs three lines of inquiry in addition to the introduction that outlines the approach. The first line is a discussion of the local understanding of aesthetics and the theoretical grounds of the approach. The Second is an overview of the experiment with its two phases; exploration and manifestation. The third inquiry assesses the experiment and outlines students’ view point. Finally, the paper attempts to reflect critically on the experiment where a continuous process of contemplating, theorizing, making and designing is suggested to link manual and mental skills and to challenge students’ customary clichés.

Keywords: Education – Aesthetics – Ethics – Traditional Architecture

Modern technology is usually thought of as a mark of society’s progress. However, the knowledge base of this complex type of technology is usually restricted to a limited number of people or communities. When developing countries adopt such complex technology they deal with it as an ‘object’ rather than ‘activity’ or ‘knowledge’, which in turn widens the gap between technology and society.
This research investigates a different approach where technology is dealt with as an ordinary practice based on a knowledge mastered by the society. The research argues that “ordinary practices” of technology, even though modest in nature can inspire architects in their quest to develop the art of building and contribute in the development of the society.

The paper runs two lines of inquiry. The introduction outlines the relation between technology and society where two extreme positions arise; technological determinism and social shaping of technology. Then the first line of inquiry investigates this relation as part of the wider domain of social responsibility. Consequently, various attitudes of technological responsibility are outlined including ignorance, acceptance, criticism, and guidance. The second line of inquiry, the ‘guidance’ attitude is explored through a review of the Visitors’ Center at Wadi El-Gemal, where the adopted technology is analyzed in relation to the available knowledge and resources of the local community. Finally, the paper concludes with a reflection on the role of the architect to ‘define’ and ‘refine’ the ordinary technological practice of the community.

Graduation design studio is considered pivotal for addressing the emerging needs and challenges facing the society. The main interest of this research is to shed some light on the various approaches of running graduation design studios in the local context, and to investigate the way these studios respond to social needs, problems and ambitions. The scope of this research is limited to the architectural schools in the Greater Cairo Region aiming to review the graduation design studio within the last few years; its vision, methods and techniques of teaching.

The paper runs three lines of inquiry. First, an introduction that outlines the complex challenges with respect to social and global forces and the need for a socially responsible architect. Second, a literature review of the different approaches to enhance students’ social responsibility within the architectural design studio. Third is an investigation of the methods and techniques applied in running graduation studios in the local context. Finally, the paper attempts to reflect on presented cases as well as the concept of negative responsibility and the rethinking of the architect as a citizen.

This paper focuses on the study of the signs that promises good quality in the emerging contemporary architecture in Egypt. We call these indications of desirable changes in architecture; "potentialities". In this respect, we agree with (Leclerc, 1972): “I regard this process of `realizing of a potentiality to produce a new actuality' to be the basic paradigm of change.”
What is presented here is a rethinking of a year long process of critical discussions with post graduate students at Cairo University. Our aim was to recognize and explore local potentialities that can be considered as basic paradigm of change; a change towards promoting new actuality of high quality architecture. We thought of three main issues that constitute the major challenges to architecture in Egypt as a frame work of our search. These issues are; environment, technology and the history.
The paper runs three lines of inquiry; the first outlines the role potentiality could play as a basic paradigm of change. The second focuses on the three raised issues of environment, technology, history. While the third line of inquiry, investigates potentiality in the Egyptian context within the last few decades.

Keywords: Potentiality, History, Technology, Environment, Egyptian architecture.

Beauty is a central issue in architecture. And if we accept that real beauty is what brings humanity into a balanced state of being, thus it is essential in making life feasible and meaningful. Architecture, as an art in itself, is the means of introducing the issue of beauty to the members of the community and to enhance their environment. In cities like Cairo where poverty and decay are everywhere, aesthetics we believe is a very relevant issue. The existing of enormous amount of traditional buildings despite the sweeping forces of negligence and environmental deteriorations are posing many challenges. From our point of view, aesthetics is essential for living up to the challenges facing the community of Cairo.

This research is a dive into traditional Islamic architecture with an emphasis on houses. It aims at raising, discussing, and investigating number of issues, namely; the exploration of the deep qualities of traditional architecture and the relevance of these traditional values in the making of architecture today.

The research uses the traditional courtyard of Zinab Khaton house as a window to contemplate on the issues of aesthetics as been explored through an elective course at Cairo University in 2006. The research starts with an introduction that outlines an approach to teaching and understanding aesthetics in the local context. Then, the research presents the multiple observations and contemplations of the aesthetics of the courtyard that lead to the re-produce of certain values and qualities through models and photomontage. Finally, the paper reflects on the experiment.

To understand traditional Islamic architecture or any other form of ideological based architecture, it is necessary to be aware of the way traditional man viewed his being, his relation to the macrocosms, or his sacred vision. This paper is an attempt to comprehend the representation of Islamic sacred beliefs through geometric compositions with special concern to geometric patterns. The paper runs three successive lines of inquiry in addition to an introduction to the concept of sacredness between cosmology and ontology. The first inquiry is an investigation of the distinctive characteristics of sacredness in the Islamic vision. The second is a revision of the concept of sacred geometry and representation in Islamic arts and architecture, while the third is a close examination of the usage of geometric patterns and their metaphysical dimensions as have been understood in the traditional Islamic philosophy. Finally the paper set forth its notes on the sacredness of Islamic geometric patterns between abstraction and substitution.

The subject of beauty is as old as philosophy; it was a matter of both interest and contradiction, however the most remarkable characteristic of the sense of beauty remains undefined. In relation, studies of aesthetic in architecture have many difficulties, due to the shortage of applied aesthetic studies in addition to the lack of clear philosophical bases.
"The sense of beauty" by G. Santayana (1896) is one of the distinguished philosophical studies that tackled the subject of beauty in a clear, simple and comprehensive way; based on the naturalistic psychology. The objective of the paper is to examine the applicability and validity of Santayana's aesthetic theory as a critical and analytical frame work in architecture. The methodology of the study depends on rereading and reviewing the main frame of Santayana's theory from the point of view of selected architectural writings such as Rasmussen (1959), Schulz (1965) and Lang (1987). In addition the study presents some recent local architectural examples that clarify the discussed philosophical and architectural concepts.
The paper runs three lines of inquiry. First is an introduction that outlines Santayana's vision to the nature of beauty and the main frame of his theory, second comes the analysis of the main categories of beauty; (material, form and expression). Finally the paper concludes and assesses some guidelines to approach the sense of architectural beauty within the borders of Santayana's aesthetic theory.

In their high times, traditional Islamic cities were looked at, especially in Arabic literature, as a place where the nomad can be changed and become a civilized human being. Because the nomad life was a continuous struggle for survival, the city was considered then to be a refuge place. In it the nomad who was used to the rough living in the desert under eminent and continuous danger sought a safe, peaceful and cultured place. Therefore the city was considered to be a place where the nomad to be redeemed.
Through participating in the international urban competition organized by Kanton Sarajevo and the University of Sarajevo in the year 2000, we found persuasive similarities between life in the desert and war time in contrast to traditional city life in the former sense enough to build on. More over Sarajevo belongs to a multi cultural grounds where Islamic values constitute a substantial part. This, as we thought, support the relevance of the concept of redemption as an underlying and a key concept in our competition entry.
The paper runs two main lines of inquires; the first is a theoretical investigation of the concept of redemption, the urbanization process, and the city as a place for redemption. The second is a critical discussion of the presented project in the international urban competition (2000) to redesign the zones "C" and "C1" in Sarajevo. To put our underlying key concept –redemption- into work we devised three main relations that help to create a place for enriching and enhancing the citizens. The three main relations adopted were; Connection to surrounding Community, Connection to nature, and Knowledge as the symbol for rebuilding the city.
Finally the paper reflects on possibility of using the above mentioned concept in other cites that witnessed a similar situation. A considerable part of such cities, unfortunately are located in Moslem areas.

KEY WORDS
Urban design -Urbanization – City center -Islamic cities – Sarajevo – rehabilitation - development

Methods of teaching design in primary design studios have been widely controversial. This paper is an attempt to understand the forces behind the teaching methods, their aim and methodology. The purpose is to link these forces to the ongoing transformations on both the local and global level. The paper runs three lines of inquiry. First is an introduction that outlines the contextual requirements, second comes a literature review of relevant educational themes, and third is an investigation of existing curriculums in local architectural schools. Finally the paper assesses some guidelines to aid instructors of primary design studios to fulfill their requirements between design basics, local needs and global forces.

The latest catastrophe of Upper Egypt train was one of worst human disasters in the modern history of Egypt. As a consequence of this accident numerous problems in our national railway system were brought to surface. In a dramatic contrast to this deterioration is the rail renaissance that is taking place in the developed nations.
This paper aims at studying the circumstance of the emergence of railway stations in Egypt and the west. It also focuses on the reasons and aspects of the western rail renaissance. Assessing the need for development of the Egyptian rail is also one of the objectives of this study.
The paper acknowledges both the urban and architectural potentialities of the stations. Possible directions for the future development of railway stations in Egypt are discussed and one experiment in that direction is presented.
Finally the conclusion of this study outlines a framework to future upgrading of the Egyptian railway stations. This frame work points to the importance of architectural aspect. It also reconsiders the station as an important city center. Economical and cultural aspects are seen as inseparable of any development plan.

Architectural theory and criticism are pivotal domains in architecture. As the progress of the discipline of architecture depends on both of them, this paper focuses on the relation between the two fields, seeking to answer some questions about the limits of that relation.
The objective of the paper is to define the integration and interpenetration between theory and criticism in architecture, as well as to criticize architectural theories in many aspects, and fiends out its main features.
The methodology of the paper depends on both theoretical and analytical studies through three major fields, the first studies concepts and interrelation between theory and criticism, while the second presents a theoretical study of the aspects of criticizing architectural theories, and the third presents an analytical study of architectural theories from 1965 to 1995.
Finally the paper concludes the features of integration and interpenetration between architectural theory and criticism, outlines three main aspects in criticizing architectural theories, and shows the main features as well as problems of architectural theories at the end of the twentieth century.

Architecture is considered one of the human fields that interfere in knowledge with other sciences and arts. This makes it a human activity that outlines all recent knowledge. This could be further proved in all heritage structures, which interfere with all knowledge and sciences in its ages.
This paper studies the effect of basic sciences on architecture, to evaluate the effect of scientific revolution on architecture, which leads to the understanding of the changes in theoretical approaches in architecture, and how could changes in basic sciences affect this theoretical phenomenon. This could also lead the way for studying the effect of basic sciences on other aspects of architecture, specially intellectual and materialistic aspects.
The objective of this paper is to understand and study the relation between architecture and basic sciences on both theoretical and materialistic prospect, as well as understanding the basics of the relation and the scope of its effect.
The paper's methodology is based on two basic approaches: The first; studies the theoretical concepts of architecture and science, and the second, studies the relation between architecture and the basic sciences.
Finally, a conclusion on the relation between architecture and basic sciences is outlined as shown:
 There is a horizontal interrelationship between architecture and science where science affects both the theoretical and materialistic dimensions of architecture.
 The scientific influence on the intellectual dimension of architecture is because science formulates the visions, paradigms and concepts of the world, and because it offers source of analogy in architecture [e.g. organic architecture].
 The scientific influence on the materialistic dimension of architecture is approached through first: the science of architecture, which includes structural, environmental and designing sciences, and the second, is through both mathematics which affects aesthetics in architecture, and geometry which affects form, morphology and space in architecture.