Desert architecture for educational buildings, a case study: A center for training university graduates
- Ain Shams Univ., Cairo (Egypt). Inst. of Environmental Studies and Research
A new program for training graduates in desert development is being implemented by the Desert Development Center (DDC) of the American University in Cairo. The facilities consist of fifty bed/sitting rooms for accommodating 100 students. Each unit consists of two rooms and a bathroom for the use of 4 students; a lecture theater which can house 120 students, with adjoining office for trainers as well as necessary facilities; a general cafeteria which can serve 120--150 persons and an adjoining dining room for teaching staff. The cafeteria building also houses the kitchen; a cold storage area; a laundry room, storerooms, sleeping quarters and services for the labor force of the building complex; a system of solar water heaters; and a special sanitary sewage system for treatment of waste water produced by the building`s activities. When designing and implementing this complex, architectural elements and building philosophy based on the concept of integrating with the environment were considered. Elements included orientation heights and building materials suited to the desert environment, thick walls, outer and inner finishing materials, roofs, malkafs, floors, colors, solar heaters, lighting, green areas, windbreaks, terraces, and furniture. The paper includes a general evaluation of this educational building based on the PRA approach (Participatory Rapid Appraisal) involving those living and working in it. As a result of her position with the project, the author was able to evaluate the original designs, recommend modifications, and evaluate their implementation and fulfillment of the original goals of the projects.
- OSTI ID:
- 379843
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960430-; ISBN 0-89553-211-5; TRN: IM9644%%299
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 25. American Solar Energy Society conference, Asheville, NC (United States), 13-18 Apr 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of 21. national passive solar conference: Proceedings. Volume 21; Campbell-Howe, R.; Wilkins-Crowder, B. [eds.]; PB: 438 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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