THE HEAR & NOW
Initial Fieldwork
The (Un) Constructed Situations |
Artefact 3.1 - 3.2 Right & Below | Cairo collages day 1
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An initial unplanned exploration of Cairo resulted in a series of natural, wild and unexpected encounters.
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Being offered food in a family's bedroom after being invited up their pigeon tower
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Being ushered into a typical minivan for a 2hr drive to the New Capital (with too few seats)
Culturally Diverse Neighbourhoods |
Artefact 3.3 Below | Mapping of Cairo's main districts
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Due to its ancient heritage Cairo is made up of many districts with varying vernacular forms and demographics.
Historic Cairo | Informal
Artefact 3.4 Left | First Impression Collage
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A 10th century UNESCO heritage site. Mass migration in the 19th century led to residential blocks being densely packed between ancient ruins & mosques.
Garbage City | Informal
Artefact 3.5 Left | First Impression Collage
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A slum settlement home to 60,000 primarily Coptic Christians. The economy and livelihoods revolve around garbage collection and processing.
Downtown | Formal
Artefact 3.6 Left | First Impression Collage
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An urban centre for the upper class lines the River Nile. It hosts (restricts the poor from) Cairo's cultural institutions and caters to tourism.
City of the Dead | Informal
Artefact 3.7 Left | First Impression Collage
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An ancient necropolis is now home for many Cairenes due to overcrowding. Nonetheless, parts of the UNESCO site have been demolished to make highways.
New Capital | Formal
Artefact 3.8 Left | First Impression Collage
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Built in the desert with western ideals the capital, still under construction, lies desolate. The architecture is hostile and at a non human scale to control riots.
Derive - An Alternative Form of Exploration
Theory of the Derive |
Artefact 3.9 Right | Conditions of discourse analysis (Luo, 2019) and Ward's accompanying derive plan.
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'Derives involve playful constructive behaviour and awareness of psycho geographical effects... quite different from the classic stroll' (Plotegher, 2011).
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Inspired by personal agendas students observed various user groups to understand the city's social infrastructure better.
Noise was inescapable
Derive (change of ) Plan |
Artefact 3.10 Below | Derive plan made prior to the Cairo Trip.
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To investigate the impact of noise I had planned to start where I thought would be the loudest and seek out the quiet. A few days in I hadn't felt quiet. I reflected on my preconceptions, Cairo's soundtrack is chaotic.
The Derive |
Artefact 3.11 Below | Derive location, sounds, findings & noise levels plotted
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Sound is fundamental to Cairo and a constant in the everyday. Seeking quiet would reduce encounters with the public. I reversed the plan. My derive asked residents of the informal, undertaking daily activities, to make their biggest and best sounds.
Derive Reflection |
Artefact 3.12 Left | Screenshots from conversations which took place during the derive
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As an 'outsider' the derive enabled personal connection with the informal. The medium started conversations and highlighted moments of significance.
Asking to listen to the simplest forms of self expression sparked joy in residents
Identified Scenarios |
Artefact 3.13 Right | Photographs of Historic Cairo
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+ Social and physical culture is under threat of removal.
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+ There is a lack of quiet space in which to foster mental well-being.
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+ Cairo's community appreciate the noise and chaos but can't control it.
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+ People are ambitious to improve their lives and infrastructure.
'How can architecture reinforce culture & support well-being?'
