Ramlet Ramlet Boulaq

Ramlet Boulaq is an older informal settlement that sits in the middle of . It has been located there for around 100 years. The people “Taking me out of here is like taking a fish feel a loyalty towards it as they are connected to it emotionally and out of it’s pond.” socially. As developments increased around it, a condition of an urban pocket was created. Even though the residents live in horrible conditions, they struggle through it as they cannot imagine living anywhere else. The “I am as loyal to this land as I am to my relationships and ties between the people of Ramlet Boulaq should be highlighted and learned from. country, .”

In the year 2003 an Egyptian developer, built the City Towers right across the street. These three towers are compromised of a hotel, -Ramlet Boulaq Resident an office building, and an elite shopping center.The relationship between the slum dwellers and the owner of the towers has been a very complicated one. He has had his eyes on their land for a period of time, while they do not want to sell their land. Nevertheless, in times of need both sides were able to collaborate. During the revolution of 2011 there was a lack of security while thugs and theives roamed the streets. The owner established an agreement with the slum dwellers where they would keep the towers secured as well as occupy the abandoned structures on the edge of Ramlet Boulaq in exchange for pay.

In contrast to various slums elsewhere, the residents of Ramlet Boulaq do hold documents proving land ownership. In addition, they receive electricity, which is another manner in which they argue for their land ownership. Among the reasons why the structures present are deteriorated is due to the fact that the residents were not easily given permits for the maintenance of their homes.

During the past year there has been a case in court filed by the residents of Ramlet Boulaq against his issuance of a land seizure order. On August 29th of this year the court ruled in favor of the residents.

Since the feud for the land that Ramlet Boulaq is located on is now over, it is assumed that maintenance permits will now be easily published. It is time for the residents to be able to move forward and rebuild their homes. What can design do to start to legitimize Ramlet Boulaq in the eyes of surrounding Cairo without denying those existing internal relationships?

How can we start to break the barrier created between the residents of Ramlet Boulaq and the rest of Cairo. How can they stop feeling that they live in the shadow? Only when a growing relationship is sustained between the residents of Ramlet Boulaq and the outside will the struggle end.

The Museum de Favela was able to bring attention to what was once thought to be an off limits area. A similar opportunity Street Food Fresh Produce can be created for the residents of Ramlet Boulaq. The wall dividing Ramlet Boulaq from the towers is approximately 421 feet long. Breaking this barrier can be used as an opportunity to highlight the culture and the people of Ramlet Boulaq.

Providing this opportunity for business and income to flow in through the market gives the residents another stable source of income besides the market where the work at currently. Whether its street food, fresh produce, the bazaar, or music and dance, the residents would be using skills they already have. Bazaar Music and Dance Rather than paying for the water to be treated 11.5 miles away in a grey water filtration plant, the tower owner can collaborate with the residents Water of Ramlet Boulaq to provide them with grey water from one of the towers which would be filtered using a slow sand water filtration system. Rather than paying for the water to be treated 11.5 miles away in a grey water filtration plant, the tower owner can collaborate with the residents Each of the towers produces 6820 litres of grey water per hour, which of Ramlet Boulaq to provide them with grey water from one of the towers adds up to 163,680 litres of water per day. While the needs of water for which would be filtered using a slow sand water filtration system. the residents is a total of 150,000 litres of water per day. [3000 residents x 50 litres of water per day]. Since the filtration of grey water to potable Each of the towers produces 6820 liters of grey water per hour, which water is an extensive process, the water taps that are already present will adds up to 163,680 liters of water per day. While the needs of water for be used for the potable water. The remainder of the non-potable water the residents is a total of 150,000 liters of water per day. [3000 residents would be used for irrigation of the vegation in the courtyards. x 50 liters of water per day]. Since the filtration of grey water to potable water is an extensive process, the water taps that are already present will The rate of flow of water through the sand filtration system is 0.3 litres of be used for the potable water. The remainder of the non-potable water water per meter squared per hour. Therefore two water systems with would be used for irrigation of the vegetation in the courtyards. a surface area of 12 meters squared would be sufficient for the water arriving from the tower. These two tanks would have a flow rate of 7200 The rate of flow of water through the sand filtration system is 0.3 liters of litres per hour. water per meter squared per hour. Therefore two water systems with a surface area of 12 meters squared would be sufficient for the water arriving from the tower. These two tanks would have a flow rate of 7200 liters per hour. Courtyard Housing

Proposed Courtyard Housing Existing Conditions

Proposed Courtyard Housing Existing Conditions

Hammam Reinforced Concrete Units vary between Bricks : between and Reinforced$ 70 Concrete per 1290 sqftUnits vary between750 andBricks 1200 sqft $ 50 per 1000 bricks Total cost per floor $ 520 $ 690 $ 70 per 1290 sqft 750 and 1200 sqft $ 50 per 1000 bricks Total cost per floor: between $ 520 and $ 690

spoiling. Therefore, people mostly had to make do with what they themselves or their neighbours grewspoiling. in their gardens,Therefore, which peopleresulted in mostly their choice had being to make much more do withlimited what than a theylist of themselvesfruit or their neighbours andgrew vegetables in their known gardens, to have been which grown resulted in Egypt [in10] might their suggest. choice being much more limited than a list of fruitThe courtyard house would be compromised of six to eight living units [approximately ], two to three stories high, [10] 25’ x 30’ - 30’The x 40’courtyard house would be compromised of six to eight living andSummer vegetables knownAutumn to have been Wintergrown in Egypt Spring might suggest. and on the ground level are the unitscommunal [approximately spaces [kitchen, 25’living x 30’ - 30’ x 40’ ], two to three stories high, figs melons carobs sycamore figs areas, playing areas, hammam]. Summer Autumn Winter Spring sycamore figs sycamore figs lettuce garlic and on the ground level are the communal spaces [kitchen, living plums tiger nuts garlic celery waterfigs melons cucumbersmelons celery carobsradishes sycamore figs Between 6800 and 8600 bricks areas,will be needed playing for each areas, floor. hammam]. lettucesycamore figs fenugreeksycamore figsradishes lettucelentils garlic colocynth dates lentils black cumin leeksplums pomegranatestiger nuts black cumin garliccoriander celery Average income per household - $ 50 to $ 150 melonswater melons grapes cucumberscoriander celerypeas radishes Between 6800 and 8600 bricks will be needed for each floor. tigerlettuce nuts olives fenugreek peas radishesbroad beans lentils Added income - market and selling of fertilizer cucumbers cumin onions fenugreekcolocynth ziziphus dates lentilschick pea black cumin [human waste composting] leeks carobs pomegranates black cumin coriander Average income per household - $ 50 to $ 150 melons grapes coriander peas Human Composting - a total of 3060 pounds will be produced per Seasonal Crops tiger nuts olives peas broad beans year per courtyard cluster of houses. Table 3. Area and production of selected vegetable crops In Egypt, 1989 Added income - market and selling of fertilizer cucumbers cumin onions Crop Area % of total Production % of total fenugreek (ha) ziziphusarea (t) production chick pea [human waste composting]

Tomato 167 302 carobs31.6 4 212 146 35.0 Potato 86 078 16.3 1 862 018 15.4 Squash - a total of pounds will be produced per 23 147 4.4 418 435 3.5 Human Composting 3060 SeasonalMelon Crops18 201 3.4 408 537 3.4 year per courtyard cluster of houses. TableCabbage 3. Area and16 132 production3.1 of selected459 993 vegetable3.8 crops In Egypt, 1989 Cucumber 15 735 3.0 265 172 2.2 Pepper Crop 15 196 Area2.8 262% of264 total 2.2Production % of total Eggplant 16 749 (ha)3.2 370 area747 3.1 (t) production

Tomato 167 302 31.6 4 212 146 35.0 Potato 86 078 16.3 1 862 018 15.4 Squash 23 147 4.4 418 435 3.5 Melon 18 201 3.4 408 537 3.4 Cabbage 16 132 3.1 459 993 3.8 Cucumber 15 735 3.0 265 172 2.2 Pepper 15 196 2.8 262 264 2.2 Eggplant 16 749 3.2 370 747 3.1