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24 LESS SPACE, MORE SPATIALITY FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSING UNITS IN EGYPT: IDEAS FROM JAPAN. Nermine Abdel Gelil Abstract fulfilling the social needs of occupants in Egypt by In 1996, the Egyptian government launched a national integrating these ideas into low-income housing units. housing project for low-income families. To minimize cost, it has progressively reduced units’ sizes. Numerous Keywords surveys indicate that unit specifications were based on political and economic criteria, rather than on National housing project; youth housing users’ needs, which resulted in the recurrence of the project; future housing project; middle class persistent phenomenon of individual modifications. A urban houses in Japan; naka-roka-gata. number of scholars and architects concerned with this phenomenon are advocating the revival of the social design principles of traditional Cairene houses (16th – Introduction 19th century) after adapting them to contemporary needs. However, they provide no concrete solutions In 1996, the Egyptian government launched a as to how to achieve this in small scale units located national campaign entitled “Shelter for All” that in multi-storey buildings. During my research in Japan, aimed at providing an “appropriate home” for I was introduced to traditional middle class urban lower-income families. Administrated by the houses. Their practical designs used to resolve issues of New Urban Communities Authority, it is financed privacy, internal flexibility, storage, and family growth by a combination of direct government can be beneficially applied to housing units in Egypt. This paper first explains why relying solely on traditional subsidies, loans, and contributions by wealthy housing designs to resolve social issues associated businessmen, contractors, real estate investors, with low-income units in Egypt is both fanciful and and financial institutions. incomplete, then discusses why ideas from Japanese homes can be beneficially applied to low-income The program included two housing projects: housing units in Egypt. Third, this paper examines the “Youth Housing Project” (1996) and the issues in these units and the resultant modifications “Future Housing Project” (1998) (see Amer, 2002; by Egyptian households. Next, it analyzes concepts of spatial organization, modular systems, partitioning, Maher, 2007; The Ministry of Housing Utilities and and storage in traditional middle class urban houses Urban Communities [MHUUC], 2001; MHUUC, in Japan. Finally, this paper formulates proposals for 2010; http://www.urban-comm.gov.eg) each Copyright © 2011 Archnet-IJAR, Volume 5 - Issue 2 - July 2011 - (24-48) Archnet-IJAR, International Journal of Architectural Research Less Space, More Spatiality for Low Income Housing Units in Egypt: Ideas from Japan 25 to construct 70,000 affordable dwelling units in years, become the typical low-income housing 15 new cities. The first project was divided into unit available on the market. four phases. The first phase offered four different unit plans with a floor area of 100 m2 each. In The government recently launched the 2005- the second phase of the project, twelve 70 m2 2011 “National Housing Project” as part of floor area plans were available, and in the third the same campaign. The targeted number of phase the unit area was further reduced to 63 housing units has been increased to 500,000, to m2, available in two housing unit models. The be constructed over a 5 year period. Floor area two unit models of the fourth and last phase of per unit will vary from the typical 63 m2 (Figure NERMINE ABDEL GELIL the project have floor areas from 50 m2 to 57 1) to very small rental units, 42m2 (Figure 2), for m2. the extremely needy (MHUUC, 2010). Figure 1: A typical 63 m2 housing unit in the National Housing Figure 2: A typical 42 m2 housing unit in the National Housing Project (Source: Reproduced by the author from MHUUC, Project (Source: Reproduced by the author from MHUUC, 2010). 2010). The Future Housing Project aims at building Problem/Objectives 70,000 units (63 m2 each) with two plans, identical to those of the third phase of the Youth A survey completed by architects, researchers Housing Project. The 63 m2 unit has, in recent and university professors concerning the Archnet-IJAR, International Journal of Architectural Research - Volume 5 - Issue 2 - July 2011 Less Space, More Spatiality for Low Income Housing Units in Egypt: Ideas from Japan 26 government’s low-income housing projects phase to 50 m2, and eventually to 42 m2. One reveals that the majority of those who took cannot deny that the government has made the survey believes that specifications of an effort to build housing units that are, at least the “appropriate shelter” provided by the externally, more attractive than the unsightly government projects are determined according and inhospitable public housing blocks built in to economic and political criteria and do not the 1960s, 70s and 80s. According to the users, consider the users’ social needs (Maher, 2007). however, the government has sacrificed their To reduce costs and to complete the targeted need for privacy, flexibility, and family growth number of housing units promised by former for the sake of the project’s external image NERMINE ABDEL GELIL president Mubarak in his election program, (according to a survey carried out by Maher, the government adopted a policy of reducing 2007, on households living in these housing units, the units’ floor area from 100 m2 in the first see Figure 3). Figure 3: General view of the National Housing Project in 10th of Ramadan City (Source: Arab Contractors official website http://www.arab-contracting.com). Archnet-IJAR, International Journal of Architectural Research - Volume 5 - Issue 2 - July 2011 Less Space, More Spatiality for Low Income Housing Units in Egypt: Ideas from Japan 27 Although extensive researches on users’ needs, (Abdel Gelil, 2006a, 2006b). post-occupancy evaluation and the designs of new and older housing units are available, In order to realize such goal, the paper first none of them was seriously considered in the explains why relying solely on traditional housing planning of prototypes. In any case, even these designs to resolve social issues associated researches do not offer tangible solutions as to with low-income units is an approach that is how to manage issues such as privacy, storage both fanciful and incomplete, then discusses space, adaptability to changing lifestyles and why ideas from Japanese homes can be family growth within such small areas. As a result, beneficially applied to housing units in Egypt. NERMINE ABDEL GELIL many households individually modify original Third, it examines issues in low-income housing unit designs to adapt them to their needs. units in Egypt and the resultant modification by households. Next, it analyzes concepts of spatial A number of scholars and architects concerned organization, modular systems, partitioning, and with this phenomenon are advocating the storage in middle class urban houses in Japan. revival of the social design principles of Finally, it formulates proposals for fulfilling the traditional Cairene houses of the 16th – 19th social needs of occupants by integrating these century after adapting them to contemporary ideas into small housing unit design in Egypt. needs. However, they provide no concrete solutions as to how to achieve this in small Traditional Cairene Houses: The Only scale units located in multi-storey buildings. The Reference? opportunity to perform research in Japan has allowed me to study traditional small middle The lack of spatial restrictions due to the class urban houses. Although developed from large size of traditional middle class houses an entirely different cultural background, in Cairo (typically between 400 m2 and 600 these small Japanese houses have social m2) facilitated spatial organization consistent design principles similar to those of traditional with socio-religious believes and customs. Cairene homes. Yet they encompass simple, Architectural design features that were easily practical and organic design patterns that implemented included: the vertical and could significantly contribute to resolving small horizontal separation between the salamlik housing unit issues in Egypt. (spaces for male guests) and the haramlik (a space reserved for the women of the household, The aim of this paper is to offer more flexible from harem, see Petersen, 1996); the hierarchy and practical ideas to address the social needs of spaces (an entrance zone for strangers, a of families living in small scale, low-income takhtabosh or seating area for non-intimate housing units in Egypt by integrating ideas from or temporary visitors, a maq’ad for intimate traditional middle class urban houses in Japan. friends, a qa’a for large gatherings, etc.); the It focuses however, on internal spaces and introverted layout of one or more courtyards is not concerned with the in/out relationship and the maggaz, an indirect (twisted) entrance i.e. windows and balconies, an issue that I (on traditional Cairene houses see Maury, examined in detail in my previous research work Raymond, Revault, & Zakariya, 1983; Revault, Archnet-IJAR, International Journal of Architectural Research - Volume 5 - Issue 2 - July 2011 Less Space, More Spatiality for Low Income Housing Units in Egypt: Ideas from Japan 28 1988). The unfeasibility of including such spaces the qa’a (reception hall). The role of women in floor areas as small as 50 – 63 m2 or, lately, 42 in that era was that of onlookers; they spent m2 is obvious. hours in the upper floors, hidden behind mashrabiyyas (wood latticework fixed to the While it does not provide concrete or standard windows of traditional residences), taking part solutions, the traditional Cairene house serves in the emotion of the street (Prisse d’Avennes, as a basis for inspiration for housing design 1983), from a distance, watching the dances, principles and guidelines. Amini (1993) argues and listening to Qur’an readings performed in that there are no such things as standard designs the court or the qa’a on the ground floor (Lane, NERMINE ABDEL GELIL or modules for traditional homes and it is almost 1908).
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