In an attempt to contain the ever-growing informal city encroaching upon the agricul-tural land circling Cairo, Egyptian authorities have adopted new methods to tackle the issue. New so-called desert cities were to be erected, providing their future inhab-itants with every public and private amenity and service needed. In 1976 the construc-tion of the first desert city, 10th of Ramadan City, was launched (Sims, 2015). Followed by the act of 59 in 1979, the NUCA (New Urban Communities Authority) was creat-ed and commissioned to further develop the new cities (Cordes, 2001). However, these ‘‘desert dreams’’ have diverted over the past five decades from a vital social matter -relocating residents from informal to formal areas- into a speculative real-estate market. Examining the transformation of public housing settlements in the new towns shortly after construction is indicative of a deviating ‘‘way of life’’ and ‘‘social status’’ of their intended residents (Roesler, 2015).
Empty Streets in Badr City © Foto: Khaled Mostafa
As a result, neighborhoods were subject to a constant process of appropriation by their users. For as long as the neighborhoods have been built, residents have continually adapted the ‘‘free space’’ between the building blocks to their own needs. Accustomed to a dwell and work environment users were missing a vital component of their original urban habitat in the new neighborhoods: Commercial and trade spaces. While in some neighborhoods the ‘‘informal response’’ is dominant, in others informality is hardly noticed. Although at first glance this might indicate that neighborhoods with less informality are more successful than the ones with a lot of appro-priation by their residents, this conclusion is inaccurate. By comparing three neighborhoods in Badr City, 10th of Ramadan City and 6th of October City – all built as part of national public housing programs, such as the NHP (National Housing Program) and the SHP (Social Housing Program) both announced during presidential election campaigns in 2005 and 2012– it becomes evident that informality occurs in different degrees.
As Jane Jacobs describes in her famous work “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,’’ diversity and density are essential for creating dynamic urban environments.
„However, it still remains that dense concentrations of people is one of the necessary conditions for flourishing city diversity. And it still follows, that in districts where people live this means there must be a dense concentration of their dwellings on the land preempted for dwellings.”
Alley in Al-Ubur City © Foto: Khaled Mostafa
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Neighborhoods with the lowest building densities and highest number of vacant units have little informality. Hence, less in-formality does not necessarily mean successful livable urban areas. Signs of success are certainly, among others, occupancy rates, accessibility of the neighborhood and residents’ satisfaction. However, all three neighborhoods have one common adaptation: informal commercial and retail trade spaces built by the residents to meet their needs and demands. For informal markets to emerge, building densities are necessary. Evidently, residents have taken matters into their own hands and created informal spaces for commerce and trade, when spatial conditions were given. For instance, residents have built informal shacks and sheds on sidewalks and roof tops in Masakin Uthman (a public housing settlement in 6th of October City) using wood, bricks and metal plates, including groceries, fruits and vegetable stalls, garages and workshops. In other areas, where these spatial conditions were not given, occupants struggled to create the desired commercial environment.
Public Space | Al Darb Al Ahmar © Drawing: Khaled Mostafa
Public Space | Badr City © Drawing: Khaled Mostafa
Public Space | Masakin Uthman © Drawing: Khaled Mostafa
Public Space | 10th of Ramadan © Drawing: Khaled Mostafa
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Badr City
"Neighborhood 2"
"Neighborhood 2"
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Bench and Arm Chair in Badr City © Foto: Khaled Mostafa
Transformation of building block © Drawing: Khaled Mostafa
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6th of October City
"Masakin Uthman"
"Masakin Uthman"
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Ground floor apropriations in Masakin Uthman © Foto: Khaled Mostafa
Transformation of building block © Drawing: Khaled Mostafa
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10th of Ramadan City
"Neighborhood 70"
"Neighborhood 70"
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Conversion of a private balcony into a kiosk © Foto: Khaled Mostafa
Transformation of building block © Drawing: Khaled Mostafa
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Aerial view of 6th of October City © Google Earth
Selected Bibliography
Cordes, A. L. (2001). Neue Städte in der Wüste. Exkursion des Fachbereiches Stadt-und Landschaftsplanung der Universität Kassel im März 2001 nach Ägypten. Kassel.
Jacobs, J. (1992). The death and life of great american cities. New York: Vintage Boos.
Knaupe, H. W. (1995). Aufbruch in der Wüste. Die neuen Städte in Ägypten. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, Europäischer Verlag der Wissenschaften.
MHUUD. (2005). Ministerium für Wohnungsbau, Dienstleistungen und Stadtentwicklung. Von http://www.moh.gov.eg/ abgerufen
Mohamed. (5. Juni 2016). Mr. (K. Mostafa, Interviewer)
NUCA. (2016). New Urban Communites Authoriy. Von http://www.newcities.gov.eg/know_cities/Badr/default.aspx abgerufen
Sims, D. (2012). Understanding Cairo. The Logic Of A City Out Of Control. Kairo: The American University Press.
Sims, D. (2015). Egypt‘s Desert Dreams. Development or Disaster. Kairo: The American University Press
Tadamun. (31. 12 2015). From Egypt’s New Cities: Neither Just nor Efficient: http://www.tadamun.info/2015/12/31/egypts-new-cities-neither-just-efficient/?lang=en#.V5fduOiLQ2w abgerufen
Tadamun. (30. 4 2015). From Masakin Uthman: http://www.tadamun.info/?lang=en abgerufen
TAPR II, USAID, T. (2007). Rerview of egyptian subsidized housing programs and lessons learned.
UN-Habitat. (2015). Egypt Housing Profile. Ministerium für Wohnungsbau, Dienstleistungen und Stadtentwicklung, Kairo.
UNICEF. (2015). Children in Egypt 2015. A Statistical Digest. Kairo: United Nations Children‘s Fund.
Zakareya, K. (5. Juni 2016). Interview on the planning and designing of social housing settlements in Egypt. (K. Mostafa, Interviewer) Kairo.
Jacobs, J. (1992). The death and life of great american cities. New York: Vintage Boos.
Knaupe, H. W. (1995). Aufbruch in der Wüste. Die neuen Städte in Ägypten. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, Europäischer Verlag der Wissenschaften.
MHUUD. (2005). Ministerium für Wohnungsbau, Dienstleistungen und Stadtentwicklung. Von http://www.moh.gov.eg/ abgerufen
Mohamed. (5. Juni 2016). Mr. (K. Mostafa, Interviewer)
NUCA. (2016). New Urban Communites Authoriy. Von http://www.newcities.gov.eg/know_cities/Badr/default.aspx abgerufen
Sims, D. (2012). Understanding Cairo. The Logic Of A City Out Of Control. Kairo: The American University Press.
Sims, D. (2015). Egypt‘s Desert Dreams. Development or Disaster. Kairo: The American University Press
Tadamun. (31. 12 2015). From Egypt’s New Cities: Neither Just nor Efficient: http://www.tadamun.info/2015/12/31/egypts-new-cities-neither-just-efficient/?lang=en#.V5fduOiLQ2w abgerufen
Tadamun. (30. 4 2015). From Masakin Uthman: http://www.tadamun.info/?lang=en abgerufen
TAPR II, USAID, T. (2007). Rerview of egyptian subsidized housing programs and lessons learned.
UN-Habitat. (2015). Egypt Housing Profile. Ministerium für Wohnungsbau, Dienstleistungen und Stadtentwicklung, Kairo.
UNICEF. (2015). Children in Egypt 2015. A Statistical Digest. Kairo: United Nations Children‘s Fund.
Zakareya, K. (5. Juni 2016). Interview on the planning and designing of social housing settlements in Egypt. (K. Mostafa, Interviewer) Kairo.
As part of the dissertation "Deserted Desert Cities. Neighborhoods that should have been." | June 2016 | RWTH Aachen University | Facutly of Architecture | Univ.-Prof. Anne-Julchen Bernhardt, Prof. Axel Sowa | Supervisor: Anna XXX | To view full dissertation click here
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