Budapesti Műszaki Egyetem - Egyetemi Értesítő, 1986

1986 / 9. szám

'ALAM AL BÉNA

1 56 A Monthly on Architecture Published by • Centre tor Planning and Architectural Studies, CPAS Prints and Publication Sec, 63 St Issue November Editor-in-Chief Dr. Abdelbaki Ibrahim Assistant Editor-in-Chief Dr. Hazem Ibrahim Editing Manager Arch. Nora El Shinnawy Editing Staff Arch. Hoda Fawzy Arch. Hanaa Nabhan Arch. Manal Zakaria Editing Advisors Dr. 'Abdullah Yehya Buknari Arch.Abu Zald Rajeh Dr. Ahmed Farld Moustafa Dr. Ahmed Kamal Abdel Fattah Dr. Ahmed Mass'oud Dr. Ass'ad Nadlem Dr. Badrl Omar Ellas Dr. 'All Hassan Bassyouni Dr. Salah Zakl Sa'eed Dr. Taher El Sadlq Mr. Mohammad El Bahl Dr. Mohammad Hllmy Elkholy Arch.Mohammad Salah Hegab Dr. Mohammad 'Azmy Moussa Arch.Moustafa Shawql Dr. Isma'll Siraguddln Dr. Intlssar 'Azzouz • Prices and Subscription: one copy Annual \ • Egyp' P.T. 100 L.E. 11.5 • Sudan P.T. 100 L.E. 11.5 • Jordan J.D. 1 U.S.S 42 [ • Iraq I.D. 1 U.S.S 42 • Kuwait K.D. 1 U.S.S 42 • S. Arabia S.R. 12 U.S.S42 • U.A Emirates E.D. 15 U.S.S 42 ; • Qatar Q R. 12 U.S.S 42 • Bahrein B.D. 1 U.S.S 42 • Syria S.L. 15 U.S.S 42 • Lebanon L.L. 15 U.S.S 42 • Morocco U.S.S 3.5 U.S.S 42 • Europe U.S.S 5 U.S.S 60 • Americas U.SS. 6 U.S.S 72 t N.B. The rates Increase by L.E. 1.5 for dlspatching by ordinary mall & I.E. 4 for registered mail (Inside Egypt). Editorial: international Year of Shelter for the Homeless How to Prepare for? Dr Abdelbaki Ibrahim UN Information centres have started on making preparations for International Year of Shelter for the Homeless, viz. 1987. Strangely enough, If happened that the brochures Issued In this regard for worldwide distribution are frontpaged with a large picture on the problem of housing the homeless, taken from Cairo city centre, heart of the Arab world. So, the Arab architect should have budged to oppose such a painful phenomenon that disfigures the face of the Arab city. Such opposition may take on several forms, because contemporary Arab architecture cannot be limited to official projects or buildings of the elite. It should rather bo wide enough tor buildings of the poor, beginning with housing the homeles. Such Is the real challenge in front of the Arab architect. Housing concept here does not mean to provide the emergency dwelling as a shelter for the homeless. Rather It Is, in Its comprehensive sense, urgent settlement In terms of economy, community, and urbanization; since to solve the problem of housing In the emergency sense may result In more social and economic problems than mere emergency housing. And housing projects, In such case, can be linked with projects of urban development, especially In the newly urbanized areas where there are the new chances of work. Thus we can guard against population pressure on the existing cities Including their public utilities and facilities, which Is caused by projects of housing In the emergency sense. And in the comprehensive sense of housing as an urgent phase In settlement operations, the phase of housing may be considered the first phase of settlement In which the dwelling can be given the chance of both horizontal and vertical expansion through self-help in the building process. The phase of housing, In that manner, becomes a provisional phase after which the homeless settle down permanently In productive dwelling communities. The architecture of housing, on the other hand, Is connected with many factors. First of all, there are those of the low costs and quickness of construction, In such a formal manner of designing that supplies the family with Its basic living requirements. And the basic requirements, here, are governed by exchange of use, In the sense that the living room becomes fit for both taking of food and sleeping, together with furnishing the dwelling unit with the least of sanitary facilities. In this regard, the architecture of housing, due to the fact that It does not constitute a permanent phase of housing to the same extent as Its being a provisional housing phase, until the family be able to build Its dwelling at extended phases, so as to stress human settlement on the basis of sate designing principles, and using such methods of construction as to encourage the dwellers to complete the building by themselves. And the housing process, In such sense, requires a suitable method of construction, and then settlement, and then the urban development of the extended dwelling, which needs Incessant economical, social, and urban care as a basis for development of the new human settlements. Let the centres of researches begin to work In this direction. Let the centres of architectural education begin to develop their curricula In such a way as to correspond to everything new In the world of building .... Let us think of millions of homeless people ... Let us begin from here, from the Arab reality. And such Is another call tor research and study.. Correspondence: • Cairo-Egypt (A.R.E.) 14 El Sobky Street, M El Bakiy. Heliopolis. Tel: 670744-670271-670843 Telex: 93243 CPAS UN