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Future of Sustainable Architecture and its relationship with currents of Globalization

Speakers:

Selim, Haitham S(1)

. 1 Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract: World during the last three decades, have realized that the model of globalization is no longer sustainable, having been associated with the lifestyle which caused a serious environmental problems, like depletion of natural resources and increasing rates of pollution, which became a major challenge for architects today. The objectives of this paper are to assess the new trends of architecture in Egypt, monitor the effects of these trends with respect to the phenomenon of globalization, examine how the architects and practitioners understand the idea of sustainability in design ,and the implications of concentration by architects in the current period to give priority to the idea of achievement and attractive forms (Formalism) in both of thought and architectural practices. A preliminary investigation and field observation have been carried out for set of administration buildings in new Cairo (el-tagammu' el-khames) during 2014, focused on analyzing materials which were used in the main façades, and how both owners and architects respect the site conditions and the sustainability considerations. Finally, the paper suggests a model based on critical regionalism to create balances between globalization wide effects and how to use the advantages of both technical aspects and technological accompanying with sustainability and the conditions of place .

Keywords, Sustainabilit, Place Condition, Global Architecture, Critical Regionalism

1. Introduction Our crisis start century ago! Since the 1920’s Internationalism has dictated form, where architects have designed and invented a series of architectural styles. Now a global view of the world dominated architectural style because of IT revolution which transform the architecture into (digital image) which flow from one place to the other in the same second. As a result of such IT revolution and due to other several reasons; the regional perspective in architectural style is totally lost, and there is an obvious lack of locally based design thinking. It is essential for us (the new architects) to absorb what we need from new technologies that have sprouted from globalization, and to learn to keep the best of our own traditional forms. Today synchronously, with the globalization paradigm, architects are suffering huge pressures which push many architects to be part of the global architecture trends which primarily springs from two sources: the culture of commerce and the consumer culture and the global culture of commerce driven by changing consumer expectations, market opportunities, and business agendas followed by a new perception of the architecture concept. Above of all, globalization phenomena contributed very deeply in amplification of Large-scale projects have been exported to many Arab countries where they are implemented as complete packages without recognizing the fact that the physical forms of these projects have grown out of an alien ideological matrix and imply different codes of behavior and different environmental conditions. To catch up with modernity, the Arab city started, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to lose its local image, uniqueness, and ability to meet its particular needs. It has experienced dramatic changes in cultural arenas where architecture has been characterized as culturally alienated and westernized image. This happened under nonverbal slogan named by advancement and progress characterizations as if we are “copying“ the civilized world architecture we will avoid the gap of progress. This crisis have a majority on the agenda of many conferences in the architectural community, looking for methods and concepts that could lead to better and more equitable cities. In recent years, global cities and globalization issues have become of the most important interest of social scientists, architects, and economic geographers observing, experiencing, and describing the profound changes that new technologies have been causing for worldwide economic and spatial development, however; this was at the academic level only. Therefore, the growth of

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the global economy carries with it an enormous range of products around the world and the tendency for them to be used uncritically, within the last few years, globalization has become the secret word in architecture beside the debate of losing place identity, with a clear confession that identity plays a significant role for the continuity of human culture. The rapid growth of global urbanization and the substantial technological advances in construction and building technology contributed to the phenomenon of “modelling architecture”, that means dealing with building as an architectural unit, has the potential to be repeated, neglecting factors that related to time, place, or culture identity. With the growth of awareness of the importance of sustainability issues and energy crisis; both of planners and architects followed the academic interest and tried to explore ways and means of promoting cities and city regions to world cities, followed in turn by architects analyzing and criticizing the negative local and regional impacts of such globalization. It’s not only about the identity or culture replacement issues but also about the danger of using Unsustainable treatments just to produce the required image .

(2) under the stresses of rapid

urbanism and liquidity of communications we have architectural era include iconic, sky-scraping bank- towers, series big names hotels, franchise restaurants, in addition to malls full of familiar name, brand stores

(3)….etc. In conjunction with this; the global culture of

design is supported by architects who study what other architects are creating, disregarding the place , with fabulous photographs in slick magazines and professional journals, trend-conscious designers can scan and span the globe, sharing high-style concepts rendered in stylish materials like glass walls, composed aluminum sheets ( known by alkomat), stainless sheets, copper panels ,all of mentioned materials configure the new language of architecture. Local architects now believe that if architectural evolution could not be acquired locally, it can be imported. We can symbolize the acceleration of globalization in architecture by the glossy and glassy facades of capital, which have changed the skylines of major cities around the world.

(4) All the above reasons confirmed a new architecture perception considering the

value of shape while the other considerations like the place conditions (climate -orientation- local materials -etc.) or sustainable devices is coming latterly or totally missing, architect now have a tendency to depending on artificial and mechanical solutions …. Which became the easy way to compromise with the environment…. .Although there is a possibility to integrate with the site conditions by using very simple solutions, and that studies appropriate guidance of the building and the proportions of the open of the blocks and the nature of the materials façade, and track it neglected architectural use compatibility with the environment, using natural energies, and is relying on air-conditioning mechanic a guarantee of comfort heat for a person without psychological comfort him

(5)

2. Overview At The Case Study Area The case study area is located in the new Cairo community. The vast majority of the urban mass are residential buildings, secondly the commercial, and services and activities buildings which form the core of the community. The study will concentrated on the administrative area located in 90th. Street. The wide spread of this type of office buildings was not due to building performance or any environmental aspects but other factors such as keeping the

Fig 01 Under The Rapid Urbanism There Are Widespread Usage of

Glass Walls Without Using of Any Techniques or Materials In Order

To Increasing The Thermal Insulation (New Cairo Buildings)

Fig 02 this floor of down town mall is

full of cooling towers and air

conditioning machines, which reflect

the weakness of sustainability culture.

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Fig No 04 New Cairo Map And The

Administrative Area (90th

) Street

identify of multi-national companies, exchanging ideas between local and international designers, rapid growth of trade exchange movement, in addition to the revolution of software that produces rendering masses and geometries.

3. The Image of New Cairo Community

This paper is investigating one of the new urban settlements that have been developed around Cairo, “El-Tagammu' El-Khames”, which is considered to be the new premium residential district of Greater Cairo. It is one of the third generation cities built in Egypt to solve the housing problems and re-direct urbanization out of the Nile Valley towards the desert lands. Unfortunately, most of the properties in this development were poorly adapted to the prevailing climate, and the misunderstanding of what constitutes a sustainable community is still one of the missing links in the Egyptian planning process. This study focuses on contemporary administrative buildings in 90th Street as they represent the main sector of this community. Cairo's climate is a desert climate, which remains mostly dry and arid year round. The hot weather in Cairo means that the humidity can rise at times, particularly during winter (December to February). At this time precipitation is more likely, and temperatures drop to 13 to 19 °C. Cairo weather in the summertime (May to August) sees temperatures of 45 to 47 °.Therefore our study area is located under conditions of intensity of solar radiation and the clarity of the sky are the main reasons for the extreme levels of heat encountered in Cairo. Measurements show that there is a significant amount of heat gain into contemporary residential buildings that causes discomfort among the users, especially in the summer season.

(6)

Fig 03 Morphology Analysis for New Cairo Architecture Attitudes…Emphasis of the Classic Image for the Residential Buildings opposite the Administrative Area

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Fig 05 Illustration For Search Methodology

Fig 06 Case Study Buildings 12 Adjoining Buildings Located In the Same Area (90th

Street)

Despite this, the glass facades are common buildings envelope utilized in many administrative and commercial buildings, they are installed as a physical and visual connection to outsiders as well as to make the appearance of buildings look more pleasing. When approaching this community one can find many of contemporary residential buildings are influenced by the wide spread of office buildings that have glass facades as can be seen in (Figure 01), the glass facades admitting large amount of solar radiation into buildings and converting it into heat gain. The heat gain is then converted into building cooling loads. Therefore, many strategic decisions can be taken to reduce the heat gain when a façade is designed. The façade can play the role of environmental filter not only as an image of the building. This means great care must be taken in the choice of the wall materials with respect to their physical properties.

4. Methodology The method which adopted for this study is based on examining office buildings located at administrative area. Twelve new adjoined buildings were selected to evaluate its capability with the site conditions, how the architects adapted with the climate, and whether they respected the sustainability approaches in their designs or not …the examination method is based on three levels extracted into nine points. The three levels are; sustainability level, environmental level and finally the morphological level (see Fig. 05 & 07). This table is designed to examine the way of construction , cladding materials, and its relation with the heat gain, sustainable dimensions in the architects though. To fill the table points, site visits were conducted to study and monitor the installation methods of the glass surfaces, and investigated whether any of the selected buildings are using any sustainable devices or respecting the site conditions.

Environmental level

Morphological level

Three-

Dimensional

Analytical Model

Sustainable level

Step one: selection and documentation

of the study area …the administrative

sector in the new Cairo town.

Step two: site survey to monitor the way of

construction and investigate if the architect

concern about the site conditions

Step three: design the analytical

model to test the chosen samples

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3

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B1 B.N.P Paribas Bank B2 Blom Bank B3 El-Ahly Bank B4 Gastec Company

B5 Ahly United Bank B6 Wady Degla Office B7 Abu Dabi Bank B8 Madina Mall

B9 The Address Offices B10 H.S.B.C Bank B11 Micro Soft Co. B12 Swedy Company

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5. Results and Discussion By implementation of the analytical model, we can get the next conclusion followed by the results table. At the sustainable level; there is no building in the sample is applying any sustainable devices! The main concern was concentrated on producing fantastic shape to catch the client. All of buildings we have examined are totally depending on air conditioning machines which are extremely costly in addition to their detrimental impact on the ozone layer. There was no attempt to use any cladding materials which may decrease the heat gain inside the buildings. At the environmental level the sample proved that there is no consideration of the climate or site conditions; in addition to disregarding of suitable orientation. The majority of the buildings are depending on artificial solutions to deal with ventilation or lighting, they have almost neglected any natural potential. Considering the morphologic level; it is the author’s opinion that architects were mainly concentrating on producing “nice forms”! Because of their willing to follow universal architecture and this is historically was the big weakness in the modernism era, as if we are repeat the same mistake with the same methods.

Evaluation pointsEvaluation pointsEvaluation pointsEvaluation points B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 B12

En

vir

on

men

tal

le

vel

Design compatibility with climate

Considering the Suitable orientation

Usage of natural ventilation

Mo

rph

olo

gic

al

le

vel

Emphases of the modern architecture appearance

Disregarding modernism weaknesses

Building image and site characteristics Integration

Su

sta

ina

ble

le

vel

Usage of sustainable technology devices

Usage Of Recycling Materials

Building cladding materials and heat gain

INDICATOR Positive Negative Uncertain

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Fig 08 Column Charts Conclude the Study Results

We can obviously observe that there is a complete absence of sustainability issues. The previous investigation proved the architect, under pressures of producing shapes which satisfying clients for marketing purposes, disregarded any considerations about the site conditions or the adaptation with climate. We can easily find huge glass walls facing the south direction without any façade treatments in order to decrease the heat gain. Moreover; they didn’t use any advanced technology to convert solar energy to electrical energy like (BIPV)

(7)

systems. Add to this, there is a full following to the currents of modern architecture and the application of forms which may be suitable for environments suffering from lack of sun

which is totally different compared to environment in Egypt. The absence of identity

which emphasis by using the concept of nowhere architecture, there is no attempt to use the advantage of modern technologies in improving the climate or any sustainable techniques which could generate or save energy inside buildings environment. The Evaluation Table Is Almost Red!

6. Conclusion

Finally, the study suggests a new strategy in architectural professions in Egypt, this strategy as if it’s a design criterion based on critical regionalism (see fig 07). Critical regionalism is an architecture attitude which developed theoretically by Kenneth Frampton, in his article “prospects for a critical regionalism” he argued this central paradox between tradition, modernity, and global movement. Regionalism promotes the revival and reinterpretation of tradition as an oppositional strategy toward the concept of globalization, for Frampton, critical regionalism offers “the sole possibility” of resisting that constant spreading of a place-less, alienating consumerism.

(8) It is “an architecture of resistance” seeking to mediate the impact

of universal civilization with elements derived indirectly from the peculiarities of a particular place,” thus aiming “to reflect and serve the limited constituencies in which it was grounded” .The fundamental strategy of critical regionalism is to mediate the impact of universal civilization with elements derived indirectly from the peculiarities of a particular place.

(9) In

the same time, critical regionalism’s fragmentary nature serves to distance it both from the utopianism of the early modern movement. One of the main characteristics of critical regionalism is the way it attempts to revive and reinterpret local building traditions to achieve a synthesis with modern architectural form

(10)Frampton’s resistance of the place-form is

addressed specifically to architecture where modernity’s concern with optimization of resources constructed a utilitarian monotony denuding places of their particular histories. The incorporation of particular features of natural spaces in the construction of built spaces is an attempt to reply to the instrument rationality underlying principles of modernist construction. Frampton’s emphasis on the tectonic and the tactile in defining Critical Regionalism is premised on an isomorphism between region, place and site conditions.

Fig 07 Table of the Evolution Points and Its Results

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Fig 09 Column Charts Conclude the Study Results

regionalism values particularity it is therefore diverse and differentiated, the characteristics of a region are dependent upon culture, climate, and the nature of available building materials, the crisis of energy shortage and pollution; in addition to the issue of cultural uniformity which emphasis by the globalization tools, refers adopt and develops a new trends to deal seriously with the issues of sustainability, i mean the complete vision of sustainability which include (technological -environmental- social- culture). In the next illustration, the study concluded the main points which mentioned in many architectural writings, and developed by the author. I believe this model is very useful in guiding the profession of architecture in Egypt to achieve balance between the requirements of globalization and the sustainability crisis; on all levels. It is a critique analytical model carries the capability to cover the aspects which should be avoided or considered in the architecture process... The model goes through four integrated levels (environmental/physical–technological-social-cultural) contains the points which must be considered to achieve the sustainability purpose and maintaining the regional architecture against phenomenon of architectural uniformity, it’s an attempt to understand the crisis of architecture in the globalization era. The model is oriented to emphasis the concept of sustainable design and sustainable society. The future of sustainability in Egypt depends on prudence in the use of materials which reflect the modern form .... and deal with the effects of globalization from regional perspective which respects the conditions of the place and the environment, and this is the integrated approach for sustainability future.

A. Dealing with new technology

B. Cooperate positively with

global expertise

C. Usage of sustainable design

techniques

D. Neglect the disadvantage of

modern architecture

E. Integration between the form

and function

Technological Aspects

Morphological Aspects A. Perceptual expression for the

local architecture.

B. Building form reflects the

nature of the construction.

C. Dealing with heritage in a

modern way

D. avoid international

architecture weaknesses (the

concept of nowhere

Cultural Aspects A. Accommodate the cognitive

ability of the recipient

B. The impact of phenotypic

culture

C. Social Participation and

development of the architect

role.

D. The impact of the owner

awareness in the architectural

product

Physical/environmental Aspects

A. Design response to the

environmental

determinants.

B. Dealing with the nature of

site topographic.

C. How to deal with the sources

of nature

D. Use solutions improve

environmental performance

Strategy model to immediate between globalization and place conditions

based on critical regionalism

Global architecture Local consecrations

Toward sustainable architecture

considering the site conditions

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7. References (1)Lecture In Architecture And Design Theories, Architecture Departmant,Al-Azhar University (2) Fu-Chen Lo , Yue-Man Yeung , Globalization And The World Of Large Cities , United Nations University Press 1998,Pix (3) Ayse Oncu, Petra Weyland ,Space, Culture, And Power: New Identities In Globalizing Cities. London and new jersey: zed books,1997, pp.2 (4)Ayse Oncu, Petra Weyland ,op.cit (5) Balwant Sainai,”Building Hot Dry Climate”,Jouhn Wile & Son Ltd,U.S.A,2009,P102 (6) Sheta, W. & Sharples, S. (2010) Thermal Assessment of Dwellings in New Community around Cairo. 10th REHVA world congress, Sustainable Energy Use in Buildings. Antalya, Turkey. (7) Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are photovoltaic materials that are used to replace conventional building materials in parts of the building envelope such as the roof, skylights, or facades, see Eiffert, Patrina; Kiss, Gregory J. (2000). Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Designs for Commercial and Institutional Structures: A Source Book for Architect. p. 59. (8)Kenneth Frampton, “Towards a Critical Regionalism: Six Points for an Architecture of Resistance,” The Anti Aesthetic: Essays on Postmodern Culture Port Townsend: Bay Press, 1983, p.21,also .: Carl O’Coill and Kathleen Watt, “The Politics of Culture and the problem of Tradition: Re-evaluating Regionalist Interpretations of the Architecture of Geoffrey Bawa.” http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk acceded . Jun 2011 (9) Alex Tzonis and Liliane , Lefaivre "The Grid and the Pathway. An Introduction to the work of Dimitris and Susana Antonakakis Architecture in Greece, 15 (Athens: 1981) p. 178 (10)Haitham Selim,” Architecture In Egypt Between Globalization And Heritage”,P.H.D Thesis, Faculty Of Engineering At Al Azhar University ,Architecture Department 2013,P108