Thesis Project - Politecnico di Milano - Italy
Date: 2017 Type: Urban + Infrastructure Location: Cairo, Egypt Supervisor: Matteo Poli
The Informal Settlements of Cairo: A Holistic Concept
Abstract
Purpose: Many individuals had immigrated to Cairo metropolis pursuing the modern dream echoed by the leading power in the previous century, leading to an unplanned transformation of the demography of the country reflected noticeably through a sudden eruption in the population, causing a massive of unplanned urbanization expansions, forcing in alteration of agricultural fields and tombs into informal homes and shelters. An urban holistic vision is proposed following permaculture ethics in an attempt in providing basic human needs through the sustainable perception that can be applied to Cairo’s informal settlements and other similar environments.
Design/methodology/approach: The paper proposes sustainable solutions in the scope of the permaculture definition, attempting in recovering back the ecological value of the land along with providing the informal inhabitants a prospective chance in creating their own self-sufficient neighborhoods, converting the informal city into a smart community.
Findings: Return of Surplus, Care for Earth & Care for people, these are the ethics that defined a smart community, through them humanity can live with endless sources with the respect of the ecology.
