HIDDEN LAYER

Helwan University in Zamalek, Department of Architecture of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Cairo

Project idea

The project aims to enhance the connection between the community and the surrounding area by linking the building with the street and interacting with it; revive the history of the site by linking the project land with the remains of a tuluned waterwheel; and create a public node where people can interact with the building and observe the craftsmen at work to revive the forgotten handcrafts of the area.

Project description

This project consists of three main parts.
The first was the educational part, where students learn the crafts before they disappear; the second was the residential part, where workers and students can stay until they finish their education; and the third was the exhibition and administration part, where students work can be shown to visitors and students.
The landscape part is the main part of the project where people can learn more about the lost city of Al-Qatai, which was razed to the ground, and see the remains of the tuluned waterwheel. It also explains the main idea of the project that historic Cairo consists of many historic layers, and the tuluned city is one of these layers.

Technical information

 
The ground floor includes the following spaces: a creative workshop, an exhibition, a restaurant, offices, and a public WC. Classes and workshops are connected by a bridge for easy access as well as for people to share their creativity and communicate with each other. There is an oriental restaurant and a local cafe to connect with the street. The first level includes studios for crafts students, and the second exhibition has outdoor space to watch the monuments of historic Cairo. The classrooms have an outdoor area to watch craftsmen work; the main atrium can be used for different activities; and it has a direct connection to the street. Observation towers can be used for watching the skyline of historic Cairo and also as vertical circulation to the landscape area of the remains of the Tulaned Waterwheel.
Restaurant block facilities include the kitchen and other related spaces. The restaurant is specially placed closer to the main pedestrian flow. It has an additional entrance and an area with outdoor tables. Administration offices and technical rooms are located under the restaurant. The building area is 2400 square metres.