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Wael Salah Fahmi was trained as an architect at Cairo University and received my PhD in Planning and Landscape from the University of Manchester (UK). He is an Associate Professor at the Architecture Department, Helwan University in Cairo. Through his studio, Urban Design Experimental Research Studio (UDERS), he explores deconstructive experimentation within urban spaces, post modern spatiality and representation of city imaging employing narratives, digital photo imaging, video stills and architectural diagrams. He has published five books and various chapters in edited volumes, mainly on Greater Cairo’s urban growth problems and housing crisis, the rehabilitation of historical Cairo, the cemetery informal settlements and the garbage collectors’ community, and Cairo's 19th century and early 20th century contested European Quarter and architectural heritage.
Description
Generally, construction of dams is regarded as means of economic progress in many countries. However, major consequences of such projects are the inundation of upstream areas and the resettlement of entire communities in newly built environments where they experience dramatic transformation in their lifestyles. The present study takes the Nubian resettlement experience after the creation of Lake Nasser that submerged their old settlements, along the river Nile.
Following their resettlement, the design of the newly-built environment disrupted the Nubian traditional lifestyles and patterns of privacy mechanisms, territoriality and social interaction. However, the inadequacy of the newly-built environment was mainly attributed to the Nubians' transfer from spacious homes in the old villages to compact contiguous houses in the new settlements. The arrangement of these resettlement state built houses, distributed on the basis of household size, has further resulted in the fragmentation and the dispersion of traditional kinship-based neighborhoods. Within an inter-disciplinary approach, the study is based on theoretical, historical and conceptual themes and on empirical research. It sets out to examine the households' responses towards, and adaptation mechanisms with, the newly-built environment. The thesis looks critically at the achievements of imposed top-down planning of built environments in meeting the socio-cultural and economic needs of those resettled. The empirical research was based on the sampling of three villages from the northern Kenuzi Nubian region. Physical, social and behavioral surveys were undertaken within a framework of two stages of resettlement houses.
The research demonstrated that the relationship between the Nubian culture and the newly-built forms has changed, transforming the concept of the house from a social control mechanism to a physical structure that signified the upward social mobility and economic achievements of its households. Their adaptation process was mainly influenced by socio-cultural and economic factors as a result of their urban migration and resettlement experiences. Differential responses ranged from high income and acculturated households (urbanites) who introduced major structural modifications and spatial changes, to low income and enculturated (female headed) households (localites) in houses with minor functional changes. Different patterns of territoriality and social interaction outside localites' houses, contrasted with the private lifestyles characteristic of urbanite households. The thesis, therefore, revealed an emerging pattern of acculturation, and socio-economic stratification within Nubian households that determined their degree of adaptation. Accordingly, the elements (home ranges, core areas, territories, jurisdictions and personal spaces) that constituted the socio-spatial patterns of the newly-built environment were identified, reflecting different value systems, expectations and evaluations of the newly-built environment.
The study calls for more in-depth study of resettlement schemes and specifically their built environments using multi-dimensional conceptual frameworks that employ different techniques of data analysis. Furthermore, the study views the imperative need for a serviced settlement (site and service approach) integrated within a comprehensive social policy, rather than the provision of housing, mainly in the old lands by the shores of Lake Nasser. It is centrally important to develop traditional earth-construction materials (mud-bricks) and appropriate building technologies that would provide low cost and responsive housing.
More concern with environmental issues should be given with respect to innovations such as the processing of wastes recycled for use as energy and fertilizers. There is a need to involve grass root or NGOs, together with more community participation in the design process and the implementation of built environments that meet peoples' socio-cultural and economic needs.
Table of Contents
List of Tables | 9 |
List of Figures | 11 |
List of Plates | 12 |
Dedication | 14 |
Acknowledgements | 15 |
Abstract | 16 |
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION |
18 |
1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM | 19 |
1.2 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY | 21 |
1.3 WIDER AIMS OF THE STUDY | 22 |
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY | 23 |
1.5 THE STUDY APPROACH AND HYPOTHESES | 24 |
1.5.1 The theoretical approach to resettlement and rural-urban migration | 24 |
1.5.2 The historical approach to traditional and newly-built environments | 29 |
1.5.3 The conceptual approach to the adaptation process to the newly-built environment | 30 |
1.5.3.1 The spatial dialectic perspective to the study of the house | 32 |
1.5.3.2 The social dialectic perspective to the study of privacy | 33 |
1.6 THE EMPIRICAL RESEARCH | 34 |
1.6.1 Methodological considerations | 35 |
1.6.2 Techniques of analysis | 36 |
1.7 RESEARCH ORGANIZATION | 37 |
CHAPTER TWO: RESETTLEMENT IN THEORY AND PRACTICE |
41 |
2.1 PROBLEMS OF URBAN GROWTH AND APPROACHES TO DEVELOPMENT | 41 |
2.2 APPROACHES TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT | 47 |
2.3 DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS AND PLANNING IN EGYPT | 50 |
2.3.1 Population growth | 50 |
2.3.2 Rural-urban migration | 51 |
2.3.3 Development planning since 1952 | 53 |
2.3.3.1 Horizontal expansion of new land | 54 |
2.3.3.2 Newly reclaimed land and new communities | 56 |
2.4 RESETTLEMENT SCHEMES IN PERSPECTIVE | 58 |
2.5 PLANNING STAGE - RESETTLEMENT OF THE NUBIANS 1960-64 | 65 |
2.6 TRANSITION STAGE -PROBLEMS OF RESETTLEMENT 1964-672. | 66 |
2.6.1 Physiological and psychological problems | 66 |
2.6.2 Socio-cultural and economic problems | 67 |
2.7 INITIAL ADAPTATION STAGE-RESPONSE TO RESETTLEMENT 1967-75 | 69 |
2.7.1 The new settlement theory | 70 |
2.8 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT STAGE - CONSEQUENCES OF RESETTLEMENT 1975-90 | 72 |
2.8.1 Settlers-administrators relationship | 73 |
2.8.2 Rural-urban relationship | 76 |
2.8.3 Acculturation process | 81 |
2.9 CONCLUSION | 83 |
CHAPTER THREE: HISTORICAL APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF THE NUBIAN BUILT ENVIRONMENT-OLD AND NEW |
85 |
3.1 SOCIAL AND SPATIAL ORGANISATION OF TRADITIONAL NUBIAN SETTLEMENTS | 86 |
3.2 SOCIO-SPATIAL PATTERNS OF TRADITIONAL NUBIAN SETTLEMENTS | 91 |
3.3 PHYSICAL DETERMINISTIC APPROACH TO THE TRADITIONAL NUBIAN HOUSE | 96 |
3.3.1 The effect of climate | 96 |
3.3.2 The effect of materials and construction technology | 96 |
3.3.3 The effect of site choice and topography | 97 |
3.4 SOCIO-CULTURAL APPROACH TO THE TRADITIONAL NUBIAN HOUSE | 100 |
3.4.1 The effect of socio-economic activities | 101 |
3.4.2 The effect of family structure and residence pattern | 101 |
3.4.3 The effect of privacy, territoriality and social interaction | 102 |
3.4.3.1 Internal arrangements and privacy control | 102 |
3.4.3.2 External arrangements and territoriality and social interaction | 103 |
3.4.3.3 Dialectic dimension of the old Nubian house | 106 |
3.5 THE CONCEPT OF HOME AND HOUSE IN BUILT ENVIRONMENTS | 107 |
3.6 THE NEWLY-BUILT SETTLEMENTS IN THE NUBIAN RESETTLEMENT SCHEME | 109 |
3.7 THE NEW NUBIAN RESETTLEMENT (STATE-BUILT) HOUSES | 115 |
3.7.1 First stage of resettlement- Planning stage (1960-1964) | 115 |
3.7.2 Second stage of resettlement- Transition stage (1964-1975) | 123 |
3.8 CONCLUSION | 126 |
CHAPTER FOUR: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF THE NUBIANS' ADAPTATION PROCESS TO THE NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT |
128 |
4.1 ENVIRONMENT-BEHAVIOR RELATIONS | 129 |
4.2 THE CONCEPT OF 'FIT' AND 'ADEQUACY' IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT | 132 |
4.3 THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK TO THE NUBIANS' ADAPTATION PROCESS | 134 |
4.3.1 Functional response to the newly-built environment | 135 |
4.3.2 Attitudinal response to the newly-built environment | 137 |
4.3.3 Behavioral response to the newly-built environment | 140 |
4.3.3.1 Privacy as an interpersonal interaction process | 141 |
4.3.3.2 Privacy as a boundary regulation process | 143 |
4.4 CONCLUSION | 149 |
CHAPTER FIVE: METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND SAMPLING OF VILLAGES |
151 |
5.1 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF PEOPLE AND THEIR BUILT ENVIRONMENT | 151 |
5.2 THE STUDY METHODOLOGY | 155 |
5.2.1 The pilot survey | 156 |
5.2.2 The main survey | 157 |
5.2.2.1 First stage: the 'socio-physical survey | 159 |
5.2.2.2 Second stage: the social survey (household survey) | 160 |
5.2.2.3 Third stage: the behavioral survey | 161 |
5.3 SAMPLING STRATEGY | 162 |
5.3.1 Sampling of the Kenuzi Nubian region | 162 |
5.3.2 Sampling of resettlement villages | 164 |
5.3.3 Stratified sampling of housing stages | 173 |
5.3.4 Cluster sampling of housing compounds | 173 |
5.3.5 Stratified random sampling of houses | 174 |
5.3.6 Sampling of the village of Daral Salam | 175 |
5.4 TECHNIQUES OF ANALYSIS | 176 |
5.4.1 'Socio-physical analysis | 176 |
5.4.2 Attitudinal analysis | 177 |
5.4.3 Behavioral analysis | 177 |
5.5 CONCLUSION | 178 |
CHAPTER SIX: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESETTLED COMMUNITIES IN THE NEWVILLAGES |
181 |
6.1 URBAN MIGRATORY PATTERNS IN THE NEW VILLAGES | 181 |
6.1.1 Historical migration patterns | 182 |
6.1.2 Types of migration patterns | 184 |
6.1.3 Characteristics of migrants in the new villages | 185 |
6.1.3.1 Position of migrants in the households | 188 |
6.1.3.2 Destination of migrants | 190 |
6.1.3.3 Occupational status of migrants | 192 |
6.1.3.4 Migrants' acculturation and affiliation with their villages | 193 |
6.2 SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE OF THE NEW VILLAGES | 195 |
6.2.1 Gender and age structure | 195 |
6.2.2 Size and structure of family households | 199 |
6.3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ORGANISATION OF THE NEW VILLAGES | 206 |
6.3.1 Education in the new villages | 207 |
6.3.2 Economic activities in the new villages | 209 |
6.3.3 Agricultural activities in the new villages | 211 |
6.3.3.1 Landholding in the new villages | 214 |
6.3.3.2 Migration and farming practice | 214 |
6.4 SOCIO-CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE NEW VILLAGES |
218 |
6.5 CONCLUSION | 220 |
CHAPTER SEVEN: FUNCTIONAL CHANGES IN THE NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT |
222 |
7.1 GENERAL PATTERN OF THE NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT | 223 |
7.2 STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURES IN THE NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT |
228 |
7.2.1 Patterns of structural modifications and self built housing construction | 229 |
7.2.2 Forces affecting the process of structural modifications and construction procedures | 232 |
7.3 STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS IN STATE BUILT HOUSES | 246 |
7.3.1 Internal structural modifications | 253 |
7.3.1.1 Horizontal structural modifications | 253 |
7.3.1.2 Vertical structural modifications | 260 |
7.3.2 External structural modifications | 264 |
7.4 SPATIAL CHANGES IN STATE BUILT HOUSES | 271 |
7.5 SELF BUILT HOUSES | 277 |
7.5.1 Types of self built houses | 278 |
7.5.2 External features and structural additions in self built houses | 283 |
7.6 PATTERNS OF DIFFERENTIATION IN FUNCTIONAL CHANGES | 288 |
7.7 CONCLUSION | 291 |
CHAPTER EIGHT: ATTITUDINAL RESPONSE TOWARDS THE NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT |
296 |
8.1 GENERAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT | 298 |
8.2 SATISFACTION WITH FUNCTIONAL CHANGES | 299 |
8.3 SATISFACTION WITH SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS AND ORGANISATION | 303 |
8.4 SATISFACTION WITH SPATIAL DOMAINS | 310 |
8.4.1 Internal private domains | 310 |
8.4.1.1 Domestic spaces | 310 |
8.4.1.2 Working (service) spaces | 311 |
8.4.1.3 Animal spaces | 312 |
8.4.1.4 Private open spaces | 312 |
8.4.2 Internal semi-private domains | 313 |
8.4.2.1 Guestroom | 313 |
8.4.2.2 Entrance area | 314 |
8.4.3 External open semi-private and semi-public domains | 314 |
8.5 ATTITUDES TOWARDS SOCIAL ASPECTS | 316 |
8.5.1 The arrangement of compounds in relation to privacy control | 316 |
8.5.2 The arrangement of compounds in relation to social interaction | 318 |
8.6 ATTITUDES TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS | 320 |
8.6.1 Landscape and open spaces | 320 |
8.6.2 Maintenance of infrastructural services | 320 |
8.7 EXPECTATIONS FROM THE NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT | 321 |
8.8 CONCLUSION | 323 |
CHAPTER NINE: BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATION TO THE NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT |
328 |
9.1 ACTIVITY SYSTEMS IN THE NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT | 330 |
9.1.1 Individual activities | 333 |
9.1.2 Household (group) activities | 336 |
9.1.3 Household socialization | 339 |
9.1.4 Household domestic work | 345 |
9.1.5 Farming related activities | 352 |
9.2 ACTIVITY DENSITY IN THE NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT | 355 |
9.3 SPATIAL-ACTIVITY ZONING RELATIONSHIPS | 364 |
9.3.1 Spatial zoning relationship | 368 |
9.3.2 Activity zoning relationship | 372 |
9.4 SOCIO-SPATIAL PATTERNS IN THE NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT | 376 |
9.5 CONCLUSION | 386 |
CHAPTER TEN: EVALUATION OF THE NUBIAN RESETTLEMENT SCHEME AND ITS NEWLY-BUILT ENVIRONMENT |
389 |
10.1 A SYNTHETICAL VIEW OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS | 390 |
10.1.1 Socio-cultural consequences of the Nubian resettlement and urban migratory experiences |
391 |
10.1.2 Historical development of the Nubian old and newly-built environments | 392 |
10.1.3 Adaptation process of the Nubians to the newly-built environment | 393 |
10.2 EVALUATION OF THE STUDY APPROACH | 397 |
10.2.1 Theoretical approach to resettlement and migration processes | 397 |
10.2.2 Historical and conceptual approaches to built environments | 404 |
10.3 METHODOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS | 406 |
10.4 FUTURE PROJECTIONS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS | 408 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | 416 |