Du’a’ – Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis

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Du’a’ – Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis

Information

  • Project Name: Du'a' - Water research center
  • Student Name: Mohamed Gamal Sabry
  • Softwares/Plugins: Rhinoceros 3D , Grasshopper , Autodesk Revit , Lumion , Adobe Photoshop
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Excerpt: ‘Du’a’ – Water research center’ is an architecture thesis by Mohamed Gamal Sabry from the Department of Architecture – Faculty of Engineering – Cairo University that addresses and offers unique solutions for Egypt‘s pressing water scarcity issue through a harmonious fusion of architecture and technology. The goal of this project is to construct a research centre that can increase wind speed using the venturi effect and collect water through fog in Al-Tarfa Village, Saint Catherine.

Introduction: Since Egypt has been experiencing a severe water shortage crisis lately, it is crucial to identify new water sources in the desert rather than the Nile. The goal of this project is to construct a research centre that can increase wind speed using the venturi effect and collect water through fog in Al-Tarfa Village, Saint Catherine. The project aims to generate electricity from kinetic energy and raise community awareness of this technology through this structure.

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Site Context

Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Problem Definition

Egypt has been dealing with a great challenge in water sources lately. About 95% of its people are dependent on certain kilometres of the river Nile. Despite this, UNICEF claims that Egypt is under the global water poverty line due to the rising Nahda Dam, placing Egypt in grave danger.

Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Site Selection
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Key Parameter

Firstly, it’s important to know where in Egypt fog can be found. Three locations can be seen on the map. North Coast, Alba Mountains, and Delta Saint Catherine in Sinai Desert. Saint Catherine was the selected site for intervention. As Sinai residents live behind the mountains, the project takes place on the other side.

Final Outcome

Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Form Generation
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Ground Floor Plan
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Section A-A’
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Entrance View

Through the use of CFD path simulations to the terrain site, the fog collectors are oriented to optimise wind flow. The structure is then raised to implement the same idea vertically, covering 15,000 residents of Sinai and ensuring their food security by expanding underground water tank suppliers.

Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Basement First Floor Plan
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Basement Second Floor Plan
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
3D Section

In order to collect more droplets, the form generation relies on increasing wind speed through the venturi effect to 5 m/s. This kinetic energy is converted to electricity by the water movement through fog collector towers, lowering the building’s carbon footprint. The community can easily replace and maintain these towers at any time, and the research centre raises community awareness of technology.

Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Towers Generation
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Tower Section Details
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Circulation Analysis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Tower View

Certain types of fog cannot always be harvested due to factors like humidity, wind direction, and speed. Throughout the design process, only the prior parameters are applied. Egypt hardly ever experiences dense fog suitable for harvesting, and slow wind speeds on the ground complicate matters further. However, with certain adjustments, it might be feasible. The numerical equations of the basking beetle’s fog-catching behaviour are the basis for the design simulations, which increase wind speed to achieve the optimum status of fog collection.

Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Water Consumption
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Physical Model

Based on the current prices of fog collectors, the numerical feasibility calculations assume that the collectors are operating at maximum efficiency, providing the village water at 210,000 E.P. per cubic metre, which is 10% less expensive and 10% cleaner than the water desalination solutions currently in use in Egypt.

Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
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Conclusion: The project addresses and offers unique solutions for Egypt’s pressing water scarcity issue through a harmonious fusion of architecture and technology. In addition to providing a solution, the proposed research centre educates the local community about the technology.

[This Academic Project has been published with text submitted by the student]

Site Context

Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis

Final Outcome

Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis
Du'a' - Water research center at Saint Catherine, Egypt | Architecture Thesis

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