Thesis Chapters by Ibrahim El Hadidi
PhD Thesis, 2021
Change is a central issue in the domain of vernacular architecture studies today and is a highly ... more Change is a central issue in the domain of vernacular architecture studies today and is a highly relevant matter in the fields of cultural heritage and conservation, sustainability, and development. Classic definitions and conceptualizations surrounding vernacular architecture are arguably restricted by product or object-driven approaches that articulate formal and material qualities while overlooking the underlying systems and processes. As a result, change in vernacular architecture is often understood and addressed through static models which create a conceptual divide between past and present forms of vernacularity. The research argues for a dynamic model that considers both product and process characteristics in approaching vernacular architecture as it continues to change and transform today. By utilizing first-hand data from fieldwork studies, as well as previous literature and documentary sources, the research aims to develop a systematic approach to studying vernacular architecture. This is to identify the underlying processes and principles governing the production, adaptation, and transformation of characteristic formal and spatial vernacular patterns through time and space. A phenomenological approach was employed in the exploration of the case studies of Esna in Upper-Egypt, and the Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt using a variety of methods including observations, interviews, sketching, photographic documentation, historical literature, and documentary sources. The interpretive analysis of the findings shows that the historical development of Siwa and Esna’s vernacular setting and dwelling patterns through the previous two centuries was influenced by historical, environmental, and socio-economic factors, with the primacy of the socio-cultural in shaping and sustaining characteristic vernacular patterns and guiding their future adaptations. The comparative analysis of vernacular dwellings in the selected cases, highlights the symbiotic relationship between dwelling and settlement patterns, the continuities between past and present spatial patterns of dwelling, but more importantly the ongoing nature of change which may be instigated by internal or external factors, but always mitigated through contextual conditions and pre-established systems. The conventional approaches to change within these contexts are argued to articulate the gap between past and present forms of vernacular heritage, by widening the divide between the goals of conservation and development, and the actual local needs and pressures for the provision of shelter. Alternatively, by capitalizing on local natural and socio-cultural resources, some of the alternative approaches which adopt a community or process-led approach to cultural preservation and socio-economic development, incentivize local participation and attribute a continued significance to characteristic vernacular architecture and building traditions. Finally, a dynamic model for the study of vernacular architecture is proposed after reviewing previous literature and relevant studies and following a critique of the adopted research methodology and findings. The model proposes a systematic approach for researchers and practitioners engaging with vernacular contexts to study and detect underlying systems and key values in vernacular buildings and landscapes with the aim of their reintegration into contemporary practice.
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Master Dissertation, 2016
The purpose of this research is to understand the relationship between the traditional beliefs an... more The purpose of this research is to understand the relationship between the traditional beliefs and values of ancient societies and the architecture and urban design of those societies. By examining the common characteristics of cities and sacred buildings in ancient history, the research suggests that these structures were influenced by a shared understanding of the world and its connection to the cosmos.
To explore this relationship, the research introduces the concept of a "traditional cosmological model," based on the ideas of Mircea Eliade, which posits that ancient cities and sacred buildings were designed to reflect and embody a heavenly model, or microcosm. This model is used to analyze and interpret various examples from the ancient world, demonstrating how traditional concepts were consistently employed to link the physical structures of cities and sacred buildings to their celestial counterparts.
As a case study, the research applies the traditional cosmological approach to the Giza Plateau, offering an alternative interpretation to the views commonly held by mainstream historians and Egyptologists. Through this analysis, the research aims to shed new light on the role of traditional beliefs and values in shaping the architecture and urban design of ancient societies.
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Papers by Ibrahim El Hadidi
Earthen and wood vernacular heritage and climate change, 2021
This paper is part of a broader study on the interpretation of vernacular architecture in moderni... more This paper is part of a broader study on the interpretation of vernacular architecture in modernizing heritage contexts in Egypt. It considers processes of change in traditional vernacular architecture, using the example of Esna in Upper Egypt. The study proposes phenomenology as an approach to study, analyze and interpret processes pertaining to the production, use, and adaptation of traditional vernacular architecture through time. Data gathering methods included focused observations, sketches, and diagrams of different aspects of the traditional settlement, and sampled houses from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in Esna. Utilizing Lefebvre's theory of the production of space, the analysis uncovers the interconnection between architectural form and materiality, lifestyles and cultural norms, and the dynamic configuration of traditional vernacular dwellings through time. Socio-cultural dimensions including social structures, cultural values of privacy, and gender segregation are core values governing the spatial configuration of traditional dwellings and their continued adaptation through time. Malleability, durability, adaptability, and logicality are key principles pertaining to the dynamic nature of traditional vernacular architecture in Esna. A discussion follows over the implications of this interpretation over current approaches for managing change in modernizing vernacular heritage contexts in Egypt and beyond.
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Drafts by Ibrahim El Hadidi
The value of sacredness in a space in general, and in a religious edifice in specific varies
amon... more The value of sacredness in a space in general, and in a religious edifice in specific varies
among scholars who have researched this matter. The main challenge is to be able to
understand what makes a space sacred, in other words to list the features of sacredness in a
space. For a sacred space to be truly conceived it must be viewed holistically where a
summation of features interweave to create the notion or value of sacredness. The most
common understanding for sacred space is the Sacred architecture (also known as religious
architecture). Yet we must not simplify the issue of sacredness of a space to one form of
architecture; religious architecture, which is generally related to the design of temples,
churches and mosques.
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Thesis Chapters by Ibrahim El Hadidi
To explore this relationship, the research introduces the concept of a "traditional cosmological model," based on the ideas of Mircea Eliade, which posits that ancient cities and sacred buildings were designed to reflect and embody a heavenly model, or microcosm. This model is used to analyze and interpret various examples from the ancient world, demonstrating how traditional concepts were consistently employed to link the physical structures of cities and sacred buildings to their celestial counterparts.
As a case study, the research applies the traditional cosmological approach to the Giza Plateau, offering an alternative interpretation to the views commonly held by mainstream historians and Egyptologists. Through this analysis, the research aims to shed new light on the role of traditional beliefs and values in shaping the architecture and urban design of ancient societies.
Papers by Ibrahim El Hadidi
Drafts by Ibrahim El Hadidi
among scholars who have researched this matter. The main challenge is to be able to
understand what makes a space sacred, in other words to list the features of sacredness in a
space. For a sacred space to be truly conceived it must be viewed holistically where a
summation of features interweave to create the notion or value of sacredness. The most
common understanding for sacred space is the Sacred architecture (also known as religious
architecture). Yet we must not simplify the issue of sacredness of a space to one form of
architecture; religious architecture, which is generally related to the design of temples,
churches and mosques.
To explore this relationship, the research introduces the concept of a "traditional cosmological model," based on the ideas of Mircea Eliade, which posits that ancient cities and sacred buildings were designed to reflect and embody a heavenly model, or microcosm. This model is used to analyze and interpret various examples from the ancient world, demonstrating how traditional concepts were consistently employed to link the physical structures of cities and sacred buildings to their celestial counterparts.
As a case study, the research applies the traditional cosmological approach to the Giza Plateau, offering an alternative interpretation to the views commonly held by mainstream historians and Egyptologists. Through this analysis, the research aims to shed new light on the role of traditional beliefs and values in shaping the architecture and urban design of ancient societies.
among scholars who have researched this matter. The main challenge is to be able to
understand what makes a space sacred, in other words to list the features of sacredness in a
space. For a sacred space to be truly conceived it must be viewed holistically where a
summation of features interweave to create the notion or value of sacredness. The most
common understanding for sacred space is the Sacred architecture (also known as religious
architecture). Yet we must not simplify the issue of sacredness of a space to one form of
architecture; religious architecture, which is generally related to the design of temples,
churches and mosques.