Shape, culture and environment: a lesson of urban design from Dakhleh oasis, Egypt

Abstract

The paper is based on an ongoing research project regarding traditional architecture in the New Valley (Egypt), funded by the Italian and Egyptian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, between the Politecnico di Torino (Italy), and the Assyut University (Egypt). This research studies the mud brick settlements built between the XII - XIII century a.c. in Dakhleh (25°30' N, 29°07' E) Egyptian oasis (Al Qasr, Balat, Mushiya, Qalamun, Bashandi, Tineida, Mut), 250km W of Luxor and 800km SSE of Cairo. In the western Libyan desert, it is evident that urban morphology and building typology are not the result of accidental layered events, but an acquainted effect of a strong interaction of local, cultural, social and religious values, bioclimatic design knowledge elements and an extreme attention to the local resources. These factors all together have contributed to the realization of a sustainable urban model ante litteram. On-site survey, research and conducted comparing the Coranic prescriptions with the technological aspects, show connections between urban shape, environmental quality and socially shared values. This paper aims to consider the ancient Egyptian approach to sustainable urban design and rehabilitation.

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