There is an informal settlement in Egypt, currently occupying a four-mile-long graveyard in Cairo. It has been reported that between 500,000 and one million people live "in makeshift homes between the tombs" in the Cairo Necropolis (also known as 'The City of the Dead').
In a bid to contribute to the quality of life of these people, architects Mouaz Abouzaid, Bassel Omara and Ahmed Hammad propose a micro-housing initiative that utilizes shipping containers. This form of architecture has become increasingly popular within the industry due to its compactness, modularity, and affordability. The layout boasts "eight homes built around a central courtyard with a tower in the center." Dubbed 'Sheltainers,' the proposal was named the winner in the WAFX Ethics and Value category of the World Architecture Festival.
What's Driving This Trend
- Micro-housing
- Shipping containers are being repurposed as micro-housing units, offering a compact, modular, and affordable solution for informal settlements.
- Compact Architecture
- The use of shipping containers as housing units demonstrates the growing trend of compact and space-efficient architectural designs.
- Alternative Building Materials
- The adoption of shipping containers as building materials highlights the trend towards using unconventional and sustainable materials in construction.
Who This Affects Most
- Architecture
- Architects and designers can explore using shipping containers as a disruptive innovation in the housing industry.
- Construction
- The construction industry can leverage the use of shipping containers to create affordable and customizable housing solutions for informal settlements.
- Urban Planning
- Urban planners can consider incorporating micro-housing settlements using shipping containers to address the challenges of overcrowding and housing shortage in cities.
