Reviving Low-Tech Modes of Construction as a Method for Sustainability

Abstract

Sustainability in architectural design has been widely researched in respect to environmental, social and economic impacts on the built environment. Associated debates have been raised regarding zero CO2 emissions, clean energy consumption, simulations for optimized designs, and high-tech utilization, among other. However, little focus has been given to the possibility of reviving low-technology construction, which can contribute to the field through an added value to the identity of communities, especially in areas with special familiar construction techniques that are possible to be optimized and capitalized upon. Stemming from this, the research aims to analyze strategies and tools for contemporary projects which have adopted the experience of applying low-tech construction modes to upraise a specific local community. The “Al-Nazlah” project in Fayoum, Egypt, which has been awarded several international prizes, is the main focus of this analysis, based on first-hand information from the architect, local community, and heritage experts using interviews and questionnaires, in addition to applying Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) methodology to assess the experience collectively. The results highlight the points of strength and weakness of the revival project, in the form of a framework assessing the experiment for the familiar construction-based project in applying the three levels of sustainability in a community with special characteristics.