Evaporative Clay, Palm Crate Canopy Kit
Cairo, 2015
Building from my interest in everyday objects found on Egyptian sidewalks, like the street chair and the palm fiber (gireed) crate, in my collaboration with architect Omar Rabie, we propose what we call Evaporative Clay, Crate Canopy (Instant Space kit). This concept aims to repurpose two everyday items found on Cairo streets. The project not only questions the impacts of mass production, over-consumption, and disposability but also reintroduces these objects as items of aesthetic, environmental, and cultural value. Gireed crates, made from the midribs of date palms, have historical value as ecologically friendly and abundant materials. The pruning process of date palm trees necessitates the removal of these midribs annually making gireed both an abundant, ecologically friendly and locally sourced construction material. The meticulous and time-consuming process of making these palm fiber crates results in hand-made items that embody the wabi-sabi principles of beauty in imperfection and impermanence. However, modern economic shifts, rising labor costs, and a shortage of skilled artisans have led to the decline of this craft, with plastic crates taking their place. Similarly, unglazed ceramic jars called ollas, historically used across cultures and contemporary Egypt, offer efficient water storage and cooling through evaporation. These items, seen on Cairo sidewalks in water donation racks, provide practical and material inspiration for this project.
The kit repurposes gireed crates and ollas to create sustainable construction components for public spaces. The gireed crates are arranged in a grid pattern, forming a modular, adaptable roof structure. Ollas, cut in half, are interlocked and filled with water, creating walls that "sweat" and provide evaporative cooling in hot climates. The combined structure results in a lightweight yet strong gireed roof and thermally efficient olla walls. This kit promotes an open-source approach, easy reproduction, and emphasizes sustainability by using traditional, locally available materials. It can adapt to various uses, from public spaces to housing solutions, reviving traditional crafts in modern contexts.