Traditional ways of dealing with climate in Egypt

Abstract

Egypt is occupied in the hot dry/arid climatic zone of the world and part of the great desert (Sahara) of North Africa except for the narrow valley extending linearly around the Nile River across the country (Mostafa, 2001). This climatic zone is characterized by arid climatic conditions with extremely high temperatures and almost no rain and a very high diurnal difference throughout the year (Givoni, 1998). Egyptian people have tried from ancient times to reduce heat impacts and provide shade by several ways (traditional passive cooling devices) in order to have the feel of thermal comfort. The passive devices such as; Courtyard, Malkaf, Mushrabiya, Salsabil, Shuksheika, Taktaboosh, are marked by perfect responsiveness to the climatologically pressures they endure. During a field trip in Egypt, a number of existing traditional buildings around the country have been visited. In exploring these precedents, it became evident the use of passive cooling devices as natural environmental controls was effective. Moreover, the richness of the architecture had evolved as a result of their application. This paper demonstrates the importance of these passive cooling devices as environmental mediators, creating thermally pleasant living conditions. This is done through reviewing, classifying and analyzing their design characteristics.