The CISV house will be designed to stick to the CISV values, with being as environmental friendly and practical as possible. The house will have multiple purposes, whether for camps, mini-camps, trainings, events or just a movie night. For this reason it will be designed to accommodate all these purposes.
Currently Eng Yasser Quessny is kind enough to design our dream house, which is designed to be a pilot project in Environmental Sustainability. First Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) complaint project in Egypt. Inspite of limited scale, we chose to set a benchmark for Design and Energy problem-solving paradigms. CISV by definition is a free-spirited organization with boundary-less mind set(s). Environmental and ecological issues are by default, the logical extension for children caring priority list. Finding smart environmental solutions, and systems, for now-a-days building’s complexity context was of paramount importance. Having developed a concept, the following became our methodical in this regard:
B.1. MACRO LEVEL
Layout and Site Planning are meant to high light BLUE and GREEN (conservation and preservation) design concepts. Minimal “built”, and prevailing “Green”, govern and determine planning configuration. Dry(er) landscape, on the other hand, remain “conservation” re-assurance wildland(using crushed stone and creepers). An organically shaped pool, stertching along plot’s diagonals, not only act as an architectural collector for project’s elements, but has been also utilized as a passive device to control moisture content, among other mechanical purposes.
B.2. MICRO LEVEL
Each lodging cluster encloses its own sky-open courtyard;good for limited gatherings, and a smart device for stimulating wind. Wind catchers and solar chimneys have been also introduced to induce air drafts, and also act as low pressure (hot air) out-vent (exhaust). Sunken lodges, and covering earth fill, act as natural insulators, dropping temperature in summer time over 8-10ºC. Public Facilities, are slightly sunken with good day light capacity; Gym and Conventional Hall at upper level. Dining at lower level with direct service access for kitchen handling purposes.
B.3. SYSTEMS
Systems, too, needed to comply to Environmental Sustainability measures.
B.3.1. Architectural Treatment Systems
- Using mostly natural material for construction and finishings
- Finishing materials are mostly organic with zero fume emission, and noticeably low maintenance.
B.3.2. Architectural and Construction Systems
- All buildings are “bearing wall”, all in stone, and continous footings
- Roofing, however, will mostly depend on “vault” systems in stone and/or red bricks.
- Land infill and excavation equalizes to the most extent.
B.3.3. Electric Systems
- Project elements receive adequate daylight, mostly Northerly oriented.
- Using Energy saving systems (devices,timers, bulbs, etc.), and proper luminosity measuring to optimize artificial lighting needed.
- Possible introduction of “photo-voltaics” (if at all feasible).
- Use of passive co-generation systems, since there is very little room for the use of renewable energy.
B.3.4. HVAC Systems
- Use of passive environmental control measures
- Use of complementary low-tech, ecofriendly; systems such as:
- “Desert coolers” for A/C
- water surfaces as humidifiers
B.3.5. Plumbing and Other Mechanical Systems
- Use of low consumption water faucets
- Grey water systems for landscape irrigation
- Use of natural gas for boilers, and hot water for winter heating.
