Situation

New El-Alamein City is considered the first smart city of the fourth generation of Egypt’s new urban developments. Its vision is to attract population away from overpopulated cities, while also serving as Egypt’s first hub for high-tech corporations, innovation, and social media.

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Project

In my opinion, the global dilemma of technological singularity has further complicated the situation. Since the 1980s, a gap has emerged between Egypt and the advancements of the industrialized world—and technological singularity is rapidly widening that gap. New El-Alamein should be an opportunity for Egyptian society—not just corporations—to rejoin the global innovation race. This can be achieved by creating a space that actively involves everyday individuals in the process of technological innovation.

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Crisis of overpopulation in Egypt

As of Friday, October 11, 2019, Egypt's population was 100,926,788, according to Worldmeters’ analysis of the latest United Nations data. Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab world and the third most populous on the African continent. Approximately 95% of the population lives along the banks of the Nile and in the Nile Delta, which together make up only 5% of the country’s total land area.

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Results

- Overcrowded cities

- Urban sprawl encroaching on water resources

- Urban sprawl is consuming agricultural land

- Failing drainage systems

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What the government thinks is a solution

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Over the past three decades, the Egyptian government has focused on establishing new cities as a way to address urban overcrowding. These cities are strategically located away from the narrow strip of the Nile Valley, with the goal of redistributing the population and easing the burden on existing urban centers.

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Weaknesses in the government's plan

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Despite the ambition behind this initiative, several critical weaknesses undermine its effectiveness. There is a lack of clear and practical execution plans, including timelines that account for future developments and shifts. The transportation networks connecting these new cities are underdeveloped, limiting accessibility and integration. Furthermore, low-income families have often been relocated to these areas without adequate infrastructure or support, which has led to social and economic strain. Cultural conflicts have also emerged, particularly between new settlers and the native Bedouin communities, highlighting a gap in social cohesion and planning.

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Developed threats

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Since 2011, Egypt’s political instability has deeply affected urban dynamics. Gated communities have rapidly increased, offering a sense of security for the wealthy during times of conflict. Public trust in the government has declined, as the nation remains split between two opposing political forces. Under pressure, the government often directs its stress toward those with the least power. This has led to the displacement of poor families and the use of force against opposition groups. One example is the forced eviction of families from El-Warraq Island.

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Proposal for social challenge

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To design a space that truly meets the needs of its users, I began by studying the stakeholders of New El-Alamein and their diverse requirements. A rich cultural environment combined with meaningful activities can help foster the desired social cohesion.

To better understand how different groups adapt to the experience of moving to a new city, I analyzed the stakeholders through the lens of the Diffusion of Innovation Theory—specifically, the Adoption Curve.

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According to the law, any new idea(product) should be marketed in a specific order. Successful ideas manage to cross the chasm:

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Ideating solutions

Advanced technologies have sparked a revolution, making it possible for anyone to 3D print and fabricate their ideas. I believe it is equally important to educate young stakeholders and involve them in creativity hubs. This approach can help grow the number of creators and innovators. By upgrading local craftsmanship and encouraging collaboration, we can also build stronger social bonds and reduce cultural conflicts.

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Site analysis & form development

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How can space provoke creativity?

In my opinion, it’s negative space that sparks user creativity. By intentionally leaving out many details, the designer invites users to interpret and engage with the space in their own creative ways.

Negative space means fewer boundaries—which encourages more imaginative solutions, personal interpretations, and creative thinking. It challenges users to recognize and define the boundaries of the space they are interacting with.

To achieve this effect, I relied on Gestalt principles, which help guide perception and allow users to form meaningful wholes from minimal visual cues.

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Simply, our minds like to fill the gaps

Our minds naturally like to fill in the gaps—that's the essence of how creativity is often sparked. When given less information, we tend to imagine more.

Take, for example, a simple exercise: ask someone to draw a duck with minimal instructions or just a few guiding lines. The results are often surprisingly creative. Why? Because the lack of limitations invites the imagination to take over. Each person interprets the space differently, leading to a wide range of unique outcomes.

This is the power of negative space. By reducing boundaries, we allow more room for interpretation, problem-solving, and creative thinking.

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How to achieve negative space in architectural design?

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Plans

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Shots

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