Immersive Imperfection
Swiss partners
-
Ostschweizer Fachhochschule (OST): Simone Stürwald (principal investigator)
Partners in the MENA region
- German University Cairo (GUC), Egypte: Christian Schmitt (principal investigator), Marwa Khalil and Nouran Mohamed (research assistants)
Other partners
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany: Federico Garrido
Presentation of the project
The BARZAKH project explores the contemporary relevance of mudbrick (adobe) as a building material by blending traditional craftsmanship with modern digital tools. Based in New Gourna, Luxor, Egypt, and inspired by Hassan Fathy's sustainable architecture, the project aimed to reconnect communities with the process of mudbrick construction through an immersive, participatory design approach.
Using Virtual Reality (VR) for architectural design and Augmented Reality (AR) for real-time construction guidance, the project fostered collaboration between students, locals, and architects. The design process, led by a team from the German University in Cairo, was enhanced by mixed-reality tools like Fologram, guiding the construction of a fluid, curvilinear mudbrick wall. This wall serves as a seating area, strategically placed between the Villa of Hassan Fathy and the Temple of Hatshepsut, bridging history with innovation.
The project emphasized digital imperfection, allowing for the natural variations in handmade mudbricks to coexist with precise digital tools, highlighting the strength of earthen materials in contemporary architecture. Through this collaborative and immersive process, BARZAKH not only reimagines mudbrick as a sustainable material but also embodies the principles of participatory design, where architecture is built with the people, not just for them.
The outcome of the workshop, Barzakh, reflects this integration of digital and manual processes, ultimately advancing the use of earth-based materials in modern construction while fostering cultural and community engagement.
Mores on the project