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Observations of Safety & Control
This work explores the themes of safety, hidden power, surface and gender socio-political issues in the city by exploring and investigating the female body as it navigates through and occupies the urban context.
The central research question is based on the premise of spatial control and access to a safe space, with reference to the thresholds, devices and spatial practices that influence the control and access of the space. The site chosen for this investigation is the city of Cairo. Movement is observed through the street or alley and further moving through spaces of safety. The theoretical framework of hidden power is explored through elements of access and control and figures of the sidewalk, the street, the passage & the door. Thus, the
relationship between hide & reveal; security & supervision and resistance & compliance is highlighted.
Surface of Violence & Sexual Harrassment
Stage 2 : Concept
Permeable Surfaces
Organic Surfaces
Street Surfaces
Locality Plan
scale: 1:
The work starts to explore the premise of safe spaces and spatial justice by addressing the ghostly vulnerabilities women face in urban spaces such as the street or the alley. Thus, elements of access and control are then investigated through figures that impact these elements. Some of these figures include the sidewalk, the street, the passage & the door.
The work aims to produce a hyperreal prototype of safety as a surface or material by focusing on the figures in spaces of safety and security. These spaces include the domestic space; the police station; a women’s shelter and the Egyptian High Court of Justice. The door, as a figure of access and control within these spaces is then imagined to act as a passage or portal to a safe space through incorporating archetypes of authority, supervision, enforcement and governance. Thus, empowering women and creating a sense of authority within the urban fabric.
Case study : Footage of Sexual harrassment at Taalat Harb Street
Observe
/eb’ze:v/
verb
1. Watch (someone or something) carefully and attentively.
ALGORITHMIC TRACKING ARTICLE
Safety Tracking App
Algorithm mapping out vulnerabilities of the Public Space
Site Plan
Scale: 1:
The Domestic Space
The domestic space uses the male authority figure as it’s main safety device as to who can enter and exit. This figure is also supported by the lock key device in the door handles.
The Police Station
The police station stands with its elaborate architrave and large scale door to announce a form of hierachy and enforcement. This is supported by it’s supervision from windows and exterior lighting elements.
Women's shelter
The women’s shelter uses the thick exterior stone wall as a protective barrier in addition to the peep windows in the doors, intercom systems and camera systems, that determine whether access is given or not.
Egyptian High Court of Justice
The Egyptian High Court of Justice uses elements of scale, the colonnade and legislation to announce their governance of security within the state.
Situational Landings : Public Spaces of Safety
scale: 1:
Corridor of Safety
This work aims to produce a hyperreal prototype of safety by focusing on figures in spaces of safety and security. These spaces include the domestic space; the police station; a women’s shelter and the Egyptian High Court of Justice. The door, as a figure of access and control within these spaces is then imagined to act as a passage or portal to a safe space through incorporating archetypes of authority, supervision, enforcement and governance. Thus, empowering women and giving them a sense of authority within the urban fabric.
Navigating through Safe Space
scale : 1 :
“Safe spaces mean everyone moves easily without fear.”
- Mohammed, 31,
Jordan
The foreign female body in the city
An exploration of the female body in the city of Johannesburg and how it is often found to occupy urban space mainly in transit and not often in a form of loittering. The female body moves within the city’s perimeters on the side walk like a foreign body that does not belong and is not often found occupying public urban spaces.
Film : The Female Body in the Urban Context
Observe
/eb’ze:v/
verb
2. Notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant.
Secret Dialect of Access
Observe
/eb’ze:v/
verb
2. A formal account of events given by a witness, defendant, or other party to the police or in a court of law.
surveillance tactic - internal to outwards
kone'ng - loittering/approppriation
Prototype : Safety Navigation Architectural Device
Floor Plan : Women's Shelter
Scale: 1:
Stage 3 : Design Development
Archetype of enforcement
Reinactment of street harrassment using videos and built structure
Axonometric Drawing : Safety Tactic
Scale: 1:
Stage 3 : Design Development
Floor plan & finishes
draw up the shephard hotel/precedent
Axonometric Drawing : Women's Shelter Street View
scale: 1:
Stage 3 : Design Development
Reinactment of street harrassment using videos and built structure
ACCESS CONTROL : Window & door schedule/detail archtypes for final design
Archetype of governance
Floor Plan : Safety Tactic
scale : 1 :
Stage 3 : Design Development
Reinactment of street harrassment using videos and built structure
ACCESS CONTROL : Window & door schedule/detail archetype for final design
Floor Plan : Safety Tactic
scale : 1 :
Stage 3 : Design Development
A mashrabiya is an architectural element which is characteristic of Arabic residences
This work will move forward into developing the safety nagivation device by using the concept of the mashrabiya to inform the device in which supervision plays an elemental role of the device.
Rhythm
Hierarchy
Transformation
Light & Shadow
Asymmetry
Translucency
Fluidity
Curvature
Texture
Tensile Structure
Structural & Material Exploration : The Female Body in the Urban Context
Stage 3 : Design Development
Architype of supervision
Physicological/phyiscal/emotional/spiritual safety aspects in the design
Section : Safety Tactic
scale : 1 :
Stage 3 : Design Development
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