A theoretical approach to the design of sustainable dwellings in hot dry zones: A Toshka case study

• We determine the major passive tools which create eco-dwelling.
• We study three factors: hot dry climate, earthquake and social needs.
• Theoretically, we set the mutual passive tools of sustainable dwelling.
• Underground construction with circular plan is the master key for sustained design.
• Suggested model is an attempt to be implemented and evaluated.

The Toshka project is a mega-project undertaken by the Egyptian Government. It arose as part of a plan to increase the amount of inhabited land in Egypt from 5% to 25%. Toshka is a desert region located in the southeast of Egypt’s Western Desert and lies between the Tropic of Cancer (22.00°N and 24.00°N), and longitudes (31.00°E and 32.00°E). An extensive desert reclamation project is being implemented in this region using water from the Nile. Designing dwellings is one of the challenges that architects face in this region. Toshka is currently considered uninhabited and has a hot, dry climate. Furthermore, seismically active faults lie near Toshka. It also expected that the majority of settlers will be low income citizens. This paper proposes a theoretical approach to designing desert dwellings that accommodates the hot, dry climate and secures the dwelling against seismic waves by incorporating passive elements. The results showed that underground construction using a circular plan and the use of wind catchers, evaporation, vegetal roofing and sunken courtyards can provide an acceptable, sustainable design for housing in the Western Desert.