The project proposes a civic centre in the industrial area of Helwan, Cairo, exploring themes of contextual disturbance, water scarcity and pollution, disruptive structures, harsh climates, and transforming an exploitative brick industry.

The centre responds to the brief of Contextual Futurism through terraformation, sustainable reedbed water filtration, holistic approach to local brick workers by hydro-healing in the Bathhouse, congregation, multidisciplinary exchange between brick workers and stakeholders in a hypostyle hall. The enclosure reimagines and fuses local brick vernaculars and Egyptian temple typologies with contemporary and industrial languages into an architecture that disrupts, while responding to its surroundings. The morphology adopts the sub-ground language of brick kilns, the verticality of chimneys, and terracing of spaces. The harsh desert conditions inform the design by incorporating design features for passive ventilation, extensive shadow-casting, and locally sourced clay for the structure’s entirety. The delivery and operations employ a system of sectional completion that has a social purpose for local brick workers and visitors at each stage.