"A Boat-Making & Crafts Museum in Rosetta" Brief: Rashid or Rosetta (dubbed city of a million palms), located in Egypt at the confluence of the Nile and the Mediterranean Sea, is renowned for its rich history, including the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 Which allowed us to decipher and understand the history of ancient Egypt, in addition to its ship-making traditions, which have been passed down through generations. However, Rashid has faced challenges in preserving its cultural identity and adapting to modern times. Despite the city's cultural significance, its heritage has been neglected in recent years, and many of its historical buildings and traditions have fallen into disrepair. The city's ship-making traditions are at risk of being lost, as there are few opportunities for young people to learn these skills. In addition to neglect, climate change has also affected the city's cultural heritage. Rising sea levels and increasing temperatures have led to the degradation of historical buildings, the loss of cultural sites, and the erosion of traditional crafts and knowledge. My cultural complex aims to revitalize the city’s heritage, while preparing for the future. By creating a dynamic and innovative space that attracts foreign and local visitors, promoting economic growth, and showcasing the city’s vibrant past and promising future. Aims: -Revitalize Rosetta’s heritage & preserve its culture and cultural products. -Respect the city’s context and traditions while embracing contemporary design elements. -Become a symbol of Rosetta’s cultural revival and a landmark for the city. -Showcase the city’s vibrant past and promising future.

Main Shot, approaching the Cultural Center from the Nile.

Process

Concept Statement: My project is a deconstructed journey through the culture of Rosetta, showing the struggle of connecting with its past yet embracing its future. Keywords: Deconstructed Journey, Struggle, Connecting Approach: My Form Generation approach relies on using a set of keywords extracted from my concept statement and using these keywords to guide and inspire my form. The museum journey is designed to convey the same message in my concept statement, with the visitor getting a glimpse of their final destination at the end of the "future axis" but not be able to reach it except through the "history axis", meaning they have to learn their history first in order to reach their desired future. Through this journey the visitor starts to pass by the linking "disordered" and juxtaposed masses feeling the struggle of connecting between the past and the future. So the whole museum experience is the visitor living the concept statement from the first time they see the building and through every second they spend inside it.

Ground Floor Plan

The Complex is composed mainly of three zones, a museum on the first floor, showcasing the history and tradition of boat-making in Rosetta since ancient Egyptian times, an educational zone on the ground floor including a library, and several fishing oriented workshops where locals can teach as well as sell some of their handmade products. On the second floor lies the third main zone, being a historical conservation and documentation department to help preserve Rosetta's heritage.

Interior Shots, showing various user experiences