WITHSTANDING THE TIDES
by Lucy Bambury
The Al Maks fishing community situated in Western Alexandria, Egypt, face pressure from encroaching petrochemical industry, predicted sea level rises, water and air pollution, displacement and economic instability. ‘Withstanding the Tides’ strengthens the existing community through cooperative constructions methods with small scale material manufacture within the site creating a local circular economy to provide alternative income for fishing families, and diversifying the local workforce. Proposed fishermen’s houses along the canal’s edge are nestled amongst planted bamboo and mangroves, with raised bamboo walkways throughout the site to navigate future flooding. The intervention is built from materials able to withstand predicted sea level rise; earth brick, bamboo, reclaimed timber from fishing boats, and left over rubble from previous demolition of fishermen’s houses. Re-establishing the connection between the residents and the canal, the project will withstand the tides both literally and figuratively.
