Hatem G. Ibrahim

Investigation of an Evaporative Cooler for Buildings in Hot and Dry Climates

The paper presents a computer model and experimental results of a sub-wet bulb temperature evaporative cooling system for space cooling in buildings in hot and dry climates. The cooler uses porous ceramic materials as the wet media for water evaporation. Under selected test conditions of airflow dry bulb temperature of up to 45 o C and relative humidity of up to 50%, it was found that the supply air could be cooled to below the wet bulb temperature with a maximum cooling capacity of 280 W/m 2 of the wet ceramic surface area. It was also shown that the overall wet bulb effectiveness is greater than unity. This performance would make the system a potential alternative to conventional mechanical air conditioning systems in hot and dry regions.

A chronological exploration of the evolution of housing typologies in Gulf cities

This paper traces the evolution of housing typologies in four major cities in the Gulf region, namely Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Manama. The study reviews the formation and historical events in the region, which had a significant impact on new social as well as economic realities and consequently evolving housing types during the last two centuries. The methodological approach is based on reviewing a number of case studies representing local housing typologies throughout distinctive historic periods which were categorized in four periods: the post-nomadic, traditional, modern, and contemporary. The main objective is to identify the process of transformation by applying a comparative assessment of the different periods in order to examine continuities or ruptures between them. Thus, particular layout elements were analysed and compared. Conclusions are drawn to underline contemporary challenges while offering projections for future housing typologies in the selected cities and other similar ones.

Investigation of Housing Preferences in View of the Housing Market Dynamics in Doha Metropolitan

Since the 2000s, Doha has gone through enormous economic growth and urbanization processes. The massive migration inflows have suggested particular housing preferences that are driven by the demographic and lifestyle diversities of the multicultural population. Housing preferences of the multicultural population are defined in terms of housing location, cost, and typology. The paper aims to study housing preferences in view of the housing market dynamics in order to recommend future actions for housing planning and expansion. It focuses on the period from 2000 to 2017 where rapid urban development took place in Doha metropolitan considering cultural, sporting, economic, real estate, and political incidents. The methodological approach includes: questionnaire survey of housing preferences, and survey of the perceptions of housing market experts. The paper defines the major shifts in the housing market based on: the sporting events, construction boom, and real-estate boom. It will discuss solutions to reduce the gap between housing supply and demand. Also, it will conclude actions for future housing expansion based on the recommendations by key market experts towards a sustainable local economic growth.

Lifestyle trends and housing typologies in emerging multicultural cities

The introduction of new housing typologies in emerging cities is rooted in dynamics including infrastructural investments, urban growth rates and new development policies. In accommodating new lifestyles, demand-driven patterns by tenants and property owners are the main factors consolidating development trends in future. This paper explores the relationship between new lifestyle patterns and housing typologies in emerging cities. Within the context of Gulf cities, namely Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Manama, this paper investigates demographic structures and housing trends where a rapid phase of urban growth has transformed local urbanism. Current social structures were analysed by following a new ‘lifestyle framework’ resulting in the characterization of four main lifestyle trends. This is coupled with the assessment of 240 cases of new residences from the Gulf cities under study. The juxtaposition of both studies offers an outlook relevant to the importance of a transition from supply-driven to demand-driven housing dynamics to accommodate emerging multicultural societies. The paper thus contributes to a better understanding and identification of the social groups that are currently lacking suitable housing.