http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/5161 2026-04-07T20:47:39Z http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7040 Marine Urbanism: The Impact of Sea Level Rise on the Identity of Future Cities of the Bahamas Osborne, Kenyon As the reality of climate change continues to augment the dangers of flooding and sea level rise in the world today, it is imperative that innovative methods of adaptive urbanization be considered to sustain the earth's growing populations. This paper presents an exploration into a dynamic form of urban implementation that may present a new frontier for resilience in future cities built in The Bahamas. Interviews conducted with locals, inclusive of educators, researchers, architects and government officials help to assess the effectiveness of current flood prevention strategies and measure public interest for marine living and its opportunities. Recent articles along with the data from local sources such as newspapers and online news organizations provide data that paint a narrative for the need of resilient urban implementation. Scientific literature and case studies reveal the exclusive advantages that maritime urban environments present for resiliency, social, and economic stability. The goal of this paper is to illustrate how a floating urban setting can not only neutralize the flood threat to future cities built in the Bahamas but also increase their capacity for economic improvement and sustainability. http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7039 The Kush Train to Promote Patrimonial Tourism of the Ancient African of Kush, as a Means to Rejuvenate the Economy of Sudan Mahgoub, Samah In the Sudan, decreasing economic viability has depleted the country’s capital resources resulting in poverty, unemployment, and inequitable opportunities for its citizens. The paper discusses the following question: can architectural strategies supporting tourism assist in rejuvenating the economy of Sudan? To address this question, the following case studies are discussed: The Adrère Amellal Oasis project in the Siwa Oasis at the western desert of Egypt. Sudan and its bordering country Egypt, shares history and resources, and the project translates through architecture, how economic sustainability can be introduced into harsh environments through the hospitality industry. At the same time, the tourism of Sudan’s regional neighbor Uganda will be reviewed as an economic analysis of the impact of tourism on Uganda. While to better understand the impact of the build environment on an international level, the Boston Freedom Trail will be analyzed as a visual application at an urban scale, which connects historical tourist attractions. These examples have similarities in different aspects that can be abstracted to applicable input in Sudan. A brief overview of the history of Sudan is offered to present the kingdoms and related tourism attractions and relevant data. Economic based theories can be used to strategize the investment on the short and long term to address how tourism can help save the economy of Sudan. For example, contributions in hospitality and cottage industries, which can be reflected through modern and vintage textile fabrics weaving techniques created within the community, will enhance the overall experience of tourism. In addition to increased tourism, weaving techniques can be translated to architectural facades. The goal of this paper’s inquiry is to propose the Kush Train as an architectural intervention of different projects, that can reflect the identity of a culture, and to invest within Sudan through tourism. http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7038 Environmental Medicine: Healing Through Creative Process Balzano, Mia Art therapy is an effective method of helping people - not only to recover from illness - but also to recognize how personal experiences affect oneself and others. Art therapy uses a combination of therapeutic reasoning and creative expression in order to decrease anxiety in an unconventional manner versus more traditional therapies including typical counseling or the use of medications. This hand-on approach helps those involved to better contextualize one's circumstance and environment through the immersion in the integrative, reparative and restorative process of making and creating which illustrates for the patient a process of release through expression. In this approach, the process takes precedent over the outcome, reinforcing the critical aspect of allowing one's intuition, connected to the subconscious and unconscious areas of the brain, to emerge what is invisible to us and make it visible. As part of the foundation of art therapy, both patients and their therapists need appropriate environments to fully explore and leverage therapeutic processes. The patient requires an environment that empowers and encourages one to safely explore and examine uncomfortable emotions, memories, perhaps even traumatic experiences. This type of expression-based treatment differs from many other therapeutic approaches in that it strives to simulate the image-based region of the brain that arises early in one's development, and in which memories are contained. For those who struggle to communicate effectively through verbal other normative means, art therapy can be most effective - especially with adolescents, whose brains still have plasticity and have not yet fully developed. it is this researcher's hypothesis that supportive environments can assist patients in the articulation of difficult remembrances. Similarly, the art therapist's role in stimulating the memories of a patient requires an environment that helps to build and strengthen a trust-based rapport in order to most effectively assist the patient in acquiring the insight and skill necessary to successfully manage their behavior in the expanded environments that comprise their daily lives. This paper explores the architectural aspects of adaptive healing environments that support the essential relationship between patient and therapist, and allows a patient to continuously progress through their unique prescribed program and eventually successfully navigate their daily lives. By fully understanding and documenting the atmospheric and phenomenal needs of both patient and therapist throughout the therapeutic process, the design of the architectural environment can be leveraged to augment the sensory and creative experiences central to a patient’s healing path. http://hdl.handle.net/2374.MIA/7037 Redefining Public Spaces in Egypt: Architecture of Change and Ownership Empowered by Citizens Eid, Samia Architecture and Politics are connected in various ways, and one of the most notable functions of architecture in a political context is to reflect on the voice and needs of the people. This paper asks how architecture can become a catalyst for citizens to gain ownership of public spaces specifically, in Egypt. As an Egyptian citizen, I experienced the 18 days of the Egyptian revolution when people were able to temporarily gain their right to urban public spaces. As an architect, how can my design facilitate community engagement with public spaces becoming part of the city? I challenge the way, we Egyptians currently design, inhabit and create urban public spaces. This paper introduces a new concept of public spaces in Egypt by proposing a space where people have the power to create the place around them through communication, freedom, art, expressing ideas, and using technology. I suggest the principles of the revolution into the architectural design that means, redefining the traditional relationship between the architect and the community members focusing on a participatory design process. By creating urban public spaces through architectural strategies that respond to people’s need, physical site, history, memory and that promote expression, gathering, and becomes a physical connection to the city. Interviews were conducted with citizens (stakeholders), planners, and those engaged in architectural practice and study in Egypt. Case studies include Downtown Cairo’s urban planning, in general, and, specifically, Tahrir Square is a major case study.