BACKGROUND
Sustainable development guarantees the well-being of humans by ensuring that current resources can, not only be shared by the present, but also the future generations. This requires a careful study of the interrelationships between population, the environment, and economic development to harmoniously manage and bring about a dynamic balance in a country. In other words, there has to be a clear understanding of the relationship between human activities and environmental resources, in addition to, determining the significance of the problems associated with this relationship. In the same sense, such problematic has made it imperative for the different stakeholders, of which architects play a huge role, to propose innovative solutions that aim at achieving sustainable futures.
ABOUT EGYPT
Egypt is situated in the northeast part of Africa. Although the Sinai Peninsula forms a land bridge with southwest Asia, Egypt is also called a Middle East country. Therefore it's a transcontinental country, which helps it become a significant power in Africa, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and the Muslim world. The capital of Egypt is Cairo. Egypt spans an area of roughly 390,121 square miles. Today, the Nile is considered the longest river in the world, and it enters Egypt from Sudan and flows north for about 1,545km (960 miles) until it exits into the Mediterranean Sea. From the Sudanese border to Cairo, the Nile flows through a narrow cliff-lined valley south of Edfu, hardly more than 3km (2 miles) wide. From Edfu to Cairo, it is about 23km (14 miles) in width, with most of the arable land lying on the western side. The valley merges with the Delta just north of Cairo before the River Nile joins the Mediterranean Sea. It is the 3rd most populous country in Africa and the most populous in the Middle East, with the majority of its estimated 101 million people living on, or near, the banks of the Nile. Only 5.5% of the total land area is used by the population, the area that borders the River Nile, as well as a few other cases. The other 94.5% is an uninhabitable desert. Egypt has a wide array of natural resources such as the River Nile, arable land, and natural gas. Thus, it has one of the most diverse economies in North Africa and the Middle East, with the various sectors employing the following amounts of people: agriculture, 32%; industry, 17%; services, 39%; and tourism, 12%. Egypt holds various archeological and cultural landmarks of the ancient civilizations since the dawn of history, possessing one-third of the world's known monuments.
ABOUT NORTHERN IRELAND
Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, lying in the northeastern quadrant of the island of Ireland, on the western continental periphery often characterized as Atlantic Europe. Northern Ireland is sometimes referred to as Ulster, although it includes only six of the nine counties which made up that historic Irish province. Northern Ireland occupies about one-sixth of the island of Ireland and is separated on the east from Scotland, another part of the United Kingdom, by the narrow North Channel, which is at one point only 13 miles (21 km) wide. The Irish Sea separates Northern Ireland from England and Wales on the east and southeast, respectively, and the Atlantic Ocean lies to the north. The capital is Belfast, a modern city whose historic center was severely damaged by aerial bombardment during World War II. As with Northern Ireland’s other chief cities, Londonderry and Armagh, Belfast is graced with parks and tidy residential neighborhoods. Regarding population, Northern Ireland is the smallest part of the United Kingdom, and its demographic profile differs from Great Britain in several ways. Although the Northern Irish birth rate has declined over the last two decades, it remains relatively high by British standards. Its population is around 1,903,100 people. Northern Irish people live on the east coast in the highly industrialized cities of Belfast and Londonderry. The basic industries of shipbuilding, linen, and agricultural products are rapidly declining in importance and are being taken over by other aircraft construction, food, and tobacco, footwear, clothing, and textiles. Northern Ireland blends centuries of rich history and folklore with an energetic mix of modern culture and breathtaking landscapes.
THE PARALLELS
In alignment with the principles of sustainable cities and communities and sustainable tourism, as outlined in the SDGs, innovation in the design of sustainable urban futures in heritage sites is becoming a topic of increasing relevance to both the UK and Egypt, linking to their 2050 visions, a shared strategy for net zero carbon. The demographics of both nations present an urge to discuss the sustainable urban futures of the heritage sites in Egypt and the UK. With a population of over 638 thousand, Belfast is estimated to continue its population increase over the next 20-25 years (World Population Review, 2022). Egypt is the second most populous African country, with a population of over 103 million people. The population is predicted to reach 153 million by 2050 (United Nations, 2015). In Egypt, a 1% increase in population raises the CO2 emissions by 2.4% (Ghanem, 2016). Thus, both nations have decided to complement their rich cultural heritage by taking advantage of opportunities for growth in tourism, technology, and energy.
Both nations have extensive heritage sites serving as cultural references and rich history. Examples such as the Old Cairene region, Old Downtown Alexandria (Raml Station), and Khedivate Cairo mark essential landmarks in Historical Egypt. Belfast City center, the Harbor, Mountains, Coast & Glens are among the remarkable heritage sites in Northern Ireland. Thus, with the current climate challenges faced globally. In the light of the shared goal of achieving net zero urban futures, sustainability is key to preserving such cultural and natural sites/resources that are to be transferred to future generations.