Project Activities

Field Visits

Project Launching (First Site Visit)

The CRLiH project was officially launched in April 2025. Before the start of field activities, the research team carried out a series of preparatory tasks, including site selection, extensive literature review, and the procurement and preparation of environmental monitoring equipment and data loggers. In early June 2025, the research team conducted an introductory visit to Al-Asmarat, the project's selected case study area. The visit provided an opportunity to meet residents, introduce the project and research team, and gain a deeper understanding of the site's physical, environmental, and social context. This initial engagement laid the foundation for the field measurements, surveys, and research activities carried out throughout the project.

April 2025 Cairo, Egypt

Field Visits

Site Visits & Field Monitoring

During the summer (July–August 2025) and winter (January 2026), the research team conducted a comprehensive monitoring campaign in ten selected apartments within the Al-Asmarat case study area. Regular site visits were carried out to retrieve environmental data, inspect and maintain the installed data loggers, and ensure continuous monitoring throughout both seasons. Alongside the field measurements, questionnaire surveys were conducted with the participating households during both monitoring periods. The surveys captured residents' thermal comfort perceptions, occupant behaviour, and living conditions, enabling a comparative assessment of housing performance and occupant experiences under different seasonal conditions.

July-August 2025 / January 2026 Cairo, Egypt

Collaboration

UK Partner Visit

As part of the ongoing collaboration between Ain Shams University (ASU) and the University of East London (UEL), the CRLiH project welcomed the UK Principal Investigator (PI) to Egypt for a three-day visit. The visit included meetings with the research team and a field visit to the Al-Asmarat case study area, providing an opportunity to review project progress, discuss the next stages of the research, and strengthen collaboration between the two institutions. The site visit also enabled the UK partner to gain first-hand insight into the study area and the ongoing field activities.

September 2025 Cairo, Egypt

Workshop

Project Introduction Workshop at Ain Shams University

As part of the UK-PI visit to Egypt, Ain Shams University hosted a public workshop to introduce the CRLiH project and present its objectives, methodology, and planned activities to academics, students, and stakeholders. The workshop also featured a presentation by the UK partner on climate-resilient and energy-efficient housing research, encouraging knowledge exchange and discussion. The event contributed to disseminating the project's vision while reinforcing the partnership between ASU and UEL.

September 2025

Workshop

Retrofit Strategies Workshop 1, ASU

A dedicated workshop on Retrofit Strategies for Improving Thermal Comfort was held on 6 May 2026 at the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University. The workshop brought together researchers, academics, and industry professionals to exchange knowledge, discuss current challenges facing low-income housing, and explore practical climate-resilient retrofit solutions. The session featured presentations by the project team, highlighting the project's objectives, methodology, and preliminary findings. This was followed by an interactive roundtable discussion that encouraged participants to collaboratively develop and evaluate potential retrofit strategies and interventions aimed at improving thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and residents' well-being. The workshop provided valuable insights and recommendations that will contribute to the next phase of the CRLiH project and support the development of evidence-based solutions for climate-resilient low-income housing in Egypt.

6 May 2026 Cairo, Egypt

Dissemination

ICCAE’17 Conference, Egypt

The CRLiH research team actively participated in the 17th International Conference on Civil and Architecture Engineering (ICCAE'17), Egypt, where the project's first conference paper was presented. The conference provided an opportunity to share early research findings, engage with academics and professionals, and contribute to ongoing discussions on sustainable and climate-resilient housing. The paper, titled "Occupant Behaviour as a Climate Adaptation Mechanism in Low-Income Housing: Evidence from Al-Asmarat Housing Project in Cairo, Egypt," presented initial findings from the project and highlighted the important role of occupant behaviour in adapting to climate-related challenges within low-income housing environments. Participation in ICCAE'17 supported the dissemination of the project's research outcomes, fostered knowledge exchange with the wider academic community, and increased awareness of the challenges and opportunities associated with climate resilience in Egypt's low-income housing sector.

21 May 2026 Cairo, Egypt

Workshop

Retrofit Strategies Workshop 2, UEL

As part of the CRLiH project, the research team from Ain Shams University visited the University of East London (UEL) to participate in the second project workshop. The workshop brought together the project partners, alongside experts, master's students, and academic staff from UEL, to build upon the outcomes of the first Retrofit Strategies Workshop held at Ain Shams University. Participants reviewed the project's progress and collaboratively discussed a range of retrofit strategies aimed at improving thermal comfort, reducing overheating, and enhancing the energy performance of low-income housing. Through interactive discussions and knowledge exchange, the workshop enabled participants to evaluate potential design interventions and identify practical, climate-resilient solutions for the Al-Asmarat case study while strengthening collaboration between the two universities.

June 2026 London, UK

Collaboration

Egyptian Team visit to UEL

Following the workshop, the research team toured the UEL Docklands Campus, where they explored the university's teaching and research facilities and visited student architecture exhibitions. The tour provided valuable insight into UEL's academic environment, showcasing innovative student work and encouraging the exchange of ideas and best practices in architectural education and research. During the visit, the research teams from Ain Shams University and the University of East London also held a dedicated project meeting to review the progress achieved to date, reflect on the outcomes of the workshop, and discuss the next phases of the CRLiH project. The meeting focused on planning future research activities, strengthening collaboration between the two institutions, and identifying opportunities for continued knowledge exchange.

June 2026 London, UK

Dissemination

ASEJ Journal Article

The first journal paper resulting from the CRLiH project was published in the Ain Shams Engineering Journal under the title "Health under Heat: Assessment of Overheating in Cairo's Low-Income Housing" The paper presents the findings of the summer field monitoring campaign, evaluating overheating conditions and their impacts on indoor environmental quality and occupants' health in Al-Asmarat. By combining environmental monitoring with residents' survey data, the study highlights the challenges of heat exposure in low-income housing and provides evidence to support the development of climate-resilient and energy-efficient housing strategies in Egypt.

August 2026 Cairo, Egypt

Project Activities

Research & Outreach Activities

Project Launching (First Site Visit)

Site Visits & Field Monitoring

UK Partner Visit

Project Introduction Workshop at Ain Shams University

Retrofit Strategies Workshop 1, ASU

ICCAE’17 Conference, Egypt

Retrofit Strategies Workshop 2, UEL

Egyptian Team visit to UEL

ASEJ Journal Article

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