@Anna @Ilyaan @Abla Mohamed Sultan Abdulla Alshamsi
1. Abla
Imagine driving for 2 hours to go to the gym or to go shopping and then you find out that the gym is crowded and the mall is closed. What a disappointment!!
Western malls nowadays are dying, mall often run down and people prefer online shopping there is few people who visit the mall due to lack of recreation, and Having to travel to different places for different needs. And that produce a waste of energy and pollution.
Meanwhile middle east malls are always crowded people face problems with car traffic, carrying bags throughout the mall, inefficient heating and cooling and a mass waste producing.
2. Anna
Abla describes the problem^
but what if that didn’t have to be the case? what if there was a place where you could have your bags sent straight to your house? what if you could be outside during any season because of climate control, and what if parking and traffic wouldn’t be a problem because of integrated public transport?
with our innovative, new concept of community shopping hubs, you get more than you could ever want, all in one place! your convenience is guaranteed
whether you want to go to an MMA gym or Pilates studio, pick up dog food or groceries, or simply need a cafe or library to study in, Alexandria is a place you will return to time and again for your daily needs.
Alexandria is a beacon of sustainability for the local and global community
Ilyaan (since Anna was in SF):
But what if that didn’t have to be the case? With a multi-purpose destination that is close to your home, all your needs are met without having to travel long distances! Presenting, Alexandria. Named after the Egyptian city that witnessed rapid growth and became a centre for civilisation. Whether it’s working on a project, shopping for groceries or clothing, dining, movies, exercise or sports, we have it all! An open-air lifestyle hub centred around sustainable architecture, community building and promoting sustainable behaviours, Alexandria is the future of shopping and recreation. And the best part is, it’s super close to residential areas! It is implementable pretty much anywhere that the weather permits, with the pilot project set to launch in California. Alex will elaborate on the specific sustainability features, but some of the key user features include streets that are walking and biking only, with many access points. Also, delivery of shopping purchases directly to a chosen exit so you don’t have to carry your bags around.
3. Alex
But you may be asking - how is this concept different. Don’t we already have something similar here in Southern California, even Europe?
- Energy. Alexandria is a certified zero-energy precinct - which means that it produces as much energy as it consumes. We utilise foot-traffic to generate energy with every step using Pavegen. Solar glass is embedded in every shop window and glass surface to pull energy from the sun. And excess energy is stored in localised lithium-ion batteries and Micro Hydropower moats and waterfalls (like in Toshiba, Japan).
![image](https://www.notion.so/image/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fsecure.notion-static.com%2Fc1e9fa47-5295-4ae6-abf7-be99d79979f5%2FUntitled.png?id=8d634493-dff1-4504-880c-2e7a8d46218b&table=block)
![image](https://www.notion.so/image/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fsecure.notion-static.com%2F885ed168-ef31-41b1-8458-dfd675df2544%2FUntitled.png?id=a2fdfdd0-c856-4768-934d-0fa60882e281&table=block)
- Waste production and management. Much like Stockholm, Barcelona, and Singapore - every Alexandria precinct is outfitted with a Pneumatic Waste System, or an automated underground waste vacuum system. Allowing for efficient waste management.
![image](https://www.notion.so/image/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fsecure.notion-static.com%2F18b31f41-76a4-4d5c-ba11-4fae2128fdaf%2FUntitled.png?id=92cf18c0-0fee-4544-8f2d-bdf77d964850&table=block)
- Sustainable construction. Drawing inspiration from the New European Bauhaus Initiative, Alexandria’s structures are built entirely from sustainably sourced natural Mass Timber. Not concrete which accounts for 8% of global GHG emissions.
![image](https://www.notion.so/image/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fsecure.notion-static.com%2F9ffc0cbd-29a2-4a81-958d-82649ca4103f%2FUntitled.png?id=bfad64c8-b6e7-4bd5-b3ae-c2439324158a&table=block)
- And finally, Efficiency in Design - passive design elements that are both economically and environmentally viable. Biophilic design is evident throughout the precinct, using greenery to recycle air, whilst providing natural cooling and shade. Alexandria is modelled like a wind valley, which channels the sea breeze to cool the entire precinct. Buildings also incorporate Jaali - a traditional Indian lattice structure which naturally keeps buildings cool and shaded.
![image](https://www.notion.so/image/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fsecure.notion-static.com%2F03155398-2b6b-40a2-92a0-2d1b653536a2%2FUntitled.png?id=80cbd7b3-092a-4471-9462-b41082ceaefd&table=block)
4. Ilyaan
With an emphasis on community and supporting local businesses, all the products at Alexandria are sourced locally. Farmer’s markets that allow farmers to sell their produce directly also promote local businesses. Being very close to residential areas, [product name] alleviates the need for long distance travel to get to places for shopping, dining and recreation while being an all-in-one destination. Further, it emphases a sense of community and sustainable use of natural resources.