Artemishield

Project idea

This project proposes the ecological transformation to Rosetta’s historic brick factories where located on Nile River bank into a sustainable, community-rooted facility. In response to the government’s plan where to relocate all 26 kilns due to pollution, it offers rescuation over removal.

While the brick factories contribute to environmental harm, they have long shaped the city’s skyline with their iconic chimneys and provided skilled labor in building it opportunities for generations. Removing them would erase both cultural identity and a critical source of livelihood for over 11% of the population.

The proposal introduces a closed-loop system that filters over 88% of emissions using low-tech and plant-based solutions. At its core is Artemisia annua, a resilient plant that thrives near brick factories sites in Rosetta’ sites and absorbs pollutants. The kilns are reimagined as living chimneys bioremediation towers wrapped in Artemisia that cleanse the air and restore purpose.

Goals and Objectives:

Protect the jobs of over 500 people affected by factory relocation.

Create new work in planting, environmental cleanup, and traditional crafts.

Clean more than 130,000 tons of air every year using a closed-loop system.

Turn brick polluting factories into safe, healthy places to work and gather.

Keep Rosetta’s history alive by using local building skills and traditions.

Protect the Nile River from factory pollution and make use of its scenic view.

Project description

In Rashid(Rosetta), a city renowned for its brick factories, the industrial process has long relied on extracting silt from the Nile, shaping it, drying it under the sun, and then burning it to create bricks. While this process has been a staple of the local economy, it also releases significant pollutants into the air, impacting both the environment and public health.

Upon further study of these sites, we discovered an unexpected solution Artemisia plants, thriving around the factories. Research revealed that Artemisia is a medicinal plant known for its ability to absorb pollutants from the air, providing a natural solution to the pollution problem. This insight sparked the creation of the ArtemiShield project.

Rather than simply adding Artemisia to the environment, we envisioned integrating it directly into the factory structures. Using the workers' expertise in building chimneys, we proposed designing chimneys that would not only release smoke but also act as air purifiers by incorporating Artemisia into the structure.

However, to meet the air filtration needs, we found that we required three times the land area as planted area of Artemishield currently used by the factories. To address this, we designed a solution involving six large chimneys, each with a dual-layer system—an inner and outer layer to maximize filtration. These chimneys would filter up to 3,080,000 m³ of polluted air per hour, significantly reducing harmful emissions.

First start by designing the chimney to meet the needs of the Artemisia plant for sunlight, food, water, and easy access for maintenance. Using Grasshopper, we analyze the best brick arrangement to optimize height, opening numbers, and structural integrity. The chimneys are then equipped with plant beds and irrigation systems.

Initial Plantation (0-3 Months):
Artemisia plants are cultivated in horizontal beds under a structural canopy, with controlled irrigation and sunlight.

Vertical Growth & Monitoring (3-10 Months):
Semi-grown Artemisia is transferred to vertical structures for optimal growth. This phase involves daily monitoring and integration into the chimney.

Integration into Chimney (10 Months):
The plants are embedded into the chimney structure with feeder pipes for irrigation, ensuring healthy growth.

Mature Growth & Maintenance (5-10 Years):
As the plants mature, they absorb pollutants but may show signs of damage over time. Damaged plants are removed and replaced with semi-mature ones to restore full green coverage.

Restoration & Replanting (5-10 Years):
Continuous inspection and replanting maintain the chimney's green coverage, ensuring it functions as a biofilter, purifying the air and enhancing biodiversity.

Again 5-10 years, the chimney becomes fully covered again with healthy Artemisia, acting as a sustainable green infrastructure.

Our focus in this project to represents a beautiful fusion of science and tradition, where modern ecological solutions are blended with age-old craftsmanship to transform industrial landscapes into vibrant, sustainable ecosystems.

Technical information

The ArtemiShield project reimagines toxic industrial zones into regenerative public place by blending architecture, environmental science, and community revitalization. Using native Artemisia plants, local labors skills , and modular structures, the project provides industry heritage saving, pollution mitigation and social activation through sustainable design.

System Performances:

Air Pollutants Mitigation:
Each Artemisia-integrated chimney filters up to 3,080,000 m³/hour of polluted air, reducing CO₂ levels by 40–50% through plant-microbe interactions. Overall air pollution dropped by 67% CO₂, 70% NOₓ, 60% PM2.5, and 50% SO₂.

Thermal Comfort:
The double-layer brick walls of ovens with a 60 cm air gap achieve up to 92.7% heat reduction, maintaining safe external surface temperatures around 25°C despite interior temperatures reaching 1100°C. Passive design and cross-ventilation via steel-framed open structures further reduce indoor temperature by 10°C in summer.

Humidity Regulation:
The integration of Artemisia and palm trees regulates humidity between 55–65%, supporting plant health and enhancing air quality.

Water Recycling:
A rainwater harvesting system collects 5000L per tower, supplying gravity-fed drip irrigation for crops and shading plants around the site.

Environmental Recovery:
The design improved Nile water quality by 60%, marine life resilience by 40%, and increased soil and plant health by 65%, indicating clear ecological regeneration.

Community Impact:
The site reclaims over 6,000 m² of inactive brick factory space for public workshops, greenhouses, and educational events, reconnecting the community with the Nile and local crafts.

Materials Summary:

Structure: Local red brick (double-layer with air insulation), open-frame steel structures for ventilation

Roofing: Lightweight tented shading using locally woven fabrics

Modules: Disassemble and reassemble for adaptive reuse and future changes

Chimneys: Built using red brick cores with vertical planting and filtration systems

Walkways: Elevated paths using perforated steel and palm wood finishes.