Embassy of the Nile

Embassy uniting the human and non-human agents of the Nile river

2020 Competition, Shortlist Rifat Chadirji Prize 2020

The Nile as an Independent Territory

The Nile River spans the territory of 11 countries and a wide range of ecosystems. Its water is a source of life for all living creatures occupying its basin and approximately 300 million people that rely on it for their survival. Competing national interests and complex colonial history has resulted in an inequitable distribution of this resource among the people and displayed a complete neglect of the non-human life that depends on the river. This unbalanced resource distribution is compounded by the increased risks posed by climate change: rainfall anomalies have drastically increased during the last decade and are projected to get worse. The water distribution system, as it currently stands, will be unable to deal with the challenges posed in the near future. A new way of thinking about the river is needed. We propose to declare the Nile as an independent entity, like the Whanganui River in New Zealand. The independent Nile will have rights over its own resources and the ability to negotiate its interaction with the Humans sharing its Basin. How can a River decide on the use of its resources; how will it forge alliances with other entities; how can it represent the interests of the Humans while at the same time not neglect the other forms of life that rely on it for their survival? Those are the questions that The Embassy of the Nile sets to answer.

The Embassy of the Nile

Located in the territory of the independent Nile, The Embassy of the Nile is a diplomatic communication node between the River and the 300 million people occupying its basin. It is comprised of three key institutional components making it possible for people to negotiate with the river and its basin: Sensing Network, The Nile Institute, and The Nile Congress.

Sensing Network

The first institutional component of The Embassy of the Nile is a decentralized network of sensors measuring the river’s behaviour along its 6700 km stretch and beyond. These sensors – located on land, water, air, and in smartphones carried by people – are continuously collecting information about the water level, water quality and pollution, biodiversity, precipitation, and more. The sensors act as neurons of a vast nervous system allowing the Nile to sense itself and, by doing so, allowing it to communicate with Humans.

The Nile Institute

The vast amount of data collected from the decentralized network of sensors is aggregated at The Nile Institute. The institute then becomes a repository where the data is combined with the satellite monitoring systems and modelled with the latest climate modelling techniques making the behaviour of the river understandable to Humans. The Nile Institute is what allows the River to talk in a language understandable by Humans.

The Nile Congress

The heart of The Embassy of the Nile is The Nile Congress, a place where different power players come together to arbitrate their rights over the use of this vital resource. Informed by the research generated by The Nile Institute, these negotiations are argued over reliable information about the status and the condition of the river. Mediations will occur between multiple Human and Non-Human agents – including various representatives of the 11 states and all non-human lifeforms – carefully balancing the needs of all living lifeforms occupying the Nile basin, and ensuring prosperity for all.

Structure

The Embassy of the Nile is envisioned as a bridge hovering over the Nile River. The structure is held together with a ring of bailey trusses 10.4 meters high, sitting on four pillars 100 meters apart. The structure never meets the ground and is instead cantilevered on the two ends, where the East and West entrances to the structure are positioned. The space between the two bailey trusses is laterally enforced by diagonal warren trusses ensuring the rigidity of the structure.

Good Neighbor

Outside of its geopolitical function, The Embassy of the Nile is a vibrant public space. A portion of the structure is designated for various cultural institutions of Cairo, bringing the dynamic culture of the city onto the bridge. The roof of the embassy is a promenade with playgrounds, gathering spaces, and a running track.