DeNile: Envisioning a Water-Adapted Future for Egypt

In the face of escalating climate change and rising Nile waters, a group of visionary Design & Media students from Coventry University’s Cairo branch at The Knowledge Hub Universities embarked on a speculative project titled DeNile. This initiative reimagines Egypt’s future through the lens of aquatic adaptability, blending indigenous knowledge with innovative design to propose sustainable solutions for communities grappling with environmental transformations.

A Speculative Response to Climate Challenges

DeNile was conceived as part of the UNFOLD Exhibition, curated by Domus Academy in Milan, and showcased during Milan Design Week 2025 at BASE Milano. The project addresses the pressing question: What if the Nile’s waters continued to rise? By exploring this scenario, the students aimed to develop designs that not only respond to environmental changes but also empower communities to thrive amidst them.

Innovative Design Solutions

Central to DeNile is a multifunctional fish farming device that transcends traditional aquaculture. This system integrates agriculture and aquaculture through built-in filtration and waste management, promoting a closed-loop ecosystem. The design envisions floating farms and vertical aquaculture structures, fostering hybrid professions that can sustain livelihoods in a water-dominated landscape.

Collaborative and Iterative Design Process

The project unfolded in two phases. Initially, students engaged in a critical design workshop, delving into research and speculative futures rooted in Egypt’s socio-cultural and geographic context. This phase emphasized rigorous questioning and scenario-building. Subsequently, the team transitioned to tangible outputs, utilizing digital tools like Rhino for modeling and KeyShot for rendering. These tools facilitated the creation of complex geometries and high-quality surfaces, enabling the translation of conceptual ideas into detailed prototypes.

Educational Impact and Broader Implications

DeNile exemplifies the ethos of the School of Design & Media at Coventry University Cairo branch at The Knowledge Hub Universities, which emphasizes critical thinking, experimental design, and social consciousness. The project’s success underscores the potential of interdisciplinary education in addressing global challenges through innovative design.

By envisioning a future where communities adapt to and flourish in changing environments, DeNile serves as a compelling narrative of resilience and ingenuity. It challenges designers, policymakers, and communities to proactively shape a sustainable and equitable future in the face of climate adversity.