Karim Rashid, Komb House, Cairo, Egypt, 2010

Karim Rashid, Komb House, Cairo, Egypt, 2010

The Komb House was Karim Rashid’s concept house exhibition at Le Marche exhibition, which took place in Cairo, Egypt, in December 2010.

Designed to have a minimum impact on the environment, the Komb House is a dwelling that utilises technology to create traditions, customs, and a sense of family and community.

Incorporated within the house are ecological concepts like solar panel heated water, energy efficient appliances, the reuse of pluvial and grey water, low energy LED lighting, and raised radiant flooring. The Komb House mainly comprising materials like wood, metal, glass and solar panels, which means that it can easily be disassembled and reused.

Inside the house is composed of four main spaces, representing the main activities of play, eat, sleep and cleanse. The central space, inspired by Islamic patios, features an oasis with skylight and centre plunge pool while a skylight controls the house temperature. The skylight, when open, captures rain water which is filtered by a pool. A kinetic art sculpture levitates above, and as it rotates it captures wind power and distributes the energy throughout the house.

A single oval couch is the main feature in the living room with the purpose of creating a sense of gathering and community while also promoting communication and openness.