The Department of Architecture at MIU had the honour of hosting guest speaker Dr. Radwa Zaki, an archaeologist and researcher specializing in Islamic antiquities and the history of Egyptian architecture, on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.

Dr. Zaki currently serves as the Head Researcher at the Center for Islamic Civilization Studies at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, holding a PhD in Islamic architecture from the University of Alexandria. She received training in cultural heritage from Sapienza University and the National Research Center in Rome, Italy, and in Islamic heritage from the University of Granada and the Institute of Arab Studies in Granada, Spain, as well as from the Center for Middle Eastern and Near Eastern Studies at the University of Marburg in Germany.

During her talk, Dr. Zaki discussed her book titled “The Cairo of Mamluk.” In this publication, she explores the impact of Mamluk architecture in the 19th century, shedding light on the political and social context that led to its re-emergence. Dr. Zaki traces the features of the Mamluk style in Egyptian architecture through various examples of religious buildings, service structures, and public constructions. Additionally, she analyzes the reasons for the revival of the Mamluk style during that period in Egypt’s history and explores the motivations that led to its earlier abandonment. Finally, she highlighted the manifestations of Western appreciation for Mamluk architectural art in contrast to Ottoman art and architecture.

The Department of Architecture had the privilege of hosting esteemed guest speakers alumni Mohamed Rabie and Hashem Rafaat. During their presentations, both speakers shared their significant achievements since graduating from the university.

Mohamed Rabie elaborated on the relationship between architects and filmmakers, shedding light on how his career began by interweaving architecture with his creative works. He illustrated how architecture can give a film’s story depth and set the scene, both in terms of location and historical period. Cinema has the power to preserve the architecture of past eras or envision avant-garde styles that are yet to be realized.

In the second part of the lecture, Architect Hashem Rafaat shared his invaluable experience in enriching human experiences through art. He pointed out that his professional journey started with painting a wall in Darb Saada alongside a group of friends. This initiative led to the creating of an urban development community that utilizes art as a medium for positive change in underprivileged areas, both locally and across the Middle East and Africa.

The Department of Architecture at MIU was honored to host Architect Mohamed Tantawy as a guest speaker on Wednesday October 11, 2023. His enlightening lecture on earthy design and implementation methods captivated architecture students.

Tantawy tackled working in the field of vernacular architecture in Egypt, with a focus on the Hassan Fathy New Qurna restoration project. This project provided a unique perspective on the socio-cultural shifts regarding the perception of traditional architecture and dispelling misconceptions and stereotypes that have surrounded the concept.

Mohamed Tantawy brought with him a wealth of experience, having served as a UNESCO consultant for the restoration of Hassan Fathy Village in Luxor. At the moment, he is working on a restoration project of Babylon, Iraq, and overseeing various construction projects across Egypt.

Tantawy’s experience includes the completion of his master’s degree in Integrated Urban and Developmental Design in 2018, after which he actively contributed to many environmentally friendly construction initiatives.

On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, third-year students visited Alexandria, as part of their Architecture Design (3B) course requirements. They had a tour of Bibliotheca Alexandrina in the vicinity of the location assigned for their design project. Afterwards, students visited Alexandria Opera House “Sayed Darwish Theater” to explore theater design principles that will help them in their design projects for this semester.

The department of Architecture had organized a site visit to El Fayoum City in coordination with the sustainable design and urban design courses. The students had an amazing opportunity to gain hands-on experience and explore the project sites of both courses. The tour included visiting Tunis Village and Wadi El Rayan areas, where the students had a full inspiring day of learning and discovering new places, and talking to locals which helped them gain new insights about the site.
The site visit was held under the supervision of the sustainable design team: Dr. Tamer Awny (Lecturer at MIU), Arch. Radwa El Fardy (Assistant Lecturer at MIU), Arch. Layla Ashraf (Assistant Lecturer at MIU), and Arch. Merna Maher (Teaching Assistant at MIU); with collaboration with the urban design team: Dr. Ahmed Helmy (Lecturer at MIU), Dr. Sally Murshed (Lecturer at MIU), Arch. Mostafa Mastour (Teaching Assistant at MIU), and Arch. Clara Ashraf (Teaching Assistant at MIU).

On Wednesday the 27th of September 2023, the Department of Architecture was delighted to host Architecture Alumni Shady El Rashidy and Engy El Kholy, founders of SIA Design Studio, for a seminar on their design of Remal El- Rayan Glamp in Fayoum, the first desert glamp in Egypt.

The guest speakers actively interacted with architecture students, discussing their ideas, and the technical development of their project, and answering questions concerning the architecture students’ design studio project in Fayoum.

The Department of Architecture proudly offered certificates of appreciation to Arch. Shady and Arch. Engy, in recognition of their distinguished design of the Fayoum project.

On Sunday, September 10, 2023, the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Arts – Department of Architecture had the privilege to host the Annual Architecture Exhibition.

his year’s exhibition proved to be an exceptional showcase of talents and was further elevated by the presence of distinguished professors from various universities in the field of architecture.

The event provided a platform for our talented students to present their outstanding achievements in design, innovation, and creativity, leaving our esteemed guests thoroughly impressed. This success stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication and diligence exhibited by both our students and faculty.

A profound thank you is extended to all those who contributed to making this event a resounding success. Together, let us continue our mission to inspire and innovate towards new horizons in the field of architecture.

The Architecture Department is delighted to report on the successful workshop titled “Different Design Techniques and the Process of Working and Constructing with Reblox,” the immersive four-day event provided architecture students with a unique opportunity to refine their design skills and gain hands-on experience with the innovative material. Collaborating with the esteemed organization Reblox, participants delved into diverse approaches to design and acquired practical knowledge on working with Reblox.

Under the guidance of the workshop’s supervisor, Arch. Ahmed El Bably, along with Associate Prof. Mohamed Samir El Sawy and Arch. Souhaila Hesham El Bagoury, students embarked on an enriching journey that explored the potential of Reblox and its application in the architectural field. This hands-on experience and collaboration with industry professionals empowered the students to enhance their design capabilities while gaining insights into the construction process.