"Masaar" - Graduation Project

"Masaar"

Culture awareness journey

Status: Graduation Project

Year: 2021/2022

Location: The site is located next to Al-sultan Hassan complex in El-khalifa district, Cairo, Egypt

Designed by: Asia Ibrahim

Supervised by: Prof. Aly Gabr & Assoc. prof. Menna El-Husseiny

School: Cairo University, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture department

Software used: Revit, Lumion, Photoshop

Theme: The theme of this project is rethinking typologies, which deals with a few challenges that can be summarized in one question; how to design a building by rethinking typologies and using pluralism to set new dimensions that address the aspirations of the community it serves?

Brief: Nowadays we face the challenge of identity crisis and the loss of Egyptian cultural identity, The chosen site is Al-khalifa, located in Historic Cairo, known as City of a Thousand Minarets, it is part of central Cairo around the old Walled city and the Citadel of Cairo. It is chosen for its rich cultural heritage, which is capable of strengthening and restoring cultural identity and has potentials for the future. The site is characterized by hundreds of mosques, tombs, madrasas, mansions, caravanserais, and fortifications dating from throughout the Islamic era of Egypt. These diverse major anchors and outstanding monuments give the area a specific character. Al-Khalifa has an exceptional heritage value and is a hub for different activities, with a potential to enhance the socio-economic condition of the community through social, cultural and service projects.

Therefore, My project is a Cultural heritage preservation complex, that targets both global and local communities, to promote heritage awareness and to give people the chance to own their identity and their heritage.

Concept statement: My Project uncovers The layered Heritage to Preserve & Revive Culture From Its roots & rise the Awareness To Promote Culture Diversity