Tag: Shahira Fahmy

EGYPT : Shahira Fahmy Named Jury President of Arab World Institute Award

Shahira Fahmy has been announced as the first Egyptian Jury President of the Arab World Institute Design Award 2026.

As the first Egyptian architect to serve as Jury President of the Arab World Institute Design Award, Shahira Fahmy joins a panel of designers, curators, editors and cultural figures shaping the fourth edition of the Paris-based award programme. Organised by the Institut du Monde Arabe, the award recognises emerging and established designers from across the Arab world, with a focus on craftsmanship, material innovation and contemporary design practices.

“Design in the Arab world has always carried memory, resourcefulness and a strong understanding of place,” says Shahira Fahmy. “What interests me about this award is its ability to create visibility for designers responding to current realities while remaining connected to local knowledge and cultural identity.”

The Arab World Institute Design Award 2026 invites projects created between September 2024 and April 2026 across four categories: Emerging Talent Award, Contemporary Craftsmanship Award, Impact Award in partnership with Arab Bank Switzerland, and the Grand Prize for established architects and designers. The programme examines how design engages with sustainability, craft traditions, production processes and material research across the region.

Founded in Cairo in 2005, SFA – Shahira Fahmy Architects expanded to Dubai in 2024 and works across architecture, heritage restoration, urban planning, and interior design. The practice is known for projects including the restoration and rehabilitation of Zone 1 in AlUla Old Town, Dar Tantora The House Hotel and Beit Bin Nouh for the Royal Commission for AlUla. The work contributed to AlUla Old Town’s nomination for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2025.

“For me, architecture and design are tied to people and context,” Fahmy says. “Whether working on a heritage site in AlUla or a contemporary urban project, the process begins by listening to what already exists.”

A graduate of Cairo University, Fahmy taught at the university for a decade and has lectured internationally at institutions including Columbia GSAPP and The American University in Cairo. Her work has also been recognised through fellowships at Harvard University, including the Loeb Fellowship at the Graduate School of Design, the Hutchins Fellowship at the W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute, and the Berkman Klein Fellowship at Harvard Law School.

Joining Fahmy on this year’s jury are Daniele Gerkens, Memia Taktak, Mette Degn Christensen, Michèle Maria Chaya, Nicolas Lecompte, Samer Yamani, Sheikha Reem Al Thani, Aidan Imanova, Ali Khadra and Arnaud Morand.

“It is important to see platforms like this continue conversations around Arab design through ecology, craftsmanship, material experimentation, and the future of communities across the region,” Fahmy adds.

Finalist projects will be shortlisted in May 2026. The selected projects will then be reviewed by the jury ahead of the awards ceremony at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris in September 2026, as part of Paris Design Week.

source/content: cairoscene.com (headline edited)

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EGYPT / ARAB

EGYPT : Shaping the Future: 04 Egyptian Architects Redefining African Architecture and Empowering Women

Earlier this year, Africans Column, a platform dedicated to celebrating African excellence in art, architecture, and design, released its prestigious list of the 50 Influential African Women Architects. Among the honourees were four remarkable Egyptian women whose contributions transformed the architectural landscape and redefined the role of women in this field. These women have reached extraordinary professional heights while maintaining their private lives and family commitments, making them inspiring role models for future generations of architects.

Magda Mostafa: Pioneering Autism-Inclusive Design

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Magda Mostafa, an architect and Principal of StudioTM, is also a Professor of Design at the American University in Cairo (AUC). She is internationally recognised for her pioneering work in autism-inclusive design, particularly through developing the ASPECTSS™ design guidelines. This framework, the first research-based model for designing spaces for individuals with autism, has significantly impacted architectural projects across five continents.

Mostafa’s achievements have earned her prestigious awards, including the UIA International Research Award in 2014 and a second award in 2023. Her work was also showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennales in 2021 and 2023. In addition to her architectural practice, Mostafa co-directs the UNESCO-UIA education commission, where she helps shape global architectural education policies.

May Al-Ibrashy: Preserving Egypt’s Architectural Heritage

Image via Ahram

May Al-Ibrashy is a conservation architect with nearly 30 years of experience and also an Architectural Engineer Professor at AUC. She is the founder and chair of the Built Environment Collective, an NGO dedicated to preserving Egypt’s architectural and cultural heritage. Her work in Historic Cairo, specifically restoring the Shrine of al-Imam al-Shafi’i, has earned her recognition from organisations such as the US Embassy in Cairo and The Barakat Trust.

Al-Ibrashy’s dedication to heritage conservation is both professional and personal. She believes in the power of architecture to connect people with their history and works closely with local communities to ensure they are integral to any preservation project. Her initiatives, such as the Athar Lina Initiative, demonstrate her commitment to participatory conservation that benefits both the community and the built environment.

Sarah El Battouty: Championing Green Architecture and Sustainability

Illustration via x.com

Sarah El Battouty founded ECOnsult, which has led the way in green building and sustainable development for over 18 years. Her innovative approach to architecture has earned her international recognition, with projects in Egypt, Italy, and China. As a senior advisor to the Egyptian president on sustainable community development, El Battouty has played a key role in shaping Egypt’s environmental policies, including energy and water conservation initiatives and the Paris Climate Agreement.

El Battouty’s influence extends beyond architecture. She is a Global Ambassador for the UN Climate Change Campaigns and the first Egyptian to be recognised as a UN Sustainable Development Leader. Her work promoting sustainability has also earned her recognition as a Green Entrepreneur by Bloomberg Good Business.

Shahira Fahmy: Building the Arab Future

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Shahira Fahmy, founder of Shahira Fahmy Architects, established her practice in Cairo in 2005. Since then, her firm has gained international acclaim, winning awards in cities such as London, Chicago, Switzerland, Istanbul, and Dubai. Her work spans architecture, urbanism, product design, and art. Her work has also been featured in prominent publications like The New York Times, The Architects’ Journal, and The Architectural Review.

Fahmy’s impact extends beyond her work in architecture. She is a visiting professor at Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation and has been a guest critic and speaker at prestigious institutions like Harvard, Yale, and MIT.

source/content: cairo360.com / Safy Allam / (headline edited)

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EGYPT