FALL 2015
Building on the work of previous semesters, which focused on developing an appropriate vocabulary for contemporary Egyptian architecture, this semester expands that understanding to frame Egyptian vocabulary, not as something that is unique, but something that is part of a larger global language. This past decade has seen a surge worldwide in the questioning of the role of architecture in our society. Working beyond the “starchitect” model, contemporary practice has begun to witness a rise in the understanding of the wider, more immediate social role of architecture towards the communities it serves. The recent International Union of Architects’ World Congress titled is witness to that.[1]
Inspired by Andres Lepik’s [2] at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 2010 this semester looks at the power of socially conscious design to influence communities and people’s everyday lives in a comprehensive and responsible way. Reference will be taken from the work included in the curation of this exhibit, as well as its sister collection displayed in Lepik’s follow-up “Think Global- Build Social: Architectures for a Better World” displayed at the Townhouse Gallery in Cairo, 2015.
Daylight is one of the few elements available to us as architects that projects materiality, evokes emotion, defines experience, facilitates functions, and is both dynamic and free to use. It is a powerful tool in the hands of a skilled designer, and has historically played an important role in the development of our architectural movements and styles.
Inspired by the student award sponsored by the patrons of daylight- the Velux organization, this project aims at investigating the quality, experience, function, materiality and power of daylight as it relates to and informs architectural form-making.
