The Architecture Experience – Egypt takes participants on a 15-day journey across the four cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan, where they will have the opportunity to study the Influence of ancient building techniques from historic structures like the Pyramids of Giza, the Temple of Isis at Philae, and more. Participants can also witness Egypt’s architectural heritage, the grandeur of these structures, and study the intricacies of the finer aesthetic details, along with the direct impact of different cultures, religions, art, and socio-politics of a region on its architecture.
Participants will explore projects that showcase the principles of architecture, such as symmetry, balance, proportion and geometric harmony, as well as techniques like the ancient stormwater management and drainage systems.
Hieroglyphics at a temple in Luxor
Image on top – Pyramids of Giza, including the Great Pyramid, Pyramid of Khafre, and Pyramid of Menkaure
15
days
20
participants
4
Cities
What is The Architecture Experience - Egypt?
The best approach to growing as an architect is to learn from experiencing and observing. The Architecture Experience aims to do just that – to take an existing project proposal and enhance its core architectural values by incorporating the numerous building technologies and innovations from ancient Egypt that are still used in construction today. The Experience will be a fifteen-day-long, curated educational tour for up to twenty participants across 4 cities in Egypt.
These visits will focus on observing historic architecture which is symbolic, yet functional, and draws a lot of its identity from the relationship between humans and nature, divinity, tradition, climatology and culture. The visits will foster a finer understanding of ancient architecture and how it blends within cities of today, both in terms of design and functionality. Working on a Capstone project will illustrate the influence of ancient building techniques in the context of existing sites.
Itinerary
In the 15 days, participants will get to work on their own Capstone project in sync with their subjects in college or work. These projects will be relevant for an urban landscape, with inspiration taken from places visited during this Experience.
Colonnade of Amenhotep III at the Luxor Temple
Cairo
Arrival in Cairo, Egypt.
Orientation on the structure of the tour visits and the project.
Cultural visit: Khan el-Khalili Bazaar and Al-Mu’izz Street, El Tahrir Square.
Topics of discussion: Understanding the historical context, heritage, and culture of Egypt.
Places to visit: Giza Pyramid Complex, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the Great Sphinx.
Topics of discussion: Understanding traditional context and functionality.
Places to visit: Ibn Tulun Mosque, Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hasan, Al-Rifa’i Mosque, Saladin Citadel (Cairo Citadel).
Cultural visit: Al Azhar Mosque.
Topics of discussion: History of Egyptian architecture and the influence of various religions.
Places to visit: All Saints’ Cathedral, Foustat Traditional Crafts Centre, Jameel House of Traditional Arts Centre, Hanging Church.
Cultural visit: Coptic Cairo, Cairo Opera House.
Topics of discussion: Traditional material usage and its feasibility in modern construction.
Places to visit: The Grand Egyptian Museum.
Cultural visit: People of Egypt Walkway.
Topics of discussion: Energy-efficient design strategies in public spaces.
Places to visit: Sabil-Kuttab of Muhammad Ali, Abdeen Palace Museum.
Cultural visit: Dawar El Ezba Cultural Centre.
Alexandria
Free Day
Arrival in Alexandria
Topics of discussion: European influence on the architecture of Egypt.
Places to visit: Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Serapeum of Alexandria, Ancient Roman Theatre of Alexandria, Pompey’s Pillar.
Cultural visit: Souq as Samak Al Qadim.
Topics of discussion: Understanding how a city can be defined by its architectural identity.
Places to visit: Sidi Morsi Abu al-Abbas Mosque, Qaitbay Citadel.
Luxor
Arrival in Luxor
Topics of discussion: The history and significance of Egyptian funerary architecture.
Places to visit: Valley of the Kings (Tomb of Tutankhamen), Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Tombs of the Nobles (Tomb of Ramose), Ramesseum.
Topics of discussion: Preservation and restoration of historical structures.
Places to visit: Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Avenue of the Sphinxes.
Cultural visit: Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show.
Aswan
Arrival in Aswan
Topics of discussion: The uniqueness of Nubian architecture and it’s influence on modern-day building techniques.
Places to visit: Nubian Museum, Unfinished Obelisk.
Free Day
Cultural visit: Abu Simbel.
Topics of discussion: Understanding the role of the environment and geography on architecture.
Places to visit: Temple of Isis at Philae, Aswan High Dam, Kalabsha Temple.
Cultural visit: Nubian Eco Village.
Arrival in Cairo
Culmination of the tour.
Departure to home country.
Days 7, 13 and 15 are free days for the participants to explore Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, and Abu Simbel (meals not included on free days).
Cultural visits are not part of the itinerary, but are recommended areas to shop and explore the city.
Upcoming batches
How Much Does It Cost?
INR 189,000 / $2,600 (Early Bird Price)
INR 219,000 / $2,850
The price includes flights ex-Mumbai, India (taxes extra). The price without flights is $2,300. Please contact us if you are a student for discounted pricing.
What does the cost include?
Domain Expert Guidance
Course Material
flights
hotels
local & airport transfers
breakfast & dinner
visas
entry fees
Our Partners
People
Rachita Bhonsle
MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology
Curator & Tour leader - The Architecture Experience
Testimonials
(Participant - Vietnam, February 2024)
(Participant - Sri Lanka, October 2023)
(Participant - Singapore, February 2024)
Sustainable Development Goals
All our Experiences are aimed at implementing and solving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. Goal no. 17 ‘Partnerships for the Goals’ is key to our Experiences, since we work with a global team of experts to be able to add value to the learning of the participants. The Architecture Experience Egypt focuses on 3 of the Goals primarily.
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
– Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being.
Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
– By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing
– By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement
– By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
– By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
– Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
FAQs
– Students and fresh graduates from architecture colleges and related fields
– Young professionals from architecture, design and related fields who want to explore the Influence of ancient building techniques in Egypt.
Young architects could benefit exponentially from observing the significance of ancient and historic architecture and how that has translated into ideologies that can be applied in an urban context of cities today. Architects can study basic principles of architecture, such as symmetry, balance, proportion and geometric harmony, and also the intricacies of the finer aesthetic details. Architects can also observe how different cultures, religions, art, and socio-politics of a region have a direct impact on its architecture.
Yes! This Experience will take up to 20 participants. These participants will be split into smaller teams to execute projects which are designed to give added value to their ongoing projects (school or live).
The Architecture Experience is designed with the intent of enhancing architectural understanding. To this end, a short capstone project is included as part of the experience. The idea of the project is to refine an existing project with the ideologies of ancient building techniques in Egypt.
This Experience will focus on observing and learning about different architectural techniques – active and passive, old and new, importance of material selection and other aspects vital to sustainable architecture, which are important tenets of contemporary and new age architecture, be it urban or non urban.
Yes! From a logistics point of view, this price includes the cost of accommodation, flights, visas, breakfast and dinner, local and airport transfers, and entry fees where applicable.
“
A building can only be understood by moving around and through it, and by experiencing the modulation, and feel the spaces one moves through - from outside into verandah, then rooms, passages, courtyards. Architecture cannot be totally explained but must be experienced."
Geoffrey Bawa
Contact Us
Egyptian hieroglyphics at Karnak Temple, Luxor
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