If I were to select a single project, it would be very difficult after a career spanning more than 20 years, but I would choose a project called the Asian Culture Complex. It was an international competition organized by the Union of International Architects (UIA) and the Korean Ministry of Culture. I participated when I was a fresh graduate from architecture school in Egypt. The competition was to design an Asian culture complex in South Korea. It consisted of exhibition spaces, cultural spaces, open areas, and learning spaces.
There were many reasons why I entered this competition, which is why I chose it. I wanted to challenge myself by competing at an international level, rather than just local competitions in Egypt. Over 500 top architecture firms from around the world took part. Entering such a large-scale competition typically requires a very experienced team that has worked together for years and sufficient funding, as it demands about three months of work. But I was completely alone; no team, no money, just dedication and ambition.
Another reason was that I wanted to continue my education and pursue a master’s degree at a top university in the UK or US. Again, I had no funding, and based on my income working at architectural firms, it would have taken me decades to save enough. So I saw entering a competition with a good prize as a possible way to fund my education if I was lucky.
I had to quickly build a team of about five people with different experiences, which I managed to do by recruiting fresh graduates from the architecture school. I also collaborated with a graphic designer from China to help with rendering perspectives. It was challenging but a great experience. I also had to manage the team’s long working hours and find a place for us to work.
The project was selected from the top 10 and I received a prize money, which I saved it for a few years until I was accepted at The Bartlett School, University College London. The Bartlett has been the top architecture school in Europe for several years, and UCL ranks among the top 10 universities globally. During my master’s, I focused on designing better spaces for learners and creative people, which was reflected clearly in my dissertation, “Integration of Social, Spatial, and Environmental Aspects in Learning Spaces.”
This experience gave me the confidence to take on more challenging international projects. For example, when I first heard about Liberland, I quickly contacted Vit to assist with designing the built environment there. I also joined an international jury to help shape the guidelines and select applicants with the best design approaches for Liberland.
Now, I am at the stage where I want to combine all my previous experience from different fields to create the “City Libero” project, which I see as connected to some ideas from the network state. I have challenged myself by living in various and diverse communities. I would also like to live and work within a network state, an emerging society, the first of its kind, alongside startup founders from different backgrounds and experiences. In a few years, I hope to say that it was the single most impressive thing I have done.
Link to the Project design.