Architecture

Palestinian team wins international competition to redesign Beirut port

Four young Palestinian architects won an international competition to design reconstruction plans for the destroyed Port of Beirut.

Taghreed Ali | Palestine | Jun 30, 2021

An areal view shows Beirut port on May 27, 2021, with the grain silos in the foreground, damaged in a massive explosion that killed more than 200 people and injured scores of others on Aug. 4, 2020.

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities gets makeover to compete for tourists

The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities in downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square is undergoing a facelift that tourism officials and curators hope will allow it to compete with the Grand Egyptian Museum, soon to open its doors to visitors.

Shahira Amin | Culture | Jun 13, 2021

Egyptian architects win UNESCO award for reconstruction of Mosul mosque destroyed by IS

The UNESCO announcement that Egyptian architects won the international competition for the reconstruction of the historic Al-Nouri Mosque complex in Mosul sparks debate as to whether their design fits Iraq’s Islamic heritage.

Hagar Hosny | Egypt | Apr 25, 2021

A man on a bicycle rides past Al-Nuri Mosque, which is under reconstruction after it was destroyed in the war against ISIS, on Feb. 28, 2021 in Mosul, Iraq.

Old doors turn into booming business in Egypt

Antiques dealers in Egypt are rushing to recover the old doors of buildings that are being demolished as part of an urban development plan.

Hani Sameer | Egypt | Mar 31, 2021

A man walks carrying dishes past a Star of David decorating the door of a home in the Jewish quarter of the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on June 25, 2015.

Baghdad’s Mustansiriya Madrassa ready for World Heritage List

Baghdad’s Mustansiriya Madrassa established by Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir around 1230 suffers obsolescence, dampness, environmental pollution and urban sprawl.

Adnan Abu Zeed | Iraq | Mar 11, 2021

BAGHDAD, IRAQ - NOVEMBER 30: A woman works at the restored Al-Mustansiriya University, founded in 1227 and one of the oldest Islamic universities in the world, on November 30, 2011 in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraq is transitioning as the U.S. military continues its withdrawal from the country by the end of December following the war that began in 2003. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A trip down memory lane in this ancient neighborhood of Nablus

A tour in al-Yasmineh (Jasmine) neighborhood in the old city of Nablus takes you to the different civilizations that have passed through Palestine over the centuries.

Taghreed Ali | Palestine | Feb 12, 2021

Behind the scenes of Egypt’s project to face-lift Khedivial Cairo

The Egyptian state has started unifying the facades of buildings and shops in the downtown area of Khedivial Cairo.

Baher al-Kady | Egypt | Dec 9, 2020

TOPSHOT - This picture taken on March 8, 2019 shows a view of the central Talaat Harb square in the Egyptian capital Cairo's downtown district. - Cairo's unique downtown district, with its elegant centuries-old, European-designed buildings, is wrestling to preserve its cultural heritage as the government prepares to move offices to a new desert capital. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Cairo to turn 15th century sultan's caravansary into heritage hotel to boost tourism

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced Oct. 24 that it will convert the 15th century Wakala al-Sultan Qaytbay into a heritage hotel after its restoration.

Salwa Samir | Egypt | Nov 12, 2020

Egyptian dancers perform the Tanoura during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at el-Ghuri culture Palace in Cairo on May 22, 2018. (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Egypt’s city of Esna is slowly regaining its glory amid renewed interest in its heritage

The Ministry of Antiquities and an urban development company, with US funding, are advancing a major project to revive tourism in the city of Esna in Luxor governorate, by not only promoting its ancient heritage but also by implicating the locals.

A correspondent in Egypt | Egypt | Oct 23, 2020

Cairo’s downtown slow revival amid efforts to restore architectural heritage

The collapse of an old building in downtown Cairo has shed light on the state of historic buildings in the area, while heritage preservation is the focus of various projects.

A correspondent in Egypt | Egypt | Sep 9, 2020

A policeman stands by the rubble at the scene of a building collapse along Kasr el-Nile street in the Egyptian capital Cairo's downtown district, on August 15, 2020. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Al-Madaq: A new virtual archive documenting Cairo’s history

An Egyptian historian created a website that reviews the history of Cairo through several historical maps, texts and photographs.

A correspondent in Egypt | Egypt | Aug 6, 2020

Egypt inaugurates iconic Baron Palace amid renewed interest in Heliopolis heritage

The exotic Baron Palace, inspired by Hindu architecture, in Cairo’s Heliopolis district was inaugurated after years of renovation works, with the aim to become a new tourist destination.

A correspondent in Egypt | Egypt | Jul 2, 2020

Baghdad's monuments fall apart or destroyed despite laws

Laws cannot protect Baghdad's monumental buildings, particularly when owners prefer that they fall down so they can replace them with modern buildings.

Ali Abdulhadi al-Mamouri | Iraq | Apr 13, 2020

In Cairo, different architectural styles mingle with each other

Egypt's plans to celebrate its multi-layered Islamic heritage stumbles upon coronavirus measures.

Hani Sameer | Egypt | Apr 3, 2020

Palestinian architect turns conservation of heritage into resistance

Nadia Habash, named by Middle East Architect magazine as one of 50 influential architects in the region, says preserving heritage is a national statement.

Aziza Nofal | Palestine | Feb 12, 2020

Architecture

Palestinian team wins international competition to redesign Beirut port

Four young Palestinian architects won an international competition to design reconstruction plans for the destroyed Port of Beirut.

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities gets makeover to compete for tourists

Egyptian architects win UNESCO award for reconstruction of Mosul mosque destroyed by IS

Old doors turn into booming business in Egypt

Baghdad’s Mustansiriya Madrassa ready for World Heritage List

A trip down memory lane in this ancient neighborhood of Nablus

Behind the scenes of Egypt’s project to face-lift Khedivial Cairo

Cairo to turn 15th century sultan's caravansary into heritage hotel to boost tourism

Egypt’s city of Esna is slowly regaining its glory amid renewed interest in its heritage

Cairo’s downtown slow revival amid efforts to restore architectural heritage

Al-Madaq: A new virtual archive documenting Cairo’s history

Egypt inaugurates iconic Baron Palace amid renewed interest in Heliopolis heritage

Baghdad's monuments fall apart or destroyed despite laws

In Cairo, different architectural styles mingle with each other

Palestinian architect turns conservation of heritage into resistance

Popular Articles

4,000-year-old city discovered in Iraq

Saudi Arabia’s race for Gulf economic leadership takes to the sky

Ancient fossilized fish found in Egypt that survived in hot waters

Will Turkey use Syrian mercenaries in Kabul?

Has Israel’s army become too small?

Recent Podcasts

Ali Hashem on what to expect from Ebrahim Raisi and the rise of the Hezbollahis in Iran

Major General Noam Tibon: IDF needs more boots on the ground

South Asia security expert Ayesha Siddiqa says Turkey is a natural fit for Afghanistan

Ambassador Haim Koren: Bennett seeks to boost Israel’s ties with Jordan

Israel’s Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai calls for renewing dialogue with American Jews