The MaCAD is a unique online programme training a new generation of architects, engineers and designers ready to develop skills into the latest softwares, computational tools, BIM technologies and AI towards innovation for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.

Filters
Course

Light, Path & Structure: Weaving Sine Waves over Bab al-Luq

//DESIGN CONCEPT & EARLY EXPLORATIONS //COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN SYSTEM First Sine Roof Iteration First Column Iteration //FORM FINDING PROCESS AND LESSONS LERANED Second Canopy Columns Iteration Final Sine Roof Iteration The sine roof form was developed through an iterative form-finding process using both sine and inverted sine curves. By culling index points from each curve and … Read more

Never Ending Cairo Market

The project focuses on the transformation of the historic Bab al-Luq Market in Cairo, Egypt. Built in 1912 and inspired by Paris’ Les Halles, the market was distinguished by its accessibility, natural light, hygiene, and spatial organization. Despite continuous use, decades of deterioration have reduced its architectural and spatial potential. The project aims to reactivate … Read more

Diffused Skin Market

Roof Top view image

Bab al-Luq Market – Cairo, Egypt The ‘Diffused Skin Market’ project aims to cool down the market space without closing it off. The goal was to create a ‘diffusion filter” skin, that drops the temperature but keeps that vibrant natural light that vendors need to sell their products. The challenge when analyzing the place, wasn’t … Read more

INTERPOROUS OVERGROWTH

Conceptual Framework The Project explores a contemporary dialogue between past and present by enveloping a historic steel truss within a soft, inflated architectural skin. Inspired by the playful curves and buoyancy of balloon art, the installation introduces a layer of translucent, geometric “bubble wrap” forms that gently overgrow the rigid industrial structure beneath. Rather than … Read more

Reviving Bab Al-Louq: Stitching Street and Roof

The project Reviving Bab Al-Louq explores the relationship between historical urban fabric and contemporary architectural intervention through the notion of contrast. Rather than replicating or mimicking the existing historical language, the proposal aims to create a clear spatial and material distinction that enhances the perception of the existing structure while introducing a new architectural layer. … Read more

Adaptive Shading Through Structural Memory

Team member(s): Hani KarimeModified by Hani Karime on December 13, 2025 // Introduction Bab El Louk is a historic market in central Cairo, built during the early Khedival expansion. Its steel structure and brick envelope made it an important commercial hub serving the surrounding dense neighborhoods. Today, the area around it feels monotone, heavy, and visually uniform, with little … Read more

Ancient Future

“ The reason why the Universe is eternal is that it does not live for itself; it gives life to others as it transforms” –  Lao Tzu Design Concept The roof design draws from the spatial logic of the Giza pyramids. By mapping their positions, I set anchor points that generate three conic roof forms … Read more

Solar stereotomy 

This project focuses on the reviving of the Bab Al-Lug market in Cairo, through the topics of Light, Path and Structure. Design idea: Established in 1912, the Bab Al-Lug market offered a state-of-the-art modern design inspired by the Halles in Paris The market’s metal structure is a typical example of tectonic architecture with its lightweight, … Read more

Desert Voxels

Sustainable Design and Environmental Analysis for a Cultural Center in Dubai’s Business Bay Site The project is located in Business Bay, Dubai’s dynamic mixed-use district along the Dubai Creek. Characterized by high-rise towers, waterfront promenades, and a lively urban atmosphere, the area blends commercial, residential, and cultural spaces. Within this dense urban context, the project … Read more

The Luminous Stratum

The “sedimented light” effect created by the lattice, filtering sunlight into the market below . Introduction – More Than Just a Roof In the dense historic fabric of Cairo, light is both a blessing and a burden. The Luminous Stratum proposes a new architectural language that negotiates this relationship – a “volume of sedimented light” … Read more

Verdant – Bringing Nature to Urban Rooftops

Verdant evokes lush greenery and vitality, capturing the essence of this parametric roof redesign that transforms a mundane urban building into an organic canopy. Inspired by the delicate structure of bamboo leaves, the project employs randomly oriented gold-anodized louvres to create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, mimicking sunlight filtering through foliage. This modern … Read more

Bisāt al-Nūr: Reviving Bab al-Luq Souk in Cairo

Introduction The name Bisat-al-Nur—carpet of light—embodies both poetry and precision: a modern design rooted in tradition, echoing Cairo’s historic markets while reinterpreting them with contemporary materials and climate-responsive strategies. Ingredients The project is built on four ingredients: Design Process Layers The design unfolds across four layers: The strategy was to leave the existing market mostly … Read more