When we were at the third year of our study of architecture in the faculty of engineering at Cairo university , we were lucky that some students of us had the chance to take a study course about the aesthetics of architecture with Dr.Nabeel el Hady and Dr.Raghad Mofeed.
The course was organised to comprise two main phases; exploration and manifestation.while the first was concerned with contemplation and observation to deduce the underlying qualities of the investigated element, the second focused on embodying and manifesting these qualities through modeling.
The course was organised to comprise two main phases; exploration and manifestation.while the first was concerned with contemplation and observation to deduce the underlying qualities of the investigated element, the second focused on embodying and manifesting these qualities through modeling.
"The selected cases for investigation in 2009 were the courtyards of (1) Zainab khatoun House (6)wekalet el Ghoury (8) Khan el Zaraksha " *First Phase: Our tools in this phase were a sketch book and a camera . "Sketching is not only a kind of expression but rather a process of thinking and reflecting."*
The continues process of visiting the sites, making sketches, writing comments and feelings, discussion and brain storming as well as lectures resulted in some general observations or charecteristics of what can be seen as aspects of beauty in the various subjects we investigated.
Examples of layering details, photographed by Ahmed el Hozayen.
Examples of the shadow shapes on the facades, photographed by Ahmed elhozayen.
Examples of the mysery, photographed by Ahmed el Hozayen.
Second phase: We were asked to build a 1:10 or 1:20 model of the courtyards' facades to embody the observed qualities of the courtyards.Through this phase , we were given the chance to think, imagine, experience, and appreciate the challenges and ideas that exist in these specific conditions of buildings of quality.
Each group had the mission to creat a model of one facade, for me, I had a great chance to collaborate with two awesome friends , Ahmed Fathy and Samir Ayiad, who helped me a lot to understand many things.
