The Patterns of Cairo project aims to document, digitise, and democratise knowledge on patterns found within Historic Cairo, making them accessible to a wide audience. It has established an online open-access platform (www.patternsofcairo.com) containing a carefully curated selection of over 200 patterns. The platform provides tailored resources on patterns, including historical and stylistic information, images, drawings, and downloadable content like vector files, as well as articles and features exploring intangible patterns that shape Cairo.
The Patterns of Cairo project is implemented by Megawra, an architectural practice based in Cairo, and initiated by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Egypt as part of its commitment to the digitisation and democratisation of knowledge.
We would like to thank the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), Mansour for Architecture and Conservation, Nadim Foundation, and World Monuments Fund for granting us access to their data.
Nada is a junior architect focusing on digitising patterns for this project. She recently graduated from the German University in Cairo with a degree in Architecture and has a strong interest in art and how architecture connects with culture and everyday life.
Nehal al-Shamy is an art history researcher. She is currently pursuing an MA in Islamic Art and Architecture at the American University in Cairo (AUC), where she focuses on Ottoman architecture in Cairo. Since 2016, Nehal has worked on several research projects, including at AUC, University of Michigan, Qatar Museums, and other institutions.
May is an architect with over 30 years of experience in heritage conservation and management. She is principal of Megawra, an architectural firm specialising in heritage and development. Al-Ibrashy holds a BSc in architectural engineering from Ain Shams University, an MA in the history of Islamic Art and Architecture, and a PhD in Archaeology from the University of London.
Ehsan is an architect and Deputy Director at Megawra – Built Environment Collective. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering with minors in anthropology and Arab and Islamic civilisations, as well as a master’s in advanced architectural projects. Her interests lie in architectural heritage, with a focus on Cairo. Her most notable publication is the co-authored book The Architecture of Ramses Wissa Wassef.
Hussein is an architect and visual designer with a deep-rooted passion for Islamic art, architecture, and cultural heritage. His work bridges the historical with the contemporary, focusing on the documentation, analysis, and reinterpretation of traditional patterns and crafts. With a keen eye for detail and a reverence for authenticity, Hussein centres his creative practice on digitally reviving ornamental vocabularies—particularly within the realms of geometry, arabesque, and vegetal motifs.
Yumna is an Islamic art and architectural historian at Megawra. She has been part of several heritage preservation projects in Cairo, including the conservation of the Yahya al-Shabih and Safiyy al-Din Jawhar Domes and Al-Imam al-Shafi‘i Visitors Centre. She holds a master’s degree in Islamic art and architecture from the American University in Cairo.
Hossam is an architect and researcher with a background in architectural engineering and a master’s degree in Critical Heritage Studies from UNC Charlotte. Having lived in Historic Cairo for three years and worked with Megawra, Hossam’s contributions include research, documentation, and a contemporary reinterpretation of Cairo’s patterns through visual arts.
Nada is a multidisciplinary artist based in Cairo, whose practice spans graphic design, illustration, surface design, and photography. She graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Helwan University,, and is currently studying at Jameel House for Traditional Arts in Cairo. A flâneur at heart with a deep interest in Historic Cairo and heritage, Nada has worked on photo-documentation of patterns found around Historic Cairo.
Mariam is passionate about traditional crafts and arts. She studied at Beit Jameel in Cairo, specialising in gypsum work. She contributed to a project documenting the geometric and floral motifs of historic Cairo and founded her brand, MOMA, to share her artistic work and help preserve this heritage. Mariam is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Traditional Arts at The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts in London.
Leena is a PhD candidate in Art History at Stanford University. She has an MA in Islamic Art and Architecture from the American University in Cairo. Leena has assisted on projects with Khamseen, the Islamic Arts Biennale (2025), Google Arts and Culture, the Barakat Trust, and the Dallas Museum of Art.
Mohamed is an historian of the modern Middle East. His research interests include the history of Islamic thought, Islamic modernism in the nineteenth century, and the social and intellectual history of modern Egypt. He completed his Master of Arts in Islamic Studies at the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University and is now an Adjunct Professor in al-Qasimi Department of History at the American University in Cairo and a researcher for the Patterns of Cairo project.
Lara is an architect passionate about Cairo’s heritage and urban regeneration. Her experience in adaptive reuse competitions led to her further interest in architectural heritage. At Patterns of Cairo, she documents patterns in historic buildings, which has deepened her understanding of Egyptian heritage. She enjoys storytelling through illustrations of her own real and imagined spatial experiences.
Salma is an architect and urban designer with a passion for place-making and adaptive reuse. She is driven by a mission to honour Cairo’s past while creating a greener, more livable city. She joined the Patterns of Cairo team to help document and digitally revive the intricate designs and ornamental details of Cairo’s most iconic structures—ensuring their beauty and cultural significance are preserved and accessible to all.
Francisca studied Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Edinburgh and is currently a junior researcher and coordinator at Megawra – Built Environment Collective. Her work focuses on the intersection of heritage conservation, urban change, and documentary photography.
Nada is a junior architect focusing on digitising patterns for this project. She recently graduated from the German University in Cairo with a degree in Architecture and has a strong interest in art and how architecture connects with culture and everyday life.
Nehal al-Shamy is an art history researcher. She is currently pursuing an MA in Islamic Art and Architecture at the American University in Cairo (AUC), where she focuses on Ottoman architecture in Cairo. Since 2016, Nehal has worked on several research projects, including at AUC, University of Michigan, Qatar Museums, and other institutions.
May is an architect with over 30 years of experience in heritage conservation and management. She is principal of Megawra, an architectural firm specialising in heritage and development. Al-Ibrashy holds a BSc in architectural engineering from Ain Shams University, an MA in the history of Islamic Art and Architecture, and a PhD in Archaeology from the University of London.
Ehsan is an architect and Deputy Director at Megawra – Built Environment Collective. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering with minors in anthropology and Arab and Islamic civilisations, as well as a master’s in advanced architectural projects. Her interests lie in architectural heritage, with a focus on Cairo. Her most notable publication is the co-authored book The Architecture of Ramses Wissa Wassef.
Hussein is an architect and visual designer with a deep-rooted passion for Islamic art, architecture, and cultural heritage. His work bridges the historical with the contemporary, focusing on the documentation, analysis, and reinterpretation of traditional patterns and crafts. With a keen eye for detail and a reverence for authenticity, Hussein centres his creative practice on digitally reviving ornamental vocabularies—particularly within the realms of geometry, arabesque, and vegetal motifs.
Yumna is an Islamic art and architectural historian at Megawra. She has been part of several heritage preservation projects in Cairo, including the conservation of the Yahya al-Shabih and Safiyy al-Din Jawhar Domes and Al-Imam al-Shafi‘i Visitors Centre. She holds a master’s degree in Islamic art and architecture from the American University in Cairo.
Hossam is an architect and researcher with a background in architectural engineering and a master’s degree in Critical Heritage Studies from UNC Charlotte. Having lived in Historic Cairo for three years and worked with Megawra, Hossam’s contributions include research, documentation, and a contemporary reinterpretation of Cairo’s patterns through visual arts.
Nada is a multidisciplinary artist based in Cairo, whose practice spans graphic design, illustration, surface design, and photography. She graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Helwan University,, and is currently studying at Jameel House for Traditional Arts in Cairo. A flâneur at heart with a deep interest in Historic Cairo and heritage, Nada has worked on photo-documentation of patterns found around Historic Cairo.
Mariam is passionate about traditional crafts and arts. She studied at Beit Jameel in Cairo, specialising in gypsum work. She contributed to a project documenting the geometric and floral motifs of historic Cairo and founded her brand, MOMA, to share her artistic work and help preserve this heritage. Mariam is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Traditional Arts at The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts in London.
Leena is a PhD candidate in Art History at Stanford University. She has an MA in Islamic Art and Architecture from the American University in Cairo. Leena has assisted on projects with Khamseen, the Islamic Arts Biennale (2025), Google Arts and Culture, the Barakat Trust, and the Dallas Museum of Art.
Mohamed is an historian of the modern Middle East. His research interests include the history of Islamic thought, Islamic modernism in the nineteenth century, and the social and intellectual history of modern Egypt. He completed his Master of Arts in Islamic Studies at the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University and is now an Adjunct Professor in al-Qasimi Department of History at the American University in Cairo and a researcher for the Patterns of Cairo project.
Lara is an architect passionate about Cairo’s heritage and urban regeneration. Her experience in adaptive reuse competitions led to her further interest in architectural heritage. At Patterns of Cairo, she documents patterns in historic buildings, which has deepened her understanding of Egyptian heritage. She enjoys storytelling through illustrations of her own real and imagined spatial experiences.
Salma is an architect and urban designer with a passion for place-making and adaptive reuse. She is driven by a mission to honour Cairo’s past while creating a greener, more livable city. She joined the Patterns of Cairo team to help document and digitally revive the intricate designs and ornamental details of Cairo’s most iconic structures—ensuring their beauty and cultural significance are preserved and accessible to all.
Francisca studied Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Edinburgh and is currently a junior researcher and coordinator at Megawra – Built Environment Collective. Her work focuses on the intersection of heritage conservation, urban change, and documentary photography.
