May al-Ibrashy explained

May al-Ibrashy
Birth Date:1970
Nationality:Egyptian
Occupation:Architectural Engineer
Boards:Founder & Chair of Megawra-Built Environment Collective

May al-Ibrashy is an Egyptian architectural engineer, the co-founder and principal of Megawra and chair of Megawra-Built environment collective (BEC).[1] Al-Ibrashy works on community engagement projects through heritage conservation, rehabilitation, preservation, and re-signification centered in Cairo's marginalized communities.[2]

Education

Al-Ibrashy was born in Cairo in 1970. She obtained a degree in architectural engineering from Ain Shams University in Cairo.[3] She continued her education to complete a master's in the history of Islamic Art, architecture, and archaeology from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) followed by a PhD in archaeology, also at SOAS. Her thesis, The Southern Cemetery of Cairo from the 14th century to the present: an urban history of a living cemetery, focused on themes which have subsequently formed the basis of her career.[4]

Career

Al-Ibrashy began her career working as an architect and a professor prior to co-founding Megawra, an Egyptian non-governmental organization architectural practice in 2011.[5] Alongside her work for Megawra, she continues to work as a lecturer in Architecture at the American University in Cairo and at Cairo University, as well as a Professor of Practice in Islamic Architecture at SOAS.[6] In 2012, Megawra partnered with the Built Environment Collective (BEC), an engineering and design consultancy. The combined group, Megawra-BEC, works as an architectural firm and non-governmental organization with a focus on sustainable and socially-responsible heritage restoration across Cairo.[7] In the same year, al-Ibrashy began the Athar Lina (Heritage is Ours!) initiative, in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. al-Ibrashy's fieldwork engages with the communities in the Al-Khalifa district in Sayeda Zeinab, Al Hattaba district, and Al-Imam Al-Shafii district through participatory conservation initiatives,[8] with the aim of encouraging the marginalized communities’ sense of ownership of their historic environments.[9] A specific focus of al-Ibrashy's work is with children and young people in Cairo’s economically-deprived neighborhoods,[10] and she has worked in the Northern Cemetery in Cairo.[11] Al-Ibrashy has lectured widely, both in Egypt and abroad.[12] [13] [14]

Publications

Books

Papers

Editorial contribution

Awards

al-Ibrashy was the recipient of the 2022 Prince Claus Fund Impact Awards, along with María Medrano, Argentina; Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Cuba; Ailton Alves Lacerda Krenak, Brazil; Hassan Darsi, Morocco and Alain Gomis, Senegal.

al-Ibrashy was one of the five finalists for the 2023 ArchDaily Diversity in Architecture Award.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 8 April 2021. May al-Ibrashy . 18 July 2023. The Funambulist Magazine. en-US.
  2. Web site: 2022 Impact Awards Announcement . 18 July 2023. Prince Claus Fund . en-US.
  3. Web site: Rashidi . Seif El . New Podcast: Heritage is Ours with May al-Ibrashy . 18 July 2023. The Barakat Trust . en-GB.
  4. Web site: The Southern Cemetery of Cairo from the 14th century to the present: an urban history of a living cemetery. WorldCat. 2005. 31 December 2023.
  5. El Gibaly, Lara (March 7, 2017). "Megawra: Making sure heritage is a resource, not a burden: An architect, a historian and a storyteller walk into a shrine…". Madamasr. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  6. Web site: Dr May al-Ibrasy. SOAS University of London. 31 December 2023.
  7. Web site: Dr May al-Ibrashy: Linking heritage to the community. Carla. Akil. Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship. 31 December 2023.
  8. Web site: Historian May Al-Ibrashy Wins Global Award for Heritage Conservation . 19 July 2023. SceneHome.
  9. Web site: In Old Cairo, residents reconnect with their heritage. France 24. 19 February 2023. 31 December 2023.
  10. Web site: Athar Lina: Promoting cultural heritage at al-Khalifa neighbourhood. Marina. Makary. Egyptian Streets. 23 November 2022. 31 December 2023.
  11. News: Keath . Lee . 2020-08-08 . Highways over history . E2 . . 2023-12-31.
  12. Web site: Heritage as a driver for development: Athar Lina Initiative in Historic Cairo. The American University in Cairo. May 2023. 31 December 2023.
  13. Web site: Athar Lina Initiative: Heritage as a community resource. Architectural League of New York. 2 May 2023. 31 December 2023.
  14. Web site: May al-Ibrashy and the Tahayyuz Alliance. Charlotte College of Arts and Architecture. 3 February 2023. 31 December 2023.
  15. Web site: Citizen Participation in Historic Cairo. Atharlina.com. 2020.
  16. Web site: Conservation and Management Plan Al-Khalifa Street Area. 2020.
  17. Web site: Historic Cairo Intervention Toolkit. Atharlina.com. 2020.
  18. al-Ibrashy, May. “Heritage in the Street: Megawra | BEC’s Athar Lina Initiative in Historic Cairo.” The Journal of Public Space, no. Vol. 6 n. 1 (2021): 241–56. doi:10.32891/JPS.V6I1.1462.
  19. al-Ibrashy, May and Tammy Gaber. “Design with the senses and for the senses: An alternative teaching model for design studio” International Journal of Architectural Research: Archnet-IJAR 4 (2010): 359-375.
  20. Web site: Diversity in Architecture, DIVIA Award. Nour. Fakharany. ArchDaily. 9 March 2023. 31 December 2023.