TURATH-تراث

Project idea

“Turath” is a vocational and innovation center in Alexandria, Egypt, designed as an architectural response to the urgent threats facing cultural and architectural heritage in coastal cities. The project reimagines heritage preservation as a dynamic, community-driven process by merging traditional craftsmanship with modern technologies. Turath’s goal is to safeguard Alexandria’s identity by empowering artisans, students, and researchers through learning, innovation, and active participation.

Project description

Turath is a vocational and innovation center in Alexandria, Egypt, designed to preserve cultural identity while addressing the impact of rising sea levels on heritage. The project merges traditional crafts with modern technology through workshops, research labs, and public spaces. It includes areas for training in crafts like pottery, boatbuilding, and textiles, alongside restoration labs and educational exhibitions. The design reflects Alexandria’s coastal nature, using fragmented, interlocking forms and open courtyards to create a resilient, interactive space that connects the community to its heritage.

Technical information

Turath is located in Alexandria, Egypt, with a total built-up area of approximately 25,000 m². The project follows a steel box-frame structural system with 40 cm flat slabs and reinforced cantilevered zones to support its interlocking, finger-like architectural form. The center includes vocational craft workshops, lecture halls, restoration and innovation labs, VR/AR learning zones, and digital heritage documentation spaces. The design integrates passive environmental strategies such as natural ventilation, daylight optimization, flood-resilient elevation, and green corridors with native landscaping. The layout is organized into three main zones: public, cultural, and research, encouraging fluid interaction and supporting both education and community engagement.