BAYN concluded with the opening of the exhibition “Dwelling al-Imam: Families of al-Imam al-Shafi’i Museum” inside the Abu’l Naga family home, supported by active participation of local residents, who were key partners in shaping its contents.

The exhibition brings together family archives and historical narratives to document intangible heritage and everyday lived experiences. It places particular emphasis on relationships between families and their long-standing roles in the custodianship of al-Imam al-Shafi’i, as well as the evolving forms of “service” around the dome. It offers a reading of al-Qarafa through the voices and memories of its residents, where the story is told not only through buildings, but through those who lived in and shaped them.

In parallel, a documentary film was produced tracing the project’s trajectory and documenting its transformations. Another key output is the publication “Learning from Places,” which serves as an educational toolkit grounded in direct engagement with people and place, rather than relying solely on theoretical approaches.

Families of al-Imam al-Shafi’i Museum is open every Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM or by appointment.

BAYN operated across three sites in Historic Cairo—Al-Khalifa, Qal’at al-Kabsh, and the area surrounding al-Imam al-Shafi’i—reimagining heritage through direct collaboration with local communities, enabling them to lead change, reactivate neglected spaces, and reclaim oral histories. The project is implemented by the Built Environment Collective, with support from the Ford Foundation and under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Solidarity.

BAYN also served as the practicum project for the 2025 cohort of BIAS-AME, a one-year diploma focused on urban issues in Africa and the Middle East through a multidisciplinary approach.