Delivering Concepts: Jenan Azmi showcases the process of formulation of concepts in her work

Architect Jenan Azmi, the winner of Arcvision prize for Egyptian Woman Architects, will present some of her recent projects, including the design of the hotel “Seil”. “Seil” is located on a 120 Feddan plot of land [half a million sqm].  The land contains an existing hotel on the southern edge of the site. The task was to design 68 units and a main building adjacent to 32 existing units on the north side of the site to create a hotel of 100 rooms.  [SEIL] means flash flood in Arabic. It’s design was inspired by the drainage patterns created by the flash floods that form the topography of the land.

The directionality of the flash flood and the horizontality of the nature around the site inspired a design that is very rigid in its directionality and strives to keep very visible.  A strong prevalent north-east wind present 8 months of the year, paired with noise from the generators and chillers of the neighboring hotel led us to take shelter in the hill and build into it as opposed to above it. The architectural character of our units is inspired by the rock formation in the site. Many vertical lines emphasize an overall horizontality. These narrow vertical openings in 50 cm thick stone walls allow light to enter without direct sunlight.  Solar water heaters will be placed in the gap between each unit and the hill, unseen by users.

Biography of the Architect

The culmination of her experience lead her to found her architectural office “TASMIMAT” in 2009 that strives to create buildings inspired by their surrounding nature & built with their surrounding materials.  Where today’s trend diverges towards excess; the bigger the louder, the flashier, the more luxurious, essentially the ‘more’. Azmi tries to design keeping in mind that she wants to leave the lightest imprint of her building’s presence.  To blend in with nature, to borrow from it temporarily then melt back into it eventually.  TASMIMAT’s portfolio comprises of Hotels and residential homes in Marsa Allam, Hurgada, Sinai and Cairo.  The construction material used is mostly stone taken from nearby dump sites filled with excavation waste. She hopes to experiment with materials like compressed brick and rammed earth in the near future.