The NIAIU Education Department, together with the School Of Form (SWPS University), and featuring the Faculty of Architecture (GUT) as guest participants is starting a project of student workshops on the interpretation and reading of place.

The workshop program aims to stimulate critical reflection on trying to define the concept of belonging to a place, understanding a place through the histories, processes and relationships recorded in architecture. Workshops offered an in-depth exploration of the identity of the part of Praga district area through its urban, architectural and historical layers. Guided by the concept of “Palimpsest” – reading and interpreting space by layers, the participating students designed 5 diverse artistic interpretations revealing different key concepts and tangible results.

“The Praga Supper” project aim to emphasize the city’s richness mixed heritage and vibrant culture. This concept translated to design installation (Table) that includes different elements and tools that symbolically represent the history of the Praga district by displaying three distinct historical layers that the city has gone through agricultural, industrial, and contemporary. Through this artistic approach, highlight the eclectic diversity of communities and architectural style that characterizes Praga district.

The “interACT” project represents abstract elements with different materials that have different meanings from hope and desire for change to the constant fear of decay that has been marked by long years of neglect and abandonment. It aims to invite people to collaborate and interact representing community and unity about Praga.

“NOT FOR SALE” is a triangular grid structure that reinforces the slogan “Not for Sale” and tries to explore the message behind highlighting a positive meaning such as the possibility of development without diminishing the past and alienating the space from the local population. The installation promotes local culture, a sense of belonging, youth needs, and resilience. The installation allows the local community to pin their concerns and future needs on it as a message to developers and local authorities.

“Textured Praga” project as developed based on an observation tour conducted by the team where they realized that the beautiful chaos valued the combination of old and new architecture. The art installation includes a mix of texture samples hand-extracted from different street facades that create continuous patterns that reflect the diverse urban landscape.

The “SPEAKING WALLS” Project is a graffiti facade that delivers messages from different eras. It is a living wall that tells stories reminding listeners about the richness of different layers that reflect Praga’s distinct history and present. They all stand as icons to enhance people’s identity and build resilience to remind people of their values and history.

The instructor team who lead the workshops: Katarzyna Domagalska (NIAIU), Jola Starzak (SOF), Heba Safey Eldeen (MIU), Alaa El-Habashi (Menoufia University), Yara Khoury (AUB), Bahaa Bou Kalfouni (GUT), Ola Said

The Palimpsest workshops project are under the patronage of the Polish Embassy in Cair