Waleed Arafa

Waleed Arafa is the founder & principal of Dar Arafa Architecture, Cairo, Egypt. He earned a B.Sc. in architecture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt 2001. He was privileged to learn from Tarek Naga principal of Naga Studio Architecture+Urbanism 2001-2006. Waleed’s first solo project; Dar Arafa Residence, was nominated for the Aga Khan Award 2010 & Hassan Fathy Award 2009. In 2015 he earned a Post-graduate degree in the Conservation of Historical Buildings, from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, UK. His thesis was entitled: “The Mosque in Britain: British Heritage?” He designed & built the Basuna Mosque in 2019, which has been nominated & shortlisted for a number of awards. It is a strong contender for AFAMA 2020. In March 2019, Waleed has been awarded the “Arab & African Youth Platform” by HE Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Egypt. Waleed Arafa has also been shortlisted for the Maison d’Egypte architectural competition in the International University City in Paris (CIUP), adjacent to the renowned Pavilion Suisse by Le Corbusier. Waleed’s research, design & build aims at understanding the essence of the architecture of Islam. His approach is based on finding ways to continuing the discontinued architectural past of countries with an established legacy in the architecture of Islam, such as & especially Egypt. But equally, looking into how to bring forth new architecture(s) of Islam in completely new contexts.