Shahira Fahmy discovered architecture where art meets mathematics. The combination suited her interests, leading her to Cairo University. There, she studied and later taught for ten years, building a career that now reaches across continents.
From Cairo classrooms to global practice
In 2005, Fahmy started her firm, SFA, in Cairo. The practice expanded nearly twenty years later with a second office in Dubai. She has also taught at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and at The American University in Cairo, balancing design with education. Three fellowships at Harvard University shaped her view of architecture as both craft and dialogue.
Her approach treats design as a language uncovered rather than imposed. This principle guides projects from heritage restoration to master planning, often in historically sensitive areas. The firm has worked in London, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and New York, though its reputation remains strongest in the Middle East.
Restoring history, one mudbrick at a time
SFA’s most prominent recent project involved rehabilitating AlUla Old Town, a 12th-century site in Saudi Arabia. The team led the restoration of Zone 1, including Dar Tantora The House Hotel and Beit Bin Nouh, the first private residence in the historic district. Both were finished in 2024 for the Royal Commission for AlUla. The site is now up for the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, highlighting the firm’s skill in blending preservation with contemporary needs.
The same care appears in other projects. In 2011, the firm expanded London’s Delfina Foundation, a hub for contemporary art. A decade later, it won the “100 Architects 100 Houses” competition in AlUla, rethinking residential design within a heritage setting. SFA was also a finalist in the 2024 international competition for Badr’s historical city center in Al Madinah and is currently shortlisted for a cultural project in Diriyah.
Each project reflects a commitment to inclusivity in the built environment. Fahmy’s method treats architecture as a conversation with history, not an erasure. That sensitivity has brought recognition, though the work often stands on its own.
Awards indicate a change in how heritage sites are viewed. They are no longer seen as fixed monuments but as adaptable spaces that retain their character. The challenge lies in applying this approach beyond single projects. If successful, it could change construction in places where the past remains close.
For now, the firm keeps working at this crossroads, turning old materials into new opportunities. Homeowners considering similar restorations should understand the importance of hiring skilled professionals to maintain a building’s integrity.
Preservation requires careful planning, especially when dealing with older structures. Selecting the right contractors can prevent costly mistakes. Those unsure about a roofer’s credibility can learn to spot warning signs before committing to repairs.
Fahmy’s work shows how history and modernity can coexist. The firm’s projects prove that restoration is not about freezing the past but allowing it to evolve.