Influence and Resistance in Post-Independence Egyptian Architecture

Description

This book is an effort towards an in-depth understanding of the architectural discourse in Egypt developed over more than eight decades. It offers a distinctive theoretical interpretation of the forces shaping the kaleidoscopic shifts in Egyptian architecture through the analysis of the micro space of architectural representation of twentieth century Egyptian architecture. Predicated on historical contextualization, theoretical integration, and global conceptualization, Edward Said’s analytical method of contrapuntal reading and the spatial discourse analysis posited by C. Greig Crysler are lucidly assimilated to generate insights into various voices within the architectural discourse in Egypt. The analysis and critique of two important professional magazines, al-‘Imarah (1939–1959) and ‘Alam al-Bena’a (1980–2000), which shaped the collective psyche of both the academic and professional communities in Egypt and the wider region, coupled with the exploration of two other short-lived magazines, M‘imaryah (1982–1989) Medina (1998–2002), and other less-influential professional magazines, discloses the structure of attitude and reference or the exclusions and inclusions that defined the boundaries of the space of the discourse. Influence and Resistance in Post-Independence Egyptian Architecture paves the way to genuinely debate a yet to mature twenty-first century’s architectural discourse in Egypt. This book is a key resource for architects, architectural historians, and critical theorists and will appeal to academics and to both graduate and advanced undergraduate students in architectural history and theory and Middle East and Global South studies. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Contents List of Figures Acknowledgments Introduction: Narrating the Architectural Discourse in Egypt 1 Influence, Resistance, and the Spaces of Local Discourse Influence and Resistance: Two Untold Anecdotes Revealing Origins of Influence and Resistance Defining the Boundaries of Influence and Resistance Local Discourse: Contrapuntality of Voices 2 Global Conceptions and Incentives of Local Departures Resurgence of Local Discourse: Nationalism Complexion Modernity Between Local and Global Multiple Modernisms: Discursive Identities 3 Historical Voice: Reoccurrence of Influence and Resistance Intense Influence: West Comes East Discursive Influence Embracing Resistance Interminable Past 4 Western Voice: Intertwined Attitude of Reference On the Western Canon On Their Own Terms: The Eastern Space From the Western Place Attitude of Reference: Institutionalizing ‘Identity’ Transgressing Cultural Boundaries 5 Configuration of the Local Discourse (1930s–1970s) Contrapuntality and the Local Discourse Influence and Resistance Al-‘Imarah (1939–1959) Al-‘Imarah’s Space Boundaries Attitude of Reference Demise of Al-‘Imarah and the Dispersion of Discourse The 1960s and 1970s Beyond the Boundaries of the 1960s Discourse The 1960s’ Attitude of Reference 6 Reconfiguration of Space (1980s–2000s) The Rebirth of Local Architectural Discourse ‘Alam al-Bena’a عالم البناء (1980–2000) The Contemporary Local Voice The Historical Voice The Western Voice: The Voyage In The Editorial Voice: Reformulating a Local Theory Al-M‘imaryah (1982–1989) Medina (1998–2002) 7 An Outlook into the Twenty-First Century: The Rationale of a Decolonized Discourse Overlapping Territories of Influence and Resistance Imperialism From Within and the Endless Past ‘Influences’ and ‘Resistances’ in the Twenty-First Century Bibliography Index