tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52126068338017017782024-03-13T02:41:38.926+02:00cOntrast StudiocOntrast designs is a multi-disciplinary design studio practicing in the fields of architecture, planning and interior design. It is led by 3 architects/designers practicing in Cairo, Kareem Hammouda, Mazin A.Karim, and Tamer Nader. Besides producing contemporary architecture and urbanism , they also focus on cultural analysis , critical investigations and the production of ideas.Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-49098522601754309032013-11-04T01:27:00.002+02:002013-11-04T01:27:57.085+02:00Wall Games - Continued
Building on our continuous interest in Cairo's suburbs, here are some images that follow up on the "Our Urban Futures" workshop that we led a couple of months ago with a great team of architecture students from different universities. The theme, which borrows its name from a related project by Lebbeus Woods, explores the potential of the excessively used walls of New Cairo as “mediators”Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-4846949732761222442013-10-29T17:35:00.000+02:002013-10-29T17:35:38.858+02:00Contrast Designs Completes Another Residential Project
Contrast Designs just completed the construction of another residential project in New Cairo. For this typical family house of 3 floors we redesigned the exterior facades with a touch of Mediterranean style. Here are our before and after photographs of the house.
Before:
After:
Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-91321296213780070732013-04-11T16:45:00.001+02:002013-04-11T16:45:34.552+02:00Another Project Almost Complete
Another one of our projects is almost finished. Designed by CONTRAST Designs,the interior design for this private palace in Al-Obour City is in its final construction phases.
Stay tuned for updates.
More on this project on our website here.
Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-85557661913902941182013-04-07T01:13:00.003+02:002013-04-07T01:13:46.486+02:00Grid House nears completion
Construction work on the interior design of the Grid House is in its final stages. Designed and constructed by Contrast Designs, the Grid House project provides simple and comfortable spaces in a truly modern style.
More images of the original design on our website www.contrast-designs.com
Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-15769062716354047092012-12-11T15:22:00.000+02:002012-12-11T15:22:39.241+02:00Contrast Designs Wins Hasan Fathy Award
Last week Contrast Designs was awarded the special mention in the Hasan Fathy architecture award for the Serlachius Museum Extension project. The award is considered the most prestigious award in Egyptian architecture, and is jointly awarded with members from the Mies van der Rohe award, the Aga Khan award, and the Supreme Council of Culture. Previous award winners include Ali Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-55480425980275259722012-12-02T23:39:00.000+02:002012-12-02T23:39:28.422+02:00Our Urban Futures Workshop
CONTRAST Designs partners Mazin A.Karim and Kareem Hammouda joined the workshop jointly organized by "Cairo from Below", "Megawra" and Ain Shams University last week. Along with 4 other moderators, and students from about 7 different architecture schools, the one-day workshop tried to highlight and open a discussion about several of Cairo's urban issues. From the Cairo 2050 plan, to transport Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-46841361040277023542012-09-05T17:04:00.000+02:002012-09-05T17:04:16.440+02:00Al-Manshiya Square Revitalization Proposal
Below is our Third Place winning proposal for the The Revitalization and Upgrading of Al Manshiya Square in Alexandria. The project was initiated by the Governorate of Alexandria to seek ideas for the upgrading of the square as part of a general vision for downtown Alexandria, as well as an architectural proposal for the Motaheda parking space in the square.
Within the Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-89520625047494248542012-08-26T01:05:00.002+02:002012-08-26T01:06:29.260+02:00"Voicing Bahrain" again in July issue of Domus
Our entry for the Bab Al Bahrain competition has been reviewed in the July issue of Domus Magazine. It has been previously featured in the supplement provided with the last issue of Domus in May.
Read the complete post about the project here
Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-2435321222863185012012-05-29T15:02:00.001+02:002012-05-29T15:02:53.837+02:00Voicing Bahrain in Domus
Our proposal 'Voicing Bahrain' for the Bab Square Competition in Bahrain was featured in the May issue of Domus Magazine. The project is published along with some other shortlisted projects and the competition winners.
Read the complete post about the project here
And what we thought of the results here
Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-57597123170923968502012-04-20T02:42:00.001+02:002012-05-29T14:54:07.993+02:00"it's Countryside"
Contrast Designs partners Mazin A. Karim and Kareem Hammouda, appear in the documentary film "it's Countryside" by Italian director Saverio Pesapane. The film discusses the undefined state of urbanizaiton of the Egyptian Nile Valley, and is part of the project "900 km Nile City". It was prepared for and is currently showing at the IABR in Rotterdam. The biennale opened its doors today andMazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-80316917705216299962012-04-18T02:50:00.000+02:002012-04-18T02:50:20.173+02:00Forbidden - Short film
Our new short film on the dissecting of public space in post-revolution Egypt
Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-70025633354226392172012-04-01T17:32:00.000+02:002012-04-01T17:33:40.568+02:00Voicing Bahrain
Below is our complete entry for the BAB Al Bahrain Competition. The competition was seeking new urban design ideas for BAB square in Bahrain's downtown center, turning it into a viable urban square and taking into consideration the new changes in lifestyles and behaviorism in the Arab World.
Read what we think of the results here
Voicing Bahrain
Public Space as ResponsiveMazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-3997422030963075372012-02-15T01:05:00.003+02:002012-02-15T01:05:57.432+02:00Contrast Designs speaking at Megawra
Contrast Designs will be participating in the opening event of Megawra Hub next Saturday the 18th of February. Megawra is an Egyptian architectural hub for students, young architects, and the public. It is a platform for holistic debate on the field of architecture and urbanism with a focus on it as art, theory, praxis and cultural heritage and its role in promoting sustainability and Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-64017940224677466272011-11-07T04:25:00.000+02:002011-11-07T04:25:23.401+02:00CO.D.E. Studio in progress
Work at CO.D.E. Studio started 5 weeks ago with students from the 2nd year. Contrast Designs' partners Mazin Abdulkarim and Kareem Hammouda have guided two separate groups of students to explore 'patterns' and 'material qualities' as design veichles for spatial and organizational characteristics. Below are some images of the students' work after 5 weeks. More details and updated Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-21382588667350099572011-10-02T04:03:00.002+02:002011-10-02T04:04:15.296+02:00CO.D.E. Studio @ AASTThis semester CONTRAST Designs partners, Kareem Hammoda and Mazin Abdulkarim will be running a design studio at the AAST in Cairo under the name CO.D.E Studio. The studio is split internally into two units each exploring a separate field of interest. In Unit A, Abdulkarim will be exploring ‘Patterns’ as a device for spatial and material constructs, and will investigate their potential Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-74153961367688183862011-09-29T15:26:00.003+02:002011-09-29T22:57:32.883+02:00Alef M.O.A. Nears CompletionOur fourth major design collaboration with Alef Bookstores, their new branch in Mall of Arabia, is coming to its final stages. After establishing their signature interior design theme in Mirghany, Zamalek, and Le Marche (Alex.) branches, the new branch in MOA (6th of October) adds several new ideas to the bookstore's I.D. theme. Besides the interior design of the branch, CONTRAST DesignMazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-11675734875090083082011-07-04T03:02:00.000+02:002011-07-04T03:02:43.936+02:00On Cairo's Gated Parks
This series of images portrays classic cases of gatedness for several of the public green parks of Cairo. The typical metal green fence, used to surround public and green areas around Cairo, physically separates and creates a distinct barrier condition. In some cases, a ticket is charged to enter the park in a desperate move to generate money to cover maintenance costs.
While the lush green Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-8391866364104976662011-06-30T18:51:00.001+02:002011-06-30T18:57:06.074+02:00@Shubbak : Public Domain Exhibition ParticipationBelow is a part of our participation in the "Public Domain: Public and Civic Spaces in the Arab World" exhibition. The exhibition is at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Second Floor Gallery, 66 Portland Place, London, from 12 July to 24 September 2011.
On 12 July, with the opening reception of the exhibition, there will be a talk by leading architects, academics and Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-89617315092674040042011-06-23T21:53:00.009+02:002011-06-23T22:05:53.515+02:00Our competition entry for the Serlachius Museum in FinlandThe competition was for a new extension to an existing complex of buildings, the serlachius museum complex, to accomodate a larger amount of displayed art work through temporary and permanent gallery spaces. The competition results were announced a few days ago. We did not win this time, but here is our complete proposal.
SERLACHIUS MUSEUM GŐSTA EXTENSION
Where, in the past, a Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-55821630571783686062011-06-21T21:44:00.001+02:002011-06-21T21:47:06.354+02:00Egymec Office Building completedLast week we celebrated the opening of the Egymec Office building in Suez Industrial Zone, which is a part of a larger industrial complex. The company headquarters building establishes a dialogue with its surrounding mountainous desert context with its rough stone monolithic massing.
Project: Egymec Office Building
Client: Egymec Petroleum Services
Construction Completed: June 2010
Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-43705270545467011282011-06-17T22:20:00.001+02:002011-06-17T22:23:04.292+02:00Contrast Designs @ Shubbak
Contrast Designs will be participating in the upcoming Shubbak: A Window on Contemporary Arab Culture Festival to be held in London. The "Public Domain Exhibition", a photo and film exhibition discussing public anc civic space in the Arab world will take place at the RIBA building between 12 July - 24 September 2011. Contrast Designs will be showing a number of photographs from Cairo that Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-63111561093699815972011-05-26T02:53:00.000+02:002011-05-26T02:53:36.789+02:00Egymec Office Building nears completion
more info about the project here
Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-74796925569105035112011-01-23T16:13:00.000+02:002011-01-23T16:13:20.029+02:00Contrast Designs featured on national newsContrast Designs partners were interviewed for the egyptian national news during the press conference and prize ceremony for the Sednaoui Al Khazendar competition. Contrast Designs won an honorable mention in the competition last October. Below is the video of the reportage shown on national news and some photos of the event and the other winning entries.
Also follow us for a full Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-23606613828410713042011-01-02T14:49:00.003+02:002011-01-02T15:05:53.507+02:00Contrast Designs interviewed for Magaz magazineMagaz magazine's most recent issue no. 305, features Contrast Designs's Mazin abdulkarim in an interview about the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2010. The discussion, moderated by Moataz Faisal, features also italian architect Matteo Fachinelli and revolves around the italian and egyptian pavilions in last year's biennale. Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5212606833801701778.post-52885145193426462292010-11-25T22:04:00.006+02:002010-11-29T12:10:48.554+02:00CONTRAST Designs Talk About New Cities in EgyptCONTRAST Designs will talk about their ongoing research on the planning of the Egyptian New Cities program. The lecture called "The Architecture of Refuge" will take place at the Syndicate of Engineers, Ramses St.next Thursday the 2nd of December from 7.30-9.30pm. Other renowned presenters such as Salah Hegab will also present their thoughts in this round Table discussion hosted by the Egyptian Mazin A.Karimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277583537346668276noreply@blogger.com0