Downtown is known as “West El Balad”, as it can be poetically understood to mean “The Heart of the City”. This bustling district of Cairo certainly lives up to the name. It is not only the physical center of Cairo, but also a hub for transportation, business, and culture, centered on Midan El-Tahrir and Midan Talaat Harb.
Downtown Cairo was and still is inspired by Europe’s cities. It possesses a distinct cosmopolitan character, a unique amalgamation from its sheer diversity of styles.
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Emaar’s “Enabling Design” initiative is a transformative force within Cairo Design Week, aiming to infuse design excellence into every aspect of life. Recognizing that each element of our daily experience is defined by design, Emaar endeavors to cultivate not just good design but a thriving community in which design is a connecting thread. Their approach to “Enabling Design” is extended from their promise of offering “The Good Life” and derived by the philosophy that a well-designed environment leads to a well-lived one, raising the quality of living and thereby shaping a robust society. During Cairo Design Week, Emaar seeds this vision with diverse events like DeForum, Designathon, Bazarna, When We Eat, and Tayara, geared toward inspiration, education, collaboration, and inclusivity. These events collectively foster a dynamic design community, bridging gaps between enthusiasts and professionals while showcasing and nurturing emerging talent. Emaar’s initiative is designed to democratize and disseminate good design, believing it to be the cornerstone of innovation, community enrichment, and a prosperous, sustainable future. Through “Enabling Design,” Emaar essentially lays the foundation for a culture that appreciates and prioritizes the crucial role of design in enhancing everyday life.
Who are we? We are a unique team of creative thinkers and talented doers who curate experiences, resuscitate buildings, and catapult transformative developments. What we do: We spawn innovative ideas such as immersive installations, “design houses” and hotels in exclusive venues, operating to guarantee exceptional standards are met. Our heritage and culture are at the heart of everything we do, so our mission is to celebrate them in all our services while leaving a positive impact on our community and others. Founded in 2023, Alchemy Experience, a child of Alchemy – a leading design studio in the region, was created with the privilege of harnessing the wealth of design knowledge by Alchemy to deliver avant-garde storytelling and creative experiences.
We are an evolutionary brand that transcends traditional boundaries by offering a unique fusion of spa al codes, lifestyle, products, hospitality, and experiential journeys.
The alchemical process in the company explores links between different worlds, such as spiritual and mater, the conscious and the unconscious, the sensual and the scientific. It recognizes that people are seeking more than just products or services; they crave meaningful experiences that engage and inspire them on a deeper level. By integrating various elements like design, heritage, art, music, gastronomy, and immersive storytelling, we create a holistic sensory adventure leaving a lasting impression that resonates with our audience.
Wander is a dynamic commercial developer that specializes in the creation and operation of retail, administrative, and hospitality ventures. Our vision is to curate a diverse and expansive brand portfolio across these sectors, with a strategic focus on acquiring and establishing related companies that complement, support, and enhance our core business. At Wander, we are guided by our core values of being human-centric, prioritizing experiential offerings, embracing a future-forward mindset, and fostering a culture of partnership and collaboration. In the Cairo Design Week 2024 edition, we will be launching our experiential platform “GET TO WANDER”, in the heart of Downtown Cairo, it unfolds as an immersive experience that transcends the traditional boundaries of design week. This unique event is not merely a celebration of aesthetics but a collective exploration into the intersections of design and human spirit in a shared space of discovery. The attendees are invited to wander through a journey mapped out for them in a way that challenges preconceived notions, fosters connections and highlights the beauty of diversity in design, talent and the simple pleasures of life.
Join us for an experiential journey as you explore the secrets behind Mazeej Balad’s upcoming opening! Mazeej Balad perfectly blends into its surroundings and immerses itself into the culture. Experience the behind the scenes journey as you tour the rooms of our upcoming boutique hotel and get a taste of what’s to come from the gastronomical and hospitality experiences. As you explore each room of our boutique hotel, you’ll get a chance to experience the making of the process and the curation of the setup and design as well as the integration of art into the Mazeej Balad experience.
Welcome to The Showcase by Bazarna — Where Design Stories Come Alive. Discover the Ride of Design. Step into Bazarna and take a front-seat ride on the roller coaster of creativity. Bazarna is celebrating the brands that made it to CDW by inviting them to show their journey to the world. The journey during curation; from design to reality. This is not just a bazar. This is a multi-sensory experience. A roller coaster ride that will take you through ups and downs, unexpected twists and turns, soaring highs and deep dives. Get ready to a bumpy ride, it won’t be easy but it’ll surely be worth it. We are inviting you to join the journey of those brands through living their stories and experiences.
BEHIND EVERY BRAND, A STORY UNFOLDS.
Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Cairo Designathon is the first and only design marathon in Egypt and MENA region, established in 2020, aiming to generate positive social impact through good design. Operated by KAIROS CDC as a collaborative design movement, Cairo Designathon aims to advance and highlight the importance of Innovation and Design thinking, in solving global and local urban and social problems. In Cairo Design Week 2024, Cairo Designathon is organizing its 4th official round, with 6 diverse design challenges, spanning a variety of design disciplines including Architecture, Interior Design, Furniture, Product Design, Graphics, and Fashion.
DeForum is Egypt’s first and strongest design Forum, launched in 2021, and operated by KAIROS CDC. DeForum has had 3 successful editions since its start, hosting more than 80 talks and discussion panels. DeForum covers a diverse breadth of topics including Architecture and the built environment, Industrial and Product Design, Media, Entrepreneurship, Heritage, and Uban development. In Cairo Design Week 2024, DeForum is organizing its 4th official round, with an exciting lineup of Egyptian and international, design and industry pioneers.
“Edible Aesthetics” Film Program (FEB 28th – MAR 2nd , 2024)
Film My Design (FMD) presents the “Edible Aesthetics” film program – a curated selection of films, discussions, and a workshop series that explores the intricate relationship between culinary art and design. Through a multidisciplinary approach, this program delves into the ways in which food is elevated beyond its functional purpose to become an artistic and visual experience on the plate and beyond. By examining documentaries and narratives, viewers gain insights into the design principles, techniques, and creative processes employed by chefs and designers to craft visually captivating food. The program aims to illuminate the design process of fusing gastronomy with aesthetics, offering a deeper understanding of how textures, colors, space, products, and presentations contribute to the overall culinary experience. This program is curated by Salma Serry (Food Studies Researcher, Awarded Filmmaker and Founder of Sufra Archive) and will be held during the 2nd edition of Cairo Design Week. Film My Design (FMD) is the first and only design-film festival in the MENA region, taking place in Cairo, Egypt. This program is funded by USAID – Business Egypt.