A journey to remember

This is one of the best experiences I've ever had . Having the chance to build by Earth materials, and live 10 great days with wonderful people, in a beautiful place. I am really glad that I took the decision to participate in this workshop organized by Hand Over in Siwa. I have learned many things in these few days, and I had a great experience. And this is my documentation for this wonderful journey.

Day 1: Arrival

The first activity we did was visiting Shaly (Siwa's old fortress), It was a magnificent organized mess. Architecture by the people for the people, the whole city was built with Karshev which is available in Siwa. Later Samy, the owner of Canopy's farm who doesn't like to refer to himself as "the owner", spoke about his hopes for Canopy, and how he wants it to be a community in which ideas and crafts can be shared. Although I had doubts about his ideas and aspirations, but I have to admit they were revolutionary and extremely ambitious.

Day 2: First day on site

We learned about rammed earth, and through practice we were divided into teams, and each team had to find out the best mix for a rammed earth block.

The mix consists of gravel, silt and sand. My thoughts about it was that it's not hard and anyone can do so. I found out that I was right and wrong simultaneously. It is a simple process; yet it requires many trials to be perfected. You can only learn it through practice.

Day 3: خalttaaaaah

"I believe in self-organization" this is what Tantawy told us before the start of the building process, He told us what should be done, then left us to organize ourselves and do the tasks required.

At first, I didn't like that, I didn't believe in self organization. I wanted to be given a certain task, and I felt like the workflow wasn't smooth, and I stood wandering what to do. However, after 30 mins, the workflow became more smooth, and I thought maybe self-organization isn't that bad.

I liked ramming and tashween more than mixing, no one knew how to do it properly, We were just mixing randomly, and it required more communication.

Day 4: Salt pans

The site became more organized every body knew what should be done. We finished a whole form.

Tantawy taught me how to hold the shovel properly, and Zidane showed me a smart way to use the sieve, it saved a lot of time and effort. Then we left the site to go and see the salt pans in Siwa, they were magical and looked like snow. That day I realized how beautiful Siwa was

Day 5: Adrere Amellal

We took the day off to visit some famous hotels in Siwa. "Taziri" which means "moon" in Amazigh language, was our first destination, I liked the details and the furniture in this hotel, and what was magnificent, as described by engineer Hany, is the "progressive design" , which is the relationship between the forms and how it grew organically .

Then we went to Adrere Amellal, the white mountain in Amazigh, I had high expectations for this one, as it was highly regarded by my professors, but I couldn't find the beauty in it, it was raw and brutal, it didn't stimulate my sensors. But maybe that's because I don't have an Architect's eye yet, I still like things that anyone could find beautiful or awful.

Day 6: Routine

Everything became usual. We wake up at 7:30 am, get ready, and eat breakfast, then we leave at 9:00 am. I get on the blue car because it's more comfortable. Youhanna sings as always, I join sometimes, and be silent most of the time. We arrive to the site. We do the same things as everyday..

Day 7: Progress

The room started to take its shape. The corners are made of kershev. Building with kershev to me is so much like puzzle; you put the kershev stones, then morter, silt and sand, then you fill the voids with a suitable stone, and put morter on it. You should make sure that the stones at the corners are interlocking, it's as simple as that.

Day 8: Sunset

Friday, I hate Fridays. At the beginning of the day I was bored, my rommate and companion Karim had left the day before, and we did nothing until 3:30 pm. After that we went to the tombs and Amun's temple, I didn't find them that interesting, they were crowded they reminded me of Cairo. However, after that we went to Fatnas to watch the sunset, It was the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen, the scenery made my whole day, I liked that Friday.

Day 9: Sand dunes

The last day in site. I had no energy for work, I was exhausted and bored, so I decided not to work that day and to go for a walk in the desert with Engy, my friend in laziness, and Zidane. We climbed the highest dune, the view from their was magnificent.

Day 10: Departure

I took this photo while I was wandering in Shaly waiting for our departure to Cairo, and I think it sums up what this workshop is about.

In the foreground we see the minerate of the ancient mosque of Shaly, and in the background the minerate of the big mosque built by the Egyptian Kingdom to put Siwa under control. We see how the new mosque is so similar to those found in Cairo; it is not integrated with its surroundings it is not true to the culture of Siwa. So, are we gonna build true to the place's culture and techniques? Or are we gonna just put buildings that don't belong, only because they are easy to build?