2024

Critical Mapping and Tactical Interventions: Examples of CLUSTER's projects in Cairene public space

Webinar: As part of INTANGIBLE HERITAGE. Napoli/Cairo: The sense of communities. Ph.D. Seminar, Faculty of Applied Arts, GUC, December 2nd 2024

Urban and Cultural Heritage in Cairo: An Alternative Approach

Panel: As part of a panel on Historical-Cultural and Natural Tourism in Agglomerations – Potential and Development Barriers. at the REBUS International Forum.
Agglomerations: Experiences, Opportunities, Challenges
. Kazan Expo,  Nov 14-15, 2024

Towards Grounded Urban Practices in Cities in the Global South: Lessons from Cairo

Plenary Session: As part of the plenary opening session at the REBUS International ForumAgglomerations: Experiences, Opportunities, Challenges. Kazan Expo, Nov 14-15, 2024

Negotiating International Codes and Local Practices

Panel: Community Care Vehicle as part of World Urban Forum 12, Cairo, November 8th, 2024

Ground Urban Practices Today

Roundtable: As part of Parallel Program, World Urban Forum 12. The Egyptian Designers’ School., Cairo, November 5th 2024

Gabbal Amman Sound Mapping

Workshop: As part of a collaborative workshop with Makana Collective. Lesser Amman Library, MMAG, Oct 22nd, 2024

Reimagining our cities: Alternative narratives through mapping

Presentation: As part of a collaborative workshop with Makana Collective. Amman, MMAG, Oct 21st, 2024

Escaping the City: Insights from a Film Director, Architect and Environmentalist

Panel Discussion: Along with Hossam Gad El-Naggar, Karim Shaaban, and Abdallah Tawfic as part of Film My Design 3rd Edition, Cinema Zawya, Cairo, October 9th, 2024

CLUSTER's Approach to Creative Initiatives

Panel: as part of Creative Economy in Action: Practical Policies for Growing Creative Economy.
World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE). Tashkent, Uzbekistan, October 3rd, 2024

Engaging Creativity in Urban Informality.

Presentation: As part of GCEC delegation presentation
Transforma Cultural Space, Dom 36, Almaty, Kazakhstan, September 28th, 2024

Mapping Informality, Engaging Creativity

Public Lecture: Independent School for the City, Rotterdam, September 19th, 2024

UNITAC Conference on Urban Tech for Equity

Presentation: Mapping Creative Initiatives in Informal Areas: Furniture Industries in Ard al-Liwa, Giza. As part of UNITAC Conference on Urban Tech for Equity. Hamburg, Germany, June 18th-20th, 2024.

After the End of the World: Film Screening and Discussion

Panel Discussion: Along with Ahmed Nabil and Tamer ElSaid as part of Film My Design (FMD) Film screening of After the End of the World (Lebanon, 2022, 72’). May 22nd at Cinema Zawya

Projects of Spatial Activism: Critical Mapping and Tactical Interventions

Lecture: As part of History of Architecture and Urbanism lecture series. Faculty of Art and Design, the British University in Egypt. April 7th 2024

Urban Tapestry: On Arts and Public Space

Panel Discussion: As part of Spend the Day in Khalifa 11 Organized by Megawra – BEC. AlKhalifa Community Centre, Cairo, Egypt. March 23rd, 2024

Taking Place, Inspiring Vibrant Communities Conference

Workshop Session: As part of Rethinking Communities Outside of Cities: National and International Case studies. British Council in London, England. March 14th, 2024

Creative Initiatives as Urban Catalysts: CLUSTER's Critical Mapping and Tactical Interventions

Presentation: As part of EU-Southern Neighbourhood Regional Dialogues Webinar. Session on “Creative Urban Development in the Mediterranean: the role of Cities.” IEMed. January 29th, 2024

2023

Contested Public Space, Negotiated Design Interventions: Examples of CLUSTER’s Projects in Cairo

Panel Discussion: As part of the Tasarim/Good Design Izmir event, under the theme of “Reconciliation.” Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and Izmir Mediterranean Academy. Izmir, December 9th-17th, 2023

Engaging Informality in Cairo: Critical Mapping and Tactical Interventions

Lecture: As part of The Sociology of Cairo, Lecture-Seminar. FIME Egypt and the Institute of Gender and Women’s Studies, AUC, Tahrir Campus, Cairo, Egypt. December 4th, 2023

Balancing Architecture Works and Social Contributions

Panel Discussion: Discussant as part of Shigaru Ban lecture on Balancing Architecture Works and Social Contributions. The American University in Cairo, Egypt. November 20th, 2023

Urban Regeneration of Downtown Cairo: A Critical Perspective

Presentation: As part of a workshop on Resilient Urban Transformations in Downtown Cairo. Department of Architecture, Cairo University. November 15th – 22nd, 2023

Contested Spaces, Inclusive Space

Presentation and urban tours: As part of An Eye on Urban Sustainability. 6th edition of Tanween. Khobar, Saudi Arabia. November 4th, 2023

On Creative Industries in Egypt: An Overview

Presentation: As part of Creative Initiatives and Cultural Policies: Cairo Forum. The Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza, Egypt. November 2nd, 2023

Spaces of Informality

Presentation and walking tour: As part of Common Lab (C-LAB). D-CAF’s Cairo Module, CLUSTER and ALFABRIKA. Giza, Egypt. October 25th, 2023

Small-Scale Measures in Informal Areas

Presentation: As part of Webinar on Urban Cooling Solutions in the Mediterranean – Dialogue between the two shoresAgence de la Transition Ecologique (ADEME). Kit Technique Rafraichissement Urbain. October 10th, 2023

A Take on Egypt's Urban Development and New Cities

Podcast: As part of the Alternative Policy Solutions Research Project of the AUC. Cairo, Egypt. Posted: July, 2023

“Place-Making” as Spatial Activism? Tactical Interventions in Cairene Public Space

Presentation: As part of the CONNECTI:CITY 2023 Conference: The Future of Creative Economy: Creative Hubs as the Core of Community Resilience. Bandung, Indonesia. May 29th-31st, 2023

Urban Development and Open Cultural Spaces

Panel Discussion: As part of the European Egyptian Cultural Programme Showcasing Event: What Happened and What Comes Next? Goethe Institute, Dokki, Giza. May 27th, 2023

Limited Series: Art, Culture, and Public Space

Podcast: As part of the University of Central Florida Global Perspectives and International Initiatives. Recorded: March 22nd, 2023

Creative Solutions to Contested Public Space: Khoury Garden in Karachi

Workshop: Organized by Numaish, Karachi in partnership with CLUSTER, Cairo and THISS Studio, London, hosted by NED University. March 5th-12th, 2023

Art in Public Space

Panel Discussion: As part of Fenoon El Mahrousa Event supported by Nahdet El-Mahrousa. Tahrir Culture Center (Cairo), March 3rd 2023

Creative Economy in Egypt and Iraq

Panel Discussion: As part of UK Creative Economy Study Tour, London and Edinburgh, Feb 26th – Mar 4th 2023

Mapping, Networking and Knowledge Dissemination Platforms

Presentation: As part of the the Closing Event of the NACP Program. Tunis, Feb 24th 2023

Supporting Creative Talent: Priorities for an Egypt Creative Economy Programme

Round Table Discussion: As part of the British Council Creative Economy Program. Zamalek, Feb 1st 2023

2022

Engaging Informality: Critical Mapping and Tactical Interventions

Public Lecture: As part of the Research Method Class, the Architecture Department, the German University in Cairo. ALFABRIKA,  Ard al-Liwa, Nov 29th 2022

Creative Cities: Rethinking Creative Economy Inclusively

Conference: As part of the International Policy Forum on the Creative Industries, Zorlu Performing Arts Centre, Istanbul, Nov 24th 2022

Informality as Creativity: CLUSTER’s Engagement in Informal Economy and Creative Practices

Public Lecture: To Another Route Programme delegation as part of Downtown Contemporary Art Festival, D-CAF. ALFABRIKA, Ard al-Liwa. Oct 29th 2022

Critical Mapping and Urban Narratives: Towards a Social Atlas of Cairo

Seminar: As part of Building an International Network of Urban Social Atlases. École Française d’Athènes, Athens. Oct 13th-14th 2022

Formal and Informal Housing in Post-Socialist Era

Podcast: As part of Beyond Promise Exhibition. KV – Verein für zeitgenössische. Kunst, Leipzig. Sep 16th – Oct 14th 2022

Trans-making Research on Art and Public Space in Valencia

Presentation: As part of Trans-Making Dissemination Event: CultureCityChange, Workshops of Culture. Lublin, Poland. Sep 22nd-24th 2022

Creative Cities and the Formal-Informal Interface: ALFABRIKA Creative Lab & Makerspace

Presentation: As part of Trans-Making Dissemination Event: CultureCityChange, Workshops of Culture. Lublin, Poland. Sep 22nd-24th 2022

Stakeholders’ Engagement in City Making

Workshop: As part of Trans-Making Dissemination Event: CultureCityChange, Museum of Housing Estates. Lublin, Poland. Sep 22nd-24th 2022

Creative Cities- Rethinking Creative Economy Inclusively

Presentation: As part of Unboxed-Creativity in the UK: Art in the Public Realm International Delegation. United Kingdom. September 1st-7th 2022

Urban Signage

Workshop: A student workshop as part of Informality as Creativity in collaboration with AUC Professor Ahmad Saqfalhait and Graphic Designer Alaa El-Hadidy, and the support of the Dutch Embassy in Egypt. at ALFABRIKA, Ard al-Liwa, Giza. August 28th-September 2nd 2022

Urban Limitrophe: How CLUSTER is Bridging Western Urban Understanding from the Middle East to North Africa

Podcast: How CLUSTER is Bridging Western Urban Understanding from the Middle East to North Africa. As part of Urban Limitrophe podcast. Aug-21 2022

Caravan Residency Program Exhibition

Exhibition Opening: As part of Caravan Residency: Thinking with Alexandria. Cittadellarte, Biella. July 14th – 15th 2022

Mapping Workshop in Athens

Workshop: Mapping as a Critical Tool of Engagement. As part of ALEXANDRIA: (Re)activating Common Urban Imaginaries. School of Sonic Memory, Public Assembly. Onassis Foundation, Athens. June-18  2022

Bauhaus: Tactical Urbanism Seminar

Online Lecture: Tactical Engagement of Public Space: Examples from Downtown and Informal Areas in Cairo. As part of Tactical Urbanism Seminar, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar Guest Lectures. June-8 2022

Mentorship Residency Program in Amman

Workshop: Mentorship Residency Program. As part of the Youth-Led Initiatives, All-Around Culture, Amman. June 4th – 8th 2022

Urban Tour for The Urban School of Sciences Po in Paris

Presentation and Urban Tour: The Urban School of Sciences Po in Paris as part of their study trip to Egypt. May-30 2022

What if Cities Lead Egypt's Green Transition?

Roundtable Discussion: As part of Exploring Avenues to Regenerative Real Estate in Egypt. AUC Tahrir Campus. May 23rd 2022

AAST Library Talks: Engaging Informality

Online Follow-up Discussion: Engaging Informality: Critical Mapping and Tactical Urbanism. As part of AAST Library Talks, lecture by Omar Nagati and moderated by Dr. Ramy Bakir.  May-12 2022

AAST Library Talks: Debating Informality

Online Lecture: Debating Informality: Engaging Cities from the Bottom Up. As part of AAST Library Talks, lecture by Omar Nagati and moderated by Dr. Ramy Bakir.  Apr-9 2022

CARAVAN Residency Program: Thinking with Alexandria

Workshop: As part of a two-week Alexandria workshop as part of the “Caravan Residency Program: Thinking with Alexandria” in partnership with Cittadellarte and UNIDEE Residency Programs. Mar 20-Apr 3, 2022

Research Methodology Lecture - German University in Cairo

Lecture: As part of Research Methodology Elective Course for 10th semester students at the German University in Cairo, course taught by Hisham Gabr, 5th of March 2022

Cultural Heritage in Development Field Workshop

Workshop: As part of Z-Shapers program as part of Global Shapers Community. Hosted in Startup Haus Cairo, 5th of March 2022

Bassem Yousri's Exhibition Panel

PANEL DISCUSSION : Guideposts, a solo exhibition by Bassem Yousri, Hosted at Medrar, 1st of March 2022

UN-Habitat Roundtable Discussion on Bikeways

Experts Roundtable: Bikeways and Bike Share Systems in Cairo, Advancing Culture and Infrastructure ahead of COP27. Hosted at Consoleya, Abdeen, Downtown Cairo, 1st of March 2022

Biella Workshop - Caravan Residency Program

Workshop: As part of Caravan Residency Program: Thinking with Alexandria. Hosted at Cittadellarte, Biella, February 20th – 22nd 2022

Mansoura Cosmopolitan Heritage Exhibition - Opening Event

Opening Event: Mansoura Cosmopolitan Heritage Exhibition. Hosted at Andrea Cafe, February 11th 2022

2021

“The 5th Place” - Roundtable Discussion

Roundtable Discussion (online): As part of New European Bauhaus: beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive. Goethe Institut, December 22nd 2021

PILOT Training

Workshop (online): As part of Public Inter-Library Online Technology (PILOT). In collaboration with Think Tanger and the support of AFAC. Tangier, December 15th 2021

Urban Shutters and Urban Green

Workshop: As part of Informality as Creativity in collaboration with local artists and community groups in Ard al-Liwa and the support of the Dutch Embassy in Egypt. ALFABRIKA, Mohammad Ali Alasari Street, Ard al-Liwa, Giza. December 11th-12th and 17th-18th 2021

Towards Alternative Urban Narratives

Workshop: Paris, Miroiterie – 110 Bd Paul Vaillant Couturier, 94200 Ivry-sur-Seine. As part of A Forum in the Making. Paris, Cité internationale des arts, December 1st-4th 2021

Art and Urban Practices in the Age of Neoliberalism

Workshop (online): As part of Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon (CAUL). In collaboration with Think Tanger and the support of AFAC Tangier (online) November 24th-25th 2021

Street Vendors Initiative and the Contestation of Public Space

Lecture (online): As part of a workshop Informal Street Markets in Egypt – Practice-oriented Approach, TU Berlin Habitat Unit, November 11th 2021

Data Visualization, Technology and Environmental Systems

Roundtable Discussion (online): As part of the Design Development & Research Lab (DDRL). Kuwait University, College of Architecture, November 10th 2021

Mapping Urban Informality in Tangier

Panel Discussion and launch of urban tours and publication Mapping Urban Informality in Tangier: Four Itineraries across the Formal-Informal Interface in collaboration with Think Tanger and the support of AFAC. Tangier, Atelier Kissaria, November 6th 2021

Grounded Urban Practices in Berlin

Book Launch:  Grounded Urban Practices in Berlin in collaboration with Non-Fiction, Amsterdam and ZK/U, Berlin. Berlin, Haus der Statistik, October 7th 2021

Art in Public Space as an Urban Catalyst

Roundtable Discussion: As part of Some Call Us Balkan (SCUB) workshop. Berlin, ZK/U October 6th , 2021

Critical Mapping and Urban Narratives: Towards Grounded Urban Practices

Lecture (online): Centre for Urban and Built Ecologies, London Metropolitan University, October 6th 2021

Critical Mapping and Urban Narratives: Towards Grounded Urban Practices

Lecture (online): Umeå School of Architecture,  Umeå University, October 4th 2021

Fresh Perspectives: How to Best Connect Imaginative Power in a (Post) COVID World?

Roundtable Discussion (online): As part of Fresh Perspectives conversations in collaboration with African Crossroads and its partner the Creative Industries Fund Netherlands. Session #1 on August 3th and session #2 on September 13th 2021

The Relationship Between the Informal Economy and the Cultural Economy in the Global South

Launching event: As part of the UN International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development and in partnership with the PEC International Council, July 14th 2021.

Mapping Urban Informality in Tangier

Workshop: In partnership with Think Tangier, held at Atelier Kissaria, Tangier. As part of CLUSTER’s Mapping, Networking and Knowledge Dissemination Platforms: North African Horizon, supported by AFAC: North African Cultural Program (NACP), July 2nd-4th 2021.

Mapping Toolkit: CLUSTER Grounded Urban Practices

Keynote address: As part of Horizon 2020 ReROOT: Arrival Infrastructures as Sites of Integration for Recent Newcomers. July 1st 2021

Mapping Urban Heritage in Tunis

Panel discussion: In partnership with Atelier SCAR, at  Dar Ben Gacem, Tunis. As part of CLUSTER’s Mapping, Networking and Knowledge Dissemination Platforms: North African Horizon, supported by AFAC: North African Cultural Program (NACP), June 26th 2021.

Formal-Informal Interface: Comparative Analysis in Three Egyptian Cities and Four African Cities

Online Workshop: AURI Workshop Series, Workshop 3: Comparative and Collaborative Research, African Center for Cities, March 25th, 2021.

Creative Initiatives and the Formal-Informal Interface

Online Lecture: International Summer School, Wits School of Arts Cultural Policy & Management, Johannesburg, and Peking University’s Institute of Cultural Industries, March 1st-4th, 2021.

2020

Downtown Heritage and Urban Regeneration: History and Prospects

Public Lecture: Cleopatra Group, The Swedish Embassy in Cairo, Oct 21st 2020

The Future of Grounded Urban Practices in Berlin

Online Workshop: Grounded Urban Practices in BerlinZK/U, 17 September 2020

Creative Cities? Rethinking Creative Economy Inclusively

Online Presentation: Policy & Evidence Centre (PEC), International Council meeting, August 20th 2020

Rabbat Building Regeneration Project Downtown Cairo: Process and Lessons Learned

Online Lecture: The Danish Egyptian Dialogue Institute, July 28th 2020

Formal and informal urban interfaces in African Cities: a comparative urban analysis

10th semester urban design studio led by Prof. Holger Gladys, the German University in Cairo, Feb 27, 2020

Localizing SDGs within the formal and informal urban interface: Cases of Cairo and Dar es Salaam

Workshop: As part of Localizing SDGs within the formal and informal urban interface, Dar es Salaam, Feb 17-20, 2020

Engaging Informality in the Cairene Public Space: Critical Mapping and Tactical Interventions

Panel: Hacking Urban Furniture, book launch, ZK/U, Berlin, Jan 23, 2020

2019

Engaging Informality: Critical Mapping and Tactical Interventions

Workshop: Ard al-Liwa Urban Design Workshop, French University in Egypt, Dec 14- 20, 2019

Formal-Informal Interface: Towards a Cross-Country Comparative Methodological Framework and Co-Production of Knowledge in four cities: Cairo, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka and Ouagadougou

Workshop: As part of African Urban Research Initiative (AURI): Fostering a Comparative Research Agenda in African Cities. Cairo, Dec 6-8, 2019

Critical Mapping and Tactical Interventions: Engaging cities in the Global South in times of flux

Lecture: As part of Green Mobilisations in the cities of Central Asia and South (GreeMo), Tbilisi State University, Nov 28th- Dec 1st, 2019

Grounded Urban Practices: African Horizon

Panel Discussion: As part of African Crossroads 2019: Sense the City, Mombasa, Kenya, Nov 20-23, 2019

Making Sense of the City: Critical Engagement and Creative Interventions

Panel Discussion: As part of African Crossroads 2019: Sense the City, Mombasa, Kenya, Nov 20-23, 2019

Alexandria Urban Heritage: Mapping, Curation and Visualization

Panel discussion: As part of the launching event of Alexandria Walking Tours Guidebook, SHELTER Art Space, Alexandria, Nov 16th, 2019

Formal-Informal Interface in Three Egyptian Cities

Panel discussion: As part of Cities Panel: Working Across Boundaries in Lusaka, Cairo, Kumasi and Ouagadougou – Multilevel Governance and Informality, in the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, UCLG World Congress, Durban, Nov 11th-15th, 2019

Learning from Cairo: A Moroccan Perspective: Towards a Regional Framework for Grounded Urban Practice

Lecture: As part of Learning from Cairo: A Moroccan Perspective, Think Tanger, Atelier Kissaria, Redzone Festival, October 4, 2019

PILOT library platform Training

Workshop: As part of Learning from Cairo: A Moroccan Perspective, Think Tangier, Atelier Kissaria, Tangier, Oct 4th, 2019

Critical Mapping and Tactical Interventions: Towards a Regional Framework for Grounded Urban Practice

Workshop: As part of Learning from Cairo: A Moroccan Perspective, Think Tangier, Atelier Kissaria, Tangier, Oct 4th, 2019

Methods tools and pedagogical Politics

Lecture: RealCityLab: Practice Orientation in Architectural Education. Closing Symposium, Cairo, DAAD, October 1st, 2019

Grounded Urban Practices (GUPs)

Workshop: GUPs: African Horizons, Dar Ben Gacem, Tunis, September 20-22 , 2019

Towards a Regional Framework for Grounded Urban Practice

Lecture: National School of Architecture and Urbanism, Tunis, Sep 18th, 2019

PILOT library platform Training Tunis

Workshop: As part of Public Inter-Library Online Technology project (PILOT), first training workshop, Kamel Lazaar Foundation, B7L9, Tunis, September 14, 2019

Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon (CAUL)

Workshop: Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon (CAUL), Kamel Lazaar Foundation, Dar Lasram, Tunis,September 14, 2019

A Tale of Three Cities: Cairo’s Contested Grounds and Negotiated Design Inclusions

Lecture: Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism I, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Seoul, South Korea, September 5, 2019

Engaging Spatial Practices in Cairo Public Space

Roundtable Discussion: Trans-making Forum on Emotional Materialism, Ljubljana ,Slovenia, August  29-30, 2019

Grounded Urban Practice Re-framing Urban Activism in Times of Transition

Workshop: Urban Activism in the Arab regions, Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, July 3-4, 2019

Who’s Downtown: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Dynamics Cairo

Workshop: EUF workshop “old vs. New – The changing Role of Downtown in Egypt” , Egypt, July 2, 2019

Space syntax workshop

Workshop: Cairo, Egypt, July 1-3, 2019

The Art of Making: Design, Fabrication, Assemble and learn Workshop

Workshop: As part of CLUSTER Makes series, first workshop at ALFABRIKA , Cairo, Egypt, June 25, 2019

RealCityLab: Social infrastructures and the role of architecture

Workshop: RealCityLab, Fifth Coordination Meeting, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin, Berlin, Germany, June 24-29, 2019

Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon translation workshop in Beirut

Workshop: Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon, Beirut, Lebanon, June 22, 2019

CS. PRAXIS: Gathering 01

Workshop: Cape Town, South Africa, June 5-7, 2019

Formal-informal spectrum in Cairo transportation network: A comparative framework

Formal-Informal Interface Workshop: Towards a cross-country comparative methodological framework and co-production of urban knowledge, Center for Urban Research and Planning (CURP) University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia, May 11–15, 2019

Grounded Urban Practices: A study on GUPs in Cairo, Egypt and Amsterdam/Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Workshop: Grounded Urban Practices, Phase 2, Cairo, Egypt, Apr 12–14, 2019

Localizing the SDGs within the formal and informal interface of African cities

Workshop: Meaning-Making Research Initiative (MRI), Methodology and Scholarly Writing Workshop, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, April 1-5, 2019

Critical Mapping and Tactical Interventions

Lecture: MIT, Massachusetts, USA, April 1, 2019

Africa Development: Urbanization and the Future African Cities

Conference: Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA, Mar 30, 2019

From Passageways to Stairways: CLUSTER Mapping Initiative in Cairo and Amman

Greater Municipality of Amman (GAM), Amman, Jordan, Mar 25, 2019

Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon translation workshop in Cairo

Workshop: Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon, Cairo, Egypt, Mar 23, 2019

Creative Cities: Towards a Creative Economy Framework

Meeting: Eunic, Greek Campus, Cairo, Egypt, Mar 21, 2019

RealCityLab: Practice-orientation in architectural Education

Workshop: RealCityLab, Fourth Coordination Meeting, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Mar 3-4, 2019

A Tale of Three Cities: Cairo’s Contested Grounds and Negotiated Design Inclusions

Workshop: Grounded Urban Practices, Phase 2: Amsterdam Encounter, Cairo, Egypt, Mar 1, 2019

Art and Culture as Urban Catalysts: CLUSTER mapping and design projects 2013-18

Talk: Film My Design, Zawya Cinema, Cairo, Egypt, Feb 15-16, 2019

2018

Engaging Informality form Local to Regional: CLUSTER’s Research and Design Projects 2013-18

Lecture: Urban challenges and opportunities in MENA/Arab Region: From SDGs to Urban Practice, Urban Thinkers Campus, El Gouna, Egypt, Dec 8-10, 2018

Economic Impact of Creative Initiatives on Downtown

Workshop (a presentation and training on the toolkit): Economic Impact of Creative initiatives on Downtown, British Council, Cairo, Egypt, Dec 8, 2018

A Tale of Three Cities: Cairo’s Contested Grounds and Negotiated Design Inclusions

Talk: Urban Age Conference: Developing Urban Futures, Addis Ababa, Nov 29th-30th, 2018

Critical Mapping and Tactical Interventions: CLUSTER Mapping Initiative in Amman

Talk: As part of Contemporary Amman and the Right to the City, Amman, Jordan, Nov 3-5, 2018

Public Participation in Inclusive City Planning; and Access to Information (Moderating)

Workshop: As part of Toolkit for Urban Inclusion in Arab Cities, organized by UNSECO, with the Coalition of Arab Cities against Racism, Discrimination, Xenophobia and Intolerance, Cairo, Egypt, Oct 29-Nov 1, 2018

CLUSTER Mapping Initiatives

Lecture: As part of Public in the Making, Istanbul, Turkey, Oct 18-20, 2018

Formal-Informal Interface: Comparative Analysis in Three Egyptian Cities

Lecture: As part of AURI-African Urban Research Institute, Fostering A comparative Research Agenda in African Cities. Formal-Informal Interface Workshop, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Oct 3-5, 2018

Public Space between Contestation and Inclusion: Action Research from Pilot Interventions to Policy Recommendations

Regional Workshop: On Participatory Research and Advocacy on Urban Inclusion, UNESCO, Beirut, Lebanon, Aug 28-29, 2018

Towards an Alternative Mode of Urban Practice: Examples of CLUSTER’s Projects, 2012-2017

Lecture: As part of the Scientific Day, Architecture Department, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt, April 30, 2018

Mapping Informal Practice: Decoding the Informal Structures, Re-framing Architectural Practice – Four CLUSTER Research Projects, 2012-2018

Lecture: As part of Spatial Practice & Development course, M.Arch Programme, SSOA, Sheffield University, Sheffield, UK, March 19, 2018

Participatory Approach to Urban Heritage: Examples of CLUSTER’s projects Downtown

Lecture: As part of HUD 614, Participation in Urban Development, Joint M.Arch Program, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, March 12, 2018

Art as a Catalyst for Urban Development

Panel Discussion: As part of Trans-making Spring Academy – Enacting cultural democracy: the location of narratives, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain, March 6, 2018

Creative Initiatives as Urban Catalyst: Mapping, Programs and Design Visions for Downtown Cairo

Public Lecture: As part of Ataba Market: Sustainable Historic Market in Cairo, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, Feb 18, 2018

Formal-Informal Interface: Comparative Analysis in Three Egyptian Cities

Lecture: As part of AURI-African Urban Research Institute, Fostering A comparative Research Agenda in African Cities. 2018 AURI Policy Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, Jan 30, 2018

2017

Creative initiatives as a catalyst for urban regeneration: Example of CLUSTER’s adaptive reuse projects

Lecture: As part of the RealCityLab Workshop 3: Alda(her)itage: Old buildings, new functions,  Faculty of Fine Arts, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt, Nov 5, 2017

Engaging Public Space in Times of Transformation: Mapping Tools and Tactical Interventions

Lecture: As part of lecture series at the Friends of Historical & Public Gardens Society, Bayt Yakan, Al-Darb al-Ahmar, Cairo, Egypt, Nov 1, 2017

Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon translation workshop

Workshop: Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon, Beirut, Lebanon, Oct 28, 2017

Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon translation workshop

Workshop: Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon, Amman, Jordan, Oct 14, 2017

From Passageways to Stairways: CLUSTER Mapping Initiative in Cairo and Amman

Engaging Public Space in Times of Transformation: Mapping Tools and Tactical Interventions

Lecture: As Part of a workshop on Revitalization of Lala Studio Surroundings, LALA STUDIO, Cairo, Egypt, Sep 14, 2017

Alda(her)itage: An Urban Perspective, Workshop 2, Feb 16–May 3, 2016

Workshop: As Part of RealCityLab coordination meeting, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Sep 5, 2017

Engaging Public Space in Times of Transformation: Mapping Tools and Tactical Interventions

Lecture: LIRA TD training workshop, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Aug 27-31, 2017

Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon translation workshop

Workshop: Critical Arabic Urban Lexicon, Amman, Jordan, July 22, 2017

Downtown Cairo Tangible Heritage: Critical Mapping and Creative Interventions, 2011-2016

Critical Discussion of CLUSTER’s Experience in Urban Regeneration

Lecture: On Placemaking Seminar, Cairo Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Cairo, Egypt, May 3, 2017

Alternative Approaches to the Rehabilitation of Downtown: Examples of CLUSTER’s Projects 2012-2016

Urban Regeneration Course, Double Master Degree in Urban Design, The Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, April 11, 2017

Mapping Tools and Community-led Interventions: Two Cluster Projects, Downtown Cairo, 2011-2016

Workshop/Lecture: Re-appropriating the Postindustrial Landscape through Community-led Development, as part of MA in Urban Design (MAUD), Spring 2017, School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, (SSoA), Sheffield, UK, March 28-31, 2017

Engaging Public Space in Times of Transformations: Mapping Tools and Tactical Interventions

Downtown Cairo Tangible Heritage: Critical Mapping and Creative Interventions, 2011-2016

Lecture: Sustainability Built Heritage Conference, Luxor, Egypt, February 23-25, 2017

X-Talk #27: Critical Mapping and Creative Interventions: Learning from Downtown Cairo

2016

Cairo Downtown Passageways Signage Workshop

Workshop: CLUSTER, Cairo, Egypt, December 14-17, 2016

Translation Workshop: Towards a Critical Urban Lexicon

Workshop: Hill House, The American University in Cairo – Main Campus, Egypt, December 10, 2016

Cairo Public Space: Contested Claims, Negotiated Interventions: CLUSTER’s Urban Experience in Research and Practice, 2011-2016

Public Lecture: Public Lectures Series, School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, November 30, 2016

Mapping as Critical Engagement of the Urban Landscape: Examples of CLUSTER’s Research Projects in Cairo, 2011-2016

Lecture: As part of MAAD Program, School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, November 30, 2016

Cairo Downtown Passageways Project: A framework for research and design interventions, 2011-2016

Lecture: As part of MAUD Studio, School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, November 29, 2016

Competing Interests, Negotiated Interventions: Cairo’s contested public space in a time of transition

Symposium: Art, Politics and Cities in Transitions, Co-organized by CLUSTER and SUNY Purchase College, Center for Architecture, New York, USA, October 21-22, 2016

Transforming postgraduate education and approaches to capacity building

International Workshop: As part of Habitat III, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, October 19, 2016

The NUA in the Global South: Engaging Research in Policy Making

Plenary Session: As part of Habitat III, Quito, Ecuador, October 18, 2016

Round Table: Under the Tree: Taxonomy, Empire and Reclaiming the Commons

CLUSTER’s Urban Experience in Research and Practice

Workshop: RealCityLab: Practice Orientation in Architecture Education, Habitat Unit, TU Berlin, Germany, July 19-20, 2016

STARS: Leaders of the New Generation

Workshop: Stein am Rhein symposium 2016, Stein am Rhein, Switzerland, September 24-27, 2016

Cairo Public Space: Contested Claims, Negotiated Approaches

Workshop: UN-Habitat Expert Group Meeting on Public Space in the Arab Region, UN-Habitat, Cairo, Egypt, September 21-22, 2016

Whose Street and on Whose Terms: Revisiting Urban Informality in Cairo Public Space, 2011-2015

A Dialogue about Arab Cities through Literature, Architecture, and Urbanism

Cairo contested public space – Mapping as a framework for critical engagement

Mapping Downtown Cairo: Public Space as a Stage for Negotiation and Choreography

Lecture: D-CAF 2016 – Urban Heat, Cairo City Lab, April 16, 2016

Engaging Public Space in a Time of Political and Urban Transformation: Examples from CLUSTER’s Design and Research Projects (2012-2015)

Lecture: Megawra and Al Azhar Lecture Series, Department of Urban Planning at Al Azhar University, April 13, 2016

Informality and Urban Land

Chairing Two Sessions: Policy Conference, African Urban Research Initiative, Johannesburg, April 05-06, 2016

Conceptions of Space: Curating Art, Architecture and the City, by Pedro Gadanho

Lecture: Moderating the Art Talks, D-CAF, April 03, 2016

Toward Developing a Critical Urban Lexicon: Cairo Urban Resource Library and the Challenge of Translation and Terminology

Lecture: Center for Translation Studies, AUC, March 22, 2016

Downtown Public Space and Creative Initiatives

Workshop: Needs Assessment Workshop, Swedish Institute, Alexandria, March 17, 2016

Between Corporate Urban Vision and Professional Practice: Drawing on the Design Experience Working with SODIC, 2009 – 2010

Workshop: Desert Cities/New Cities. ETHZ – ONA, March 15, 2016

Engaging Public Space in a Time of Political and Urban Transformation: Examples from CLUSTER’s Design and Research Projects (2012 – 2015)

Lecture: Architecture Department, University of Mansoura, March 6, 2016

Art as a mode of urban engagement: Critical mapping and strategic interventions

Conference: Beyond Green: The Arts as a Catalyst for Sustainability. Salzburg Global Seminar, February 19 -24, 2016

2015

Spaces of Urban Change

International lecture: Sheffield School of Architecture, November 18, 2015

Public Space as a Site of Contestation and Negotiation: Examples of CLUSTER’s projects in Cairo, 2012 – 2015

Conference: Shifting Cities Conference, Rutgers University, November 12 – 14, 2015

رصد لأنساق عمرانية غير رسمية في زمن التحول: أمثلة من مشروعات توثيق وتصميم لمختبر عمران القاهرة (كلاستر) ٢٠١٢-٢٠١٥

كلية التخطيط العمراني – جامعة القاهرة، نوفمبر ٨، ٢٠١٥

CLUSTER Mapping Initiative, Cairo Downtown Passageways

Conference: Creative Cities: Re-framing Downtown, Oct 31 – Nov 1, 2015

Cairo Downtown Passages: A framework for revitalization and development

Lecture: Historic Districts for Tomorrow, Cairo University, Department of Architecture, October 25, 2015

Mapping Downtown and Beyond

Workshop: Neighborhood Initiative, AUC, Cairo, October 9, 2015

Engaging the City and Public Space in a Time of Transition: Examples of CLUSTER’s Projects, 2012 – 2015

Middle East Studies Center, AUC, Cairo, October 7, 2015

Think Global Build Social! Architecture Engages in Social Change

Alternative modes of urban governmentality in post-revolution Cairo: Examples of CLUSTER’s projects 2012-2015

Cairo Downtown Passages: A Framework for Revitalization and Development

Conference: Urban Futures 2030: Middle East and North Africa, Columbia University Middle East Research Center, Amman, Jordan, August 23, 2015

On Mapping Cultural Initiatives and the Revolution

Workshop: Towards a Cultural Cartography, Ain Sukhna, Egypt, July 30 – August 2, 2015

Informality and Urban Governance: Towards New Modes of Practice in Post-Revolution Cairo

Cairo Downtown Passages and Rooftops: a Framework for Revitalization and Development

Presentation: General Meeting, Women’s Association, Zamalek, April 22, 2015

الباعة الجائلين وقضية النزاع على الفراغ العام

توثيق وتحليل لانساق غير رسمية في وسط المدينة – المنتدى العمراني القومي – ١٦ يونيو ٢٠١٥

Cairo Downtown Passages and Rooftops: a Framework for Revitalization and Development

Conference: People’s Meeting, Bornhom, Denmark, June 13, 2015

Mapping Informality

Presentation: Towards an [in]formal Pattern Language, The American University in Cairo (AUC), June 3, 2015

Cluster-ETH Workshop at Ard al-Liwa

Cairo Downtown Passages and Rooftops: a Framework for Revitalization and Development

Workshop: Citizens for Heritage and Culture; Swedish Institute, Alexandria, April 15, 2015

Learning from Informality: Public Space in Post-Revolution Cairo

Between Corporate Urban Vision and Professional Practice: Drawing on the Design Experience Working with SODIC, 2009 – 2010

Workshop: Desert Cities; Zurich, March 23 – 26, 2015

2014

End of Semester Review of Student Work for The Urban Design Studio

Review: Resistance|Relevance|Resilience; Zurich, December 12, 2014

Blurring Boundaries, Reconstituting Borders: Examples From Cairo Public Space Since 2011

Introduction to Cluster: Organizational, Structural and Current Projects in Downtown

Workshop: The Imaginary School Program, organized by Beirut; Cluster, Cairo, October 19 – 27, 2014

Engaging Public Space in Time of Political and Urban Transformation

Workshop: Resistance|Relevance|Resilience; Cairo, October 16 – 25, 2014

Thoughts Meet Space Cairo

Symposium: Change of Scene; Berlin, October 9 – 10, 2014

Archiving Shifting Urban Landscape in Cairo since January 2011

In Next City Booth, April 11thWorld Urban Forum 7; Medellin, Colombia, April 3 – 11, 2014

Learning from informality in time of political transformations: Examples from Cairo since January 2011

As part of conference Thinking Across Boundaries: Re-imagining planning in the urban global south, The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL; London, July 2 – 4, 2014

Changing cities, emerging urban practices and the rise of planning-as-activism

وصلات حضرية ومعابر للمشاة بأرض اللواء

ضمن ورشة العمل “مبادرات التنمية العمرانية فى محافظة الجيزة الافاق والتحديات.” المركز القومى لبحوث الاسكان والبناء يوم 12 يونية 2014

Mapping Shifting Urban Landscape in Cairo since January 2011

Street Vendors Initiatives: Contesting and Negotiating Public Space in Cairo

In City Changer Room, UN-Habitat. April 9thWorld Urban Forum 7; Medellin, Colombia, April 3 – 11, 2014

Ard al-Liwa Community Park: New modes of partnership for the development in informal areas

Lunch-break debate -Egyptian Booth, April 8thWorld Urban Forum 7Medellin, Colombia, April 3 – 11, 2014

Pop-up Spaces and Store Fronts

How-To” Public lectures, organized by Townhouse Gallery; Cairo, March 19 – 24, 2014

Urban and Territorial Development in the Mediterranean Area

2013

Katastrophen 11/15: Ideal Paradise. Research-Workshop

Tanzquartier, Vienna, Dec 16 – 20, 2013

On Aesthetics And Agendas – Cultural Politics in Times of Transition

مشروع إعادة تأهيل وصلات المدينة بحوافها الغير رسمية – منطقة أرض اللواء

نحو مشروعات فعالة لتطوير المناطق العشوائية. مبنى قسم الهندسة المعمارية، كلية الهندسة، جامعة القاهرة، 14 نوفمبر 2013

Towards New Modes of Partnership: Examples of Urban Upgrading from Ard al- Liwa and Downtown Cairo

Cairo: Images of transition

Book launch and discussion; Townhouse Rawabet, Cairo, October 23, 2013

Who Rules The Street In Cairo? The Residents Who Build It

‘Cultural Innovators Lab’ Cultural Leadership and Innovation Programme

British Council, Cairo, March 28 – 30, 2013

Innovators Studio

Marseille; June 19 – 20, 2013

Downtown Today: Contested Public Space in Context of Cairo’s Urban Revolution

Awash in a Sea of Informality: Revisiting Informal Practices in the Context of Cairo Urban Revolution

Whose Standards? Contesting the Normative, Engaging the Margin

The German University in Cairo, March 17, 2013

D.I.Y. Urbanism and Cairo’s Public Space Revolution

Towards New modes of Participatory Design: Examples from CLUSTER’s Experience

In Tajarub fi al-­tasmim al-­tasharuki; Cairo, Supreme Council of Culture, Jan 9, 2013

2012

Archiving the City in Flux: Cairo’s Evolving Urbanism Post-¬Revolution

(Omar Nagati and Beth Stryker). Revolts and Transitions in the Arab World: Towards a New Urban Agenda? International Colloquium, CEDEJ: Cairo, November 7 – 9, 2012

When Revolution meets Design Studio: Cairo University Architecture Graduation Project 2011

(Omar Nagati and Nabil Elhady). Revolts and Transitions in the Arab World: Towards a New Urban Agenda? International Colloquium, CEDEJ: Cairo November 7 – 9, 2012

Minding the Formal - Informal Gap: the Battle of Ard Al - Liwa Park Project

(Omar Nagati with local community activist, Hanaa Gad)Revolts and Transitions in the Arab World: Towards a New Urban Agenda? International Colloquium, CEDEJ: Cairo, November 7 – 9, 2012

Urban Informality in Cairo: Challenges and Opportunities

Inside the City of the Dead; International Workshop: October 20 – 28, November 2 – 10, 2012

The Battle of Identity and Public Space in “Post-¬Revolution” Egypt

Modernity, Architecture and Urban Life in the Arab Region. Ramallah & Amman, Nov 4, 7, 2012

Mapping informality of post - revolution Cairo: Examples of current documentation and mapping research projects

The Heuristics of Mapping Urban Environmental Change:  Exploring The Political Agency of Mapping and Maps. Seminar at Development Planning Unit, UCL: London, September 20 – 21, 2012

Who Shapes Our Cities: Urban Egypt between Grassroots Initiatives and State Control

Omar Nagati in a joint panel discussion with Kareem Ibrahim, May al-­‐Ibrashy and Khaled Abdelhalim. World Urban Forum. Napoli, September 3 -­ 6, 2012

Open Street Mapping Workshop in Ard al-Liwa

Sep 11 – 27, 2012

Basurma

Design/build workshop on intervention in public space using recyclable material. Organized by Basurama and Elnamla, June – July, 2012

Informal Urban Practices since January 2011

As part of Mapping the Informal. Megawra workshop, Heliopolis, Cairo, May 20, 2012

The Role of Art and Architecture in Cairo’s Emerging Pubic Space

As part of ‘Visiting’ collaborative residency between six artists from Rijksakademie in the Netherlands and six artists from Cairo Townhouse Gallery from May 14 – 28, 2012

A City in Flux: New modes of urban intervention in Cairo since January 2011

Future Observatory Symposium, organized by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon on May 12, 2012

A City in Flux: New modes of urban intervention in Cairo since January 2011

An Urban Revolution? Roots, Manifestations and Ramifications

Talk to Arab Artists in Residence Program: Art Elliwa, Giza, April 2012

Mamarrat Wasat al-Balad: Downtown in-between spaces as a framework for development

Presentation in Downtown Cairo: Sharing competence about documenting and communicating heritage, workshop 24 ‐ 25 March 2012 at the German University of Cairo in collaboration with DOCOMOMO Egypt

The City and the Public

Public lecture at Megawra Architectural Hub, Heliopolis, Cairo, March 5, 2012

Cairo Dialogues: Roundtable Discussion for Critical Urban and Architectural Discourse

(This is intended the first of a series of ongoing sessions addressing architectural and urban issues in Cairo, jointly moderated by Omar Nagati and Mohamed ElShahed, Cairo Observer), CLUSTER premises, February 26, 2012

Informalization as an urban revolt: Reclaiming space, reproducing “order”

Paper presented at conference organized by the Postcolonial Studies Association: Re-­evaluating the Postcolonial City: Production, Reconstruction, Representation, University of Leeds: February 2 – 3, 2012