World Lighthouse - A Dramaturgy School

WORLD LIGHTHOUSE

Architects: SML architects

Project area: ~600²

Project year: 2024

Location: St. Mark Cathedral, Abbassia, Cairo

Photos credit: Andrew A. Shenouda | @andrew_shenouda

The project occupies the former oldest printing press of the Coptic church, deeply rooted in the memory of every visitor of St Mark cathedral, a space where long ago Copts had celebrated the first prints of the well know «Keraza» magazine and many more prints, a space which was abandoned for many years. Now its doors open again the passersby must recognize the space in its new program: a theatre and a dramaturgy school, a place to celebrate the youth and their theatrical & religious creations. We comprehensively perceive the building as a point denoting a place of meeting, a place of socialization, a place of home, or a place for the community. An illuminated light signals alternative cultural & religious activity A space where bold drama, music and performance happens. a place of cultural freedom that holds its own on the religious cultural scene. where a demanding and diversified program, not only for the small circle of the informed religious public but also oriented towards everyone who might see it`s "light". The interiors of the lighthouse were inspired from its bold soul. It adopts the radiant and bold blue color to attract the passersby`s attention and in a way that everyone entering is attracted to look up or around, see people and say hello. Thus, the foyer becomes somehow a domestic place, where relations and exchanges can happen unexpectedly, surprisingly in its many turns, corners and benches... The real theatrical activity is not just happening at the exhibition space but expanded to the building as a whole.

With the strategy of adaptive reuse, we transformed an abandoned old printing press building in a theater and a dramaturgy school “the lighthouse”.An illuminated light signals alternative cultural & religious activity A space where bold drama, music and performance happens. a place of cultural freedom that holds its own on the religious cultural scene.

The foyer space of a theatre and a dramaturgy school | The interiors of the space were inspired from its bold soul. It adopts the radiant and bold blue color to attract the passersby`s attention and in a way that everyone entering is attracted to look up or around, see people and say hello.

We opened the staircase area to the sky in the design of the new “lighthouse” building, enhancing interior lighting and creating a striking contrast with its surroundings, showcasing its illumination.