Interactive Cultural Center "ALFARAFRUNI" part 2

ALFARAFRUNI

INTERACTIVE CULTURAL CENTER IN FARAFRA OASIS

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SARWA RESTAURANT

GRADUATION PROJECT PART (2)

Check Part (1) Here for the full presentation + interactive museum design

Location | Farafra Oasis, New Valley Governorate, Egypt

Project Type | Interactive Cultural Center -- (Restaurant)

Software Used | AutoCAD, Autodesk 3ds max, V-ray, Photoshop

Bachelor's Graduation project 2024-2025

Helwan University - Faculty of Applied Arts - Interior Design & Furniture Department

Design Concept:

The Interactive Cultural Center is conceived as an architectural extension of Farafra’s land, culture, and collective memory. Rooted in the use of mudbrick and locally sourced natural materials, the design reflects the environmental wisdom of traditional oasis architecture while reinterpreting it through a contemporary, interactive lens.

The building emerges from the desert as a solid yet breathable form, its thick mudbrick walls providing thermal comfort and visual continuity with Farafra’s vernacular fabric. Natural materials such as palm wood, stone, sand finishes, and earth plasters are integrated to reinforce sustainability, reduce environmental impact, and create a tactile connection between visitors and place.

Spatially, the center is organized as a sequence of experiences rather than a single static structure. Each space responds to a specific narrative—desert formation, cultural heritage, agriculture, and community life—allowing architecture to act as a storyteller. Light, shadow, texture, and water are used as design tools to evoke the rhythms of oasis life and the transformation of the desert across time.

Open courtyards, shaded passages, and transitional thresholds blur the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces, echoing traditional Farafra dwellings and fostering social interaction. The use of Farafra-inspired colors, Bedouin patterns, and handcrafted details ensures that cultural identity is embedded within the architectural language.

Ultimately, the center is designed as a living cultural platform—one that preserves heritage, supports local livelihoods, educates visitors, and promotes sustainable tourism—while remaining deeply grounded in the material, climatic, and cultural context of Farafra Oasis.​​​​​​​

PLAN

SEC (A-A)

Concept: Sarwa Restaurant draws its design from the famous Ain El-Serw, adopting a circular form and fluid lines that echo the natural formation of the spring. It offers a unique architectural experience that blends visual symbolism with function, reflecting the spirit of the oasis and providing visitors with an authentic atmosphere inspired by the local environment.

Restaurant Bar

Wall design inspired by circular outlines of Ain El-serw.

Fabric ceiling design.

Sarwa Restaurant serves as a culinary landmark that celebrates the unique "Farafruni" heritage through authentic oasis flavors and traditional Bedouin recipes.

THANK YOU

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