For Danish-Egyptian architect and designer Salem Charabi, moving to Cairo has been a transformative creative decision, opening a world of abundant craftsmanship and layered history. He embraces the city’s inherent chaos as its greatest asset, advising travelers to have a loose plan when visiting but also to leave room for spontaneous discovery. Charabi believes that Cairo’s architecture is best understood on foot. From the historic artisans’ district of Al-Darb al-Ahmar to the 9th-century Ibn Tulun Mosque, the city’s built environment blurs boundaries between past and present, work and home. Charabi also highlights the City of the Dead, a necropolis where life and craft continue amidst ancient tombs, and pays homage to pioneering architects like Hassan Fathy. For Charabi, Cairo’s true magic lies in its compression of time and its community of artisans who operate on a philosophy of shared knowledge, making it an endlessly inspiring place to live and create.
Financial Times