Karm Architecture Lab - KAL

19/01/2026

27/10/2025

15/09/2025

Last week at the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Culture in Crisis Conference in Cairo, KarmBuild / Karm Architecture Lab and the Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation shared our vision for the Bab al-Wazir Creative Quarter.

Anchored around Bayt al-Razzaz and its neighboring monuments, the project reimagines the district for its potential as a living hub merging local craft stewardship, the contemporary design community, and community life.

By rehabilitating vacant buildings, creating co-working and craft hubs, and activating the streets with food vendors, events, and cultural residencies, we aim to build a self-sustaining model where heritage, economy, and community thrive together.

Heritage should not be just celebrating the past, but a continuance for a more cohesive prospective future.

28/08/2025

Join Our Team as a Junior Architect and Shape a Sustainable Future!

Are you a recent architecture graduate with a passion for green design? Do you believe architecture has the power to enhance both the natural and built world? If so, KAL wants you!

Who We Are:

At KAL, we’re not just designing buildings; we’re crafting high-performance, sustainable ecosystems. We are a specialized architectural consultancy on a mission to create beautiful, efficient, and environmentally conscious spaces.

We're Looking for a Future-Forward Architect (0-2 Years Experience)!

This isn't your average entry-level role. We're looking for a creative and driven individual to join our collaborative studio. You'll jump right in, contributing fresh ideas and helping us solve complex design challenges. You'll be part of a team that values innovation and is committed to pushing the boundaries of sustainable design.

Join us Now

17/07/2023

1st Place winner of the International Tinker Ideas Competition for the design of a safe waste recycling facility and community center in Manshiyet Naser (Cairo's Garbage Neighborhood)

We named the project 'Ghiya’, after the predominant, colorful, and strikingly beautiful pigeon farming towers that soar high above the tallest buildings within Cairo’s informal settlements and a core inspiration for the project's architecture. These magnificent structures are the epitome of creative and cultural expression, wealth, beauty, and empowerment.

Taking inspiration from the existing skyline of Manshiyet Naser and similar informal settlements in Egypt, and by repurposing the most common, and often despised, building materials used such as red brick, 'Ghiya' was visualized as a striking and optimistic continuation to an often overlooked skyline, offering a place of refuge and creativity whilst supporting the community's livelihood through the betterment of their working conditions.

11/07/2023

KAL is looking for a talented and highly skilled Architect to join our architectural team.
They will be part of an integrated design team, performing analytical and creative problem-solving skills in developing design or technical solutions in accordance with the agreed direction using 2D/3D tools. They will also be responsible for assisting in design development, working drawings development, and solutions.

The role involves the following:
- Involvement in, and contribution to all stages of architectural projects.
- Developing Design Solutions and their full visual documents using relevant software tools.
- Producing construction documents, technical detailing, and BOQs.
- Assisting with site surveys and on-site construction audits when required.
- Complying with team-agreed environmental strategies.

Requirements:
- Architecture and Engineering degree from an accredited university.
- 1 – 3 years of work experience in Architecture Practice and design.
- Experience in preparing design and construction documents.
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Adobe Suite, AutoCAD, SketchUp, VRay, and Revit.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Highly motivated and organized.
- Ability to multi-task and manage various projects simultaneously.
- Ability to work on short time frames and meet deadlines.

If interested, just send over your CV and portfolio to [email protected] and we'll be in touch. Please note that applications submitted without a portfolio will be disregarded.

10/07/2023

بدأ اختبارات التشغيل لشبكة الفرافرة الشمسية... بعد أن حصلت KarmSolar على امتياز توزيع الكهرباء لمساحة ٦٨ ألف فدان بمنطقة الفرافرة من محافظة الوادي الجديد حصلت على تصريح نشاء المحطة من مرفق الكهرباء وعلى أساسه تم تنفيذ المشروع وبدأ الاسبوع الفائت اختبار التشغيل لأول ٧٠٠٠ فدان والذي تم بنجاح. المشروع حصل على تمويل من بنك HSBC ويحتوي المشروع على بطارية لزيادة المكون الشمسي في غير ساعات النهار. أهمية المشروع ده في كذا حاجة:

١. إنه غير مربوط على شبكة الكهرباء وبالتالي بيعظم من قدرتنا على الوصول بخدماتنا وشبكاتنا لأماكن صعبة وبالتالي تسهيل وصول الشبكة القومية لها فيما بعد.

٢. بيقلل من استهلاك الديزل (شبكة الفرافرة هتبدأ بحوالي ٦٢٪؜ مكون شمسي والمفروض إن شاء الله هيوصل ل١٠٠٪؜ في خلال سنين قليلة). الديزل مرتبطة بيه مشاكل كتير بيئية ولوجيستية واقتصادية وبالتالي شغلنا بيساعد على تقليل الاعتماد عليه وفي المستقبل القريب التخلي عنه.

٣. بيرسخ KarmSolar كواحدة من شركات المرافق الأساسية في مصر الي هتساهم في وضع البنية الأساسية اللازمة لتنمية الأماكن الواعدة البعيدة والمنعزلة في مصر.

٤. بيضع أسُس قوية لكيفية تمويل مشاريع طويلة المدى ومعقدة زي المشروع ده.

إنهاردة المستثمرين الزراعيين في منطقة بالفرافرة (الي كتير منهم من المصدرين) هيكون عندهم القدرة على الحصول على كهرباء بمنتهى السهولة بمجرد التوصيل بالشبكة الشمسية عند انتهاء المشروع. دي حاجة مكنتش موجودة زمان في الأماكن النائية دي. احنا شغالين على الشروع ده من ٣ سنين وفيه كمية شغل تقني وتجاري وتمويلي جبار اتحط في المشروع ده عشان يطلع حاجة على أعلى مستوى ممكن بكل المقاييس المتاحة.

مبروك لكل فريق العمل..

30/04/2023

Hi, my name is Rawan and I'm taking over for the day!

I graduated from the Arab Academy for Science,
Technology & Maritime Transport in 2022 & joined KAL
8 months ago.

While I've always had an inclination towards mathematics, my choice of architecture was more serendipitous than premeditated. Having had my heart set on joining that university early on, I attended its orientation day where all majors were explained and exhibited. Most of what I saw as I glanced around the engineering sections struck me as dull and technical. One corner, however, seemed to call out to me from a distance with its colorful and vibrant aura– the architecture corner. And as I saw how different the products of the architectural process were, from furniture and lighting to sculptures and masterplans, I was immediately hooked by its colorful spirit. It spoke to my unconventional side.

You see, growing up I've always had a desire to explore and try different things. I played squash and danced
ballet, finding my character in both equally even though they had absolutely nothing to do with each other! These are some snapshots of the world as I see it, photographs of diverse yet harmonious elements that compelled me to commit it to my lasting memory.
Here at KAL, the fact that our designs are sustainable
in nature and take into consideration a building's surrounding environment, as well as its effect on an occupant's mental and physical health makes me take a sense of pride in what we do.

06/04/2023

- The Breathing House by KAL -

The crab-like plan layout of this 3-bedroom, single-story family vacation home guarantees unobstructed 180 views of the Red Sea for all the bedrooms and open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas, overlooking a plunge pool and built-in fire pit seating area.

The condensed plan layout, along with the house's ideal orientation towards the prevailing winds, guarantees lowered exposure to direct sunlight whilst creating protective shaded outdoor spaces with enhanced cross-ventilation for the indoor and outdoor spaces.

Alternatively, this layout also offers options for outdoor sea-view terraces that are well protected from excessive winds, which is beneficial in winter time.

02/04/2023

Encapsulated within a second wall built from fossilized coral limestone and locally sourced bamboo, the beach house is hidden within its strikingly conspicuous front elevation.
The second skin acts similar to a desert animal's protective outer shell, protecting its Southern elevation from excessive heat gain in summer, shading the building envelope and encouraging the flow of cooled air, which in turn cools down the house's envelope and consequently its interior spaces.
This also creates cool and shaded outdoor passageways and terraces for its occupants to stay protected from the sun during the day.

12/03/2023

Physically acting as the lungs of the house, the two predominant tower structures; a wind catcher and a solar chimney, protrude from the front elevation and operate together to both absorb cool air into the house and suck the hot air out of it. This ensures a constant and enhanced flow of natural cool air throughout the indoor spaces, utilising one of the oldest air-conditioning systems invented by man.