Abandoned Lecture Hall in Ain Shams University Revived With Metal Drap

At Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, a long-disused lecture hall has been reimagined rather than demolished. Spearheaded by Prof. Dr. Gamal El-Kholy in collaboration with El Maghraby Design House, the transformation preserves the building’s core while introducing new functions: a fully equipped theatre and two-tiered lecture halls.

The intervention extends the structure’s lifecycle by giving it renewed cultural and academic relevance. A defining feature of the redesign is its layered façade. A reflective glass curtain wall is overlaid with a system of parametric aluminium louvers, which reference the folds of a stage curtain. More than just a visual metaphor, the louvers modulate light and help reduce solar gain. “The louvers were designed to create rhythm across the façade, changing the building’s expression throughout the day,” says architect Ahmed El Maghraby.

While the building asserts itself as a new landmark on campus, its mirrored curtain wall reflects the surrounding architecture, anchoring it within its context. The sculptural aluminium screen, meanwhile, signals the structure’s cultural function. “The goal was to create a building that both blends in and stands out - a symbol of change rooted in memory,” El Maghraby explains. Inside, the design reflects a dual purpose. The theatre supports both stage productions and lecture-format events, while the two lecture halls accommodate a total of 1,200 students. This combination of uses allows the space to operate as both a site of learning and cultural engagement. The project underscores a broader shift in institutional design - one that favours adaptive reuse over replacement, and sustainability over spectacle.

The Ain Shams University Theatre stands as a case study in how architecture can evolve with its community’s needs while maintaining a dialogue with its past.