Fair report: new showcase +20 Egypt Design, Cairo

Of all the recent additions to our fair calendar this year, we didn't expect to see an Egyptian design event coming. Last week, the 'City of a Thousand Minarets' made its international debut with +20 Egypt Design, a new showcase being held over the next five years, thus named for the country's calling code.
Occupying three traditional homes (El Suhaymi, El Kharzati and Mostafa Gaafar) on El Muiz Street in stunning Old Cairo, the colourful exhibition was curated by the expert eye of Paola Navone and showcased furniture, textiles and tabletop accessories from some of the country's best design companies and artisans. Local products were interspersed with pieces from international brands, like Luceplan and Moroso, to fill the houses' 20-odd rooms - each impeccably restored and unveiled to the public for the first time, to form an expressive installation, staking the claim that there is a place for Egyptian design in the contemporary home.
With the support of the Egyptian Furniture Export Council, several local governmental trade authorities, and organised by Design Partners, the brains behind Milan's Zona Tortona, +20 is considered by several Egyptian designers as the beginning of a new design future.
In spite of the country's extensive cultural and creative heritage, design is largely reduced to a trade. Local brand recognition, especially pertaining to product design, is scarce, and focus is put on manufacturers rather than designers. Cherif Morsi, an emerging design figure, said, 'This is a real design event. It's the first step to creating a proper industry for us. I think manufacturers will start to understand that good designs can get them what they want.'
Architect/designer Shahira H. Fahmy, the first Egyptian designer to show in Milan (she presented her work at Satellite back in 2007) added, 'By mixing local products with international names, +20 shows that our designs are still credible outside of Egypt. It proves that what is relevant to the West is relevant to us as well.'
All in all, the installation was a worthy effort to bring the mysticism of Egypt into the 21st century. We're already pencilling our return visit to see what's in store next year.
Exterior of Le Riad Hotel, where the media lounge was hosted
An interior courtyard garden adorned with Karim Mekhtigian’s Soheimi chairs, featuring an interpretation of traditional mashrabeya design work
Map of El Muiz Street where the historical homes El Suhaymi, El Kharzati and Mostafa Gaafar are located
A selection of textiles from Tanis, an Egyptian fabric company that has revived traditional hand-printing methods
Locally made accessories, such as candles from Boho and a chandelier from the Egyptian Company for Industry and Trade, were a perfect foil to Patricia Urquiola’s bathtub for Agape
Karim Mekhtigian’s Mawlana Deshret Lounge Seat for Karassi + Karassi, was inspired by the Swirling Dervishes and the Deshret Crown. Handmade glassware by Egyptian Company for Industry and Trade
Stainless Stools’ by Karim Mekhtigian for his label Alchemy, armchair by Shoulah Furniture and Paolo Rizzatto’s inimitable lamp for Luceplan
The second-floor terrace is given the Paola Navone treatment with a sofa by Eklego, textiles by Tanis and baskets typical of Egyptian street stalls
The otherworldly second drawing room accented by LZF lamps
What the modern Egyptian kitchen should look like – Amr Helmy’s asymetric counter top, Luceplan’s Lady Costanza standing lamp by Paolo Rizzatto and Alessi’s bread baskets
A classroom-style cinema setting with chairs picked up from the surrounding souks and Karim Mekhtigian’s rendition of the traditional Taktouka (coffee shop) table for MOHM
Pei-Ru Keh is the US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru has held various titles at Wallpaper* since she joined in 2007. She currently reports on design, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru has taken a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars and actively seeks out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.
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