TABLIYYAH

Egypt has been increasingly a destination for refugees and displaced communities. The recent military conflicts in Sudan and Palestine have further contributed to that. Yet, despite offering a welcoming space for refugees to settle and reconstruct meaningful lives; little is known about how refugees contribute to city-making in Cairo. Where and how do they find refuge in the city, and what can architecture do to make Cairo a welcoming city for migrants and displaced communities?
Talbiyah is a student-led exhibition highlighting the interaction between displacement and the built environment. Using the tradition Egyptian table “Tabliyah” as a metaphor of hospitality, the exhibition shows how different refugees and migrant groups (Armenian, Sudanese, Somalis, Palestinian, and Syrians) have been contributing to the urbanization and growth of Cairo. It also presents examples of how architecture can further facilitate interactions between refugees and the hosting communities.