Material choices were guided by availability, affordability and environmental responsibility. The architects adopted a ‘white canvas’ strategy to offset the visual clutter and heat retention of the neighbourhood’s unplanned red-brick and concrete architecture. Façades were painted in white and pastel hues to reflect sunlight, reduce heat gain and create a unified aesthetic. Corrugated metal panels were used as a cost-effective alternative to paint, offering durability and texture while aligning with local construction culture.

The project also demonstrates how resource scarcity can drive innovation. Construction elements such as benches, playground components and shade structures were sourced from local workshops, using reclaimed wood, steel and recycled materials. Even advertising banners were repurposed into a living wall system, adding greenery and filtering dust. This circular, waste-conscious approach aligns with Cairo’s need for climate-responsive and low-impact urban solutions.

Social engagement lies at the heart of the Magdy El Khouly Street Renovation. Residents not only participated in design but also in execution – painting façades, planting trees and helping to build furniture and play elements. This active involvement generated a sense of shared ownership and economic opportunity while embedding the design process within everyday life. The transformed street now serves as a social spine for the community, hosting informal markets, performances and gatherings that strengthen social ties.

Ecologically, the project embodies regenerative urbanism. Greenery, permeable paving and shaded seating areas improve microclimate comfort, while local sourcing minimizes transportation emissions. By reusing materials and integrating nature-based solutions, the design reduces environmental impact and ensures long-term sustainability. These small but interconnected interventions have elevated the street’s status from neglected infrastructure to a lively, multifunctional civic space.

The outcome extends beyond the physical improvements. The project demonstrates that sustainable urban transformation does not require massive financial investment or top-down intervention. Instead, it shows that dignity, inclusivity and resilience can be built incrementally through community-led collaboration and thoughtful design. The initiative has drawn attention from professionals and policymakers as a replicable model for upgrading informal settlements while maintaining social cohesion and identity.

AHS CxA, the practice behind the project, is a multidisciplinary design studio that works at the intersection of architecture, landscape and community engagement. Their approach prioritizes people and place, developing context-sensitive solutions that empower communities and cultivate belonging. Their work spans public, cultural and urban projects, all rooted in collaboration and careful observation. Each intervention – whether temporary or permanent – aims to trigger ripple effects that transform cities from the ground up.

The prize money will fund a participatory, eco-conscious public space intervention in Ezbet Khairallah, extending the legacy of the street renovation. The team will co-design a modular, temporary installation – potentially on an unused rooftop – serving as both a performance stage and an inclusive gathering space. Developed with local artists, craftsmen and residents, it will host a series of cultural and educational events over a month. Built from locally sourced and recycled materials, the structure will be fully demountable, enabling it to be relocated and reused across the neighbourhood. The project will act as both a social platform and a prototype for circular, community-based urban regeneration – continuing to transform the everyday spaces of Ezbet Khairallah into places of pride, creativity and collective resilience.

- Information for the project text was provided by AHS CxA -