Architecture as a Mind Controlling Device

Nada Elhadedy has been a designer based in Cairo working on as an interior, furniture, architect, urban, landscape and even graphic designer. We found her portfolio to be exquisite and we briefly interviewed her on her process, background and future prospects as a designer in Egypt.

For as far as i remember I’ve always been fascinated by shapes and objects and how any object and any shape can be manipulated and deformed into a new shape that no one have seen before . I used to visualize everything and reshape it in my mind and the fact that there is no limits to what a certain shape could be was a very interesting idea .

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I graduated from Mansoura University in Egypt, with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 2011. I begun my professional career in Cairo working for a construction company as a technical office and site engineer. In 2013 I decided to get back and continue studying architecture so I joined Cairo University pre master studies. I worked in a several consultant companies looking for m
ore experience and targeting a larger scale project. Today I work as a freelance architect and run a business with my sister Ran El Hadedy, hoping someday we will have our own architectural consultancy firm and design global scale projects around the world. 

What inspired you to take up architecture? How did you get started?

For as far as i remember I’ve always been fascinated by shapes and objects and how any object and any shape can be manipulated and deformed into a new shape that no one have seen before . I used to visualize everything and reshape it in my mind and the factthat there is no limits to what a certain shape could be was a very interesting idea . When i started studying architecture I definitely was relieved to find the manifestation tools and space to visualize freely  what’s on my mind and by far architecture helped me find a meaning , function , and purpose  for any design . Architecture has helped me learn that a good design is not a perfect one it’s the design that have a meaning and a purpose. I guess that’s the difference between art and art architecture is not just a manifestation tool to a certain idea it’s dynamic operative tool that actually bring the idea to life and make it proactive.

it’s about architecture as a mind controlling device because i believe that architecture is a very powerful tool that could change the world if used appropriately.

Where do you draw from inspiration? Who are the artists/people/sources that influence your work?

I always get my inspiration from everything around me every simple daily detail could inspire me teaches me a new thing and open up  my mind to a new way of thinking.

I’ve always been inspired by zaha hadid she is my architecture role model. I am always fascinated by the modern architecture by Daniel Libeskin , Oscar Niemeyer , Renzo Piano and the amazing architecture done by Antoni Gaudí. All of them and many more  are  inspiring architects and  not just for there amazing buildings but also for thinking outside the box and giving others that chance to watch . enjoy , and learn from their work , and most important providing the world with a new perspectives to what architecture and space could look like. That’s my ultimate goal in each project no matter how small or big every project should make a difference, change people’s way of thinking , move you to feeling , inspire ideas , influence behaviors.  Each art and particularly  architecture should have effect on every eye , a print on each soul an impact on all behaviors and open up new doors in each mind.

That is the concept in which I inspire my thesis from it’s about architecture as a mind controlling device because i believe that architecture is a very powerful tool that could change the world if used appropriately . 

What is the architectural scene like in Egypt?

The architecture scenes in Egypt really varies. What is amazing in egypt is that you could witness large various scale of styles in Cairo walking on one street alone . In the past Egypt has stuck to adapting a wide range of classical style but today we are open to welcoming the revolutionary architecture in a conservative way.

Does your culture influence your designs? What do you think your designs say about you?

Every thing influence my design starting from my culture ,the environment, the world. I like to have  a clear open mind when it comes to design i don’t have limits and districts to what i’m about to create . Through my work I try to prove that architecture could be so much more than just a buildings or a spaces .

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What sort of impact do you hope to have through your work?

I believe that architecture is a very powerful tool and I cherish the fact that i’m lucky enough-to practice such and amazing profession and for that I try as much as i can to pay a attention to the impact each project will have on the people. I like to think  of architecture  as a puzzle and the all pieces is already there and that i’m not inventing something new . I’m just solving problems ,  providing needs , making a difference . giving a statement. By putting all the pieces together i create a unique design that only fits on one place on earth just a like a fingerprint.