Siwa Oasis Performing and Heritage Exhibition Center – Wall & String

Wall, as a key element sprawling across the entire Shali Fortress, holds a unique history with dynamic and irregular spaces. As we embark on our new project intervention, our primary goal is to preserve and celebrate the rich heritage while creating a well-organized and immersive experience for visitors. The core theme of our design revolves around the concept of a "Cultural Thread" – an intangible yet powerful force that connects people to their past, present, and future, symbolizing the interwoven layers of culture, history, and a continuous narrative that sustains heritage.

String, serves as a guiding element in our design, weaves through the fabric of time. It connects the nodes of each architectural space within the fortress while honoring the historical context and carrying the legacy forward into the future. Inspired by this concept, we sought to create a thoughtfully curated tour route that allows tourists to experience the unique sequence of spaces, guiding them through the transformation from history to contemporary times.

Our design approach ingeniously weaves together some of the existing paths within the fortress, seamlessly integrating them to create a harmonious and captivating journey. Additionally, we have designed a new tour path, strategically passing through each core space node within our project. This meticulously planned sequence of spaces serves a dual purpose: to deepen the visitor's appreciation for the historical significance and to offer an immersive and enjoyable experience. The string gracefully traverses the fortress, guiding visitors through a curated route of key points of interest. Purposefully designed to evoke curiosity and a sense of discovery, this pathway encourages visitors to delve into the historical context of the site, engaging them in an enriching exploration of its heritage.

Our design strategy prioritizes minimal intervention to safeguard the authentic relics and ancient walls of the illustrious Shali Fortress. To achieve this delicate balance between past and present, we will incorporate lightweight and detached structures, skillfully crafted from weather-bearing steel and lightweight concrete. This approach will allow us to accentuate and maximize the unique features of the ancient walls. Throughout the project, our meticulous efforts will be dedicated to preserving the existing walls and architectural elements, cherishing their original forms and materials.