Inside Architect Ahmad Fayyad’s New Studio in Heliopolis

Stepping into architect Ahmad Fayyad’s new studio in El Korba is like entering a dialogue between contemporary minimalism and historic grandeur. Perched above Heliopolis’ main boulevard with a direct view of the Presidential Palace, the space marks Fayyad’s return to the city’s cultural heart after years in New Cairo’s gated communities.

From the entrance, everything is white—until your eyes meet the floor: a deep green microcement that grounds the entire space. “Everything above should feel like it’s floating,” Fayyad says. “The ground is the only element that roots us.” It’s a subtle cue to his design philosophy—anchoring modern restraint in something tactile and deeply contextual.

That search for grounding is what brought Fayyad, co-founder of FR Partnership with his wife and partner Malak Rashad, back to Heliopolis. “I needed to connect to the city again,” he shares. “To feel its rhythm, to look out the window and see people—not just fences.”

That window offers more than just a view. The studio is housed in one of El Korba’s historic buildings, a district originally conceived in the early 20th century by Belgian industrialist Édouard Empain as Cairo’s European garden city. Today, its eclectic revivalist architecture, palm-lined arcades and layered urban texture still stand out—and for Fayyad, they feel deeply familiar. “The arches, the proportions, the discipline—it’s all very architectural. And it shaped who I am.”

That sensibility runs through the space. Sketches of the Baron Palace and the Basilica of Notre Dame hang opposite one another, carefully aligned with the real landmarks beyond the walls. “They’re not just drawings. They’re directional,” Fayyad explains. “You’re always oriented to something.”

The spatial layout is quietly choreographed. The entrance doubles as a reception lounge, setting the tone before a word is spoken. A narrow corridor leads to the Architects Hall—the operational centre of FR Partnership—where the mood is focused, but not rigid. At the far end lies a leafy terrace, unexpectedly lush for a minimalist. But followers of Fayyad’s work would recognise the pattern: tightly controlled interiors contrasted with emotionally generous landscapes. “I tend to go overboard outdoors,” Fayyad laughs.

The terrace isn’t just for show—it’s the materials library. Stone, wood, and tile samples are set among palms, forming a backdrop for both experimentation and conversation. “This is where we test ideas,” he says. “Materials are everything. They tell the story.” His fondness for texture is no surprise—whether he’s designing a mosque that merges into its surrounding farmland, or reviving a Mediterranean-revival villa by eliminating excess ornamentation, his work leans on material honesty and spatial clarity.

The space leads to Fayyad’s main office. Sparse but refined, it houses a few of his latest product design pieces, a new focus in his growing practice. Adjacent is the client briefing room, where moodboards line the walls. Each one a window into a different world—a coastal summer house, a mosque, a reimagined compound villa.

The final stop on the tour is the kitchen. It’s modest, tucked away, and overlooks a narrow alley where neighbours used to gather—a detail Fayyad is quick to point out. “It’s not just about the big gestures. It’s about the micro moments that make a city feel alive.”

This philosophy—of grounding, of quiet reinterpretation—threads through all of Fayyad’s work. His approach is one of subtraction, stripping away the unnecessary to let the architecture speak with clarity.

With this new studio in Heliopolis, he comes full circle—not just in location, but in ethos. Rooted in history, open to exploration, and deeply personal, the space is both a creative base and a quiet act of belonging.

“I design what I need to live with,” he says. And here, high above El Korba, the statement lands with quiet certainty.