Karim Mekhtigian Curates Downtown for Cairo Design Week 2025

As the city gears up for its third edition of Cairo Design Week, running from November 21st to 29th, its creative energy will once again unfold across three design districts: Heliopolis, Zamalek, and Downtown Cairo.

This year, Downtown Cairo, with its layered history, diverse architecture, and restless rhythm, will be under the curatorial direction of Alchemy founder Karim Mekhtigian, whose deep connection to the neighbourhood informs every decision he makes.
“I’m from Downtown myself, so I love it. But I also have concerns about working here,” Mekhtigian tells SceneHome. “You can’t deal with Downtown Cairo with the same mindset as any other developer.”
For Mekhtigian, Downtown Cairo is not a blank canvas; it’s an archive. Islamic, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Modern, and Neoclassical buildings stand side by side with distinct harmony. His curatorial approach acknowledges this coexistence, aiming to revive the district’s creative pulse while protecting its delicate architectural balance.
“People want to return to Downtown,” he says. “But we have to give them a reason to come back.” Under his direction, the Downtown design district becomes a conversation about identity. Mekhtigian stresses the need for a clear design framework, a ‘glocal’ one that merges local authenticity with global awareness. “Once you work right and truly, in your own place and country,” he explains, “you automatically become part of the international scene. It’s inevitable.”
What excites him most is the way Cairo Design Week activates the streets. “Before, when we said we wanted to do something in the street, people would say no, they didn’t want trouble. Now, during Design Week, people go out, walk, and the streets come alive,” he says. Through his curation, Downtown Cairo will be reimagined as a shared urban space where creativity, heritage, and community meet.