Egypt Visual Sourcebook: For Artists, Architects, and Designers

369 Pages·2011·247.84 MB·English

by  Jim Hewitt

EGYPT
VISUAL SOURCEBOOK

EGYPT
VISUAL SOURCEBOOK
FOR ARTISTS, ARCHITECTS, AND
DESIGNERS
Jim Hewitt
The American University in Cairo Press
Firstpublishedin2011by
TheAmericanUniversityinCairoPress
113ShariaKasrelAini,Cairo,Egypt
420FifthAvenue,NewYork,NY10018
www.aucpress.com
Copyright©2011byJimHewitt
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechani-
cal, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,withouttheprior written permission
ofthepublisher.
DarelKutubNo.11253/1C
ISBN9789774164330
DarelKutubCataloging-in-PublicationData
Hewitt,Jim
EgyptVisualSourcebook/JimHewitt. —Cairo;TheAmericanUniversityin
CairoPress,2011
p. cm.
ForDesigners,Architects,andArtists.
ISBN9789774164330
1.Architecture—EgyptI.Title
720.962
123456 14131211
ConceptbyJimHewitt
DesignbyAndreaEl-Akshar
LayoutandCDdesignbyCherifAbdullah
PrintedinEgypt
Contents
Introduction vii
Chapter1 PhotoPlates 1
Chapter2 Typologies 201
Chapter3 DetailsandSurfaces 275
Chapter4 Graphics 343
Bibliography 355
Chronology 357
Contents v

Introduction
During a recent trip to Egypt, I was fascinated by the design elements I saw
throughout the country, and I noticed how aspects of the ancient and modern
combinedtocreatesomeofthemostculturally-richarchitectureIhadeverseen.
Egyptianarchitecturehasclearlyinfluenceddesigninmycountry,aswellothers
throughouttheworld.Itmakessense,really,asEgyptishometooneoftheoldest
cultures in history, and since its wonders were first revealed, the magnificent
imprintofEgyptianartisticinnovationshasbeenwidelyrecognized.
Asasetdesigner/artdirectorformoviesandtelevision,Irealizedhowuseful
itwouldbetohaveabookdocumentingthesedesignelementsthatIandmycol-
leaguescoulduseinthecourseofourwork.Asthebookdeveloped,itturnedinto
more than just a simple reference book, but became a visual guide to Egyptian
architectureforeveryone.
The Egypt Visual Sourcebook was designed to present the complexities of
Egyptianarchitectureinauser-friendlyformat.Itisforpeoplewhohavetraveled
to Egypt, students who are working on school projects, interested readers who
love the myriad aspects of the Egyptian aesthetic, and for professional art
directors.
WithinthePlatessection,youwillfindcomprehensivephotographsfromsites
aroundEgypt.Thecolorversionsarealsopresentedinblack-and-whiteformand
labeled with a number/letter combination. This tag refers to the page and posi-
tion where you will find these elements enlarged within the Typologies, Details
andSurfaces,andGraphicssections.
IntheTypologiessection,photographsaregroupedbycategory(forexample,
Balconies,Archways,Rooftops).
TheDetailsandSurfacessectionfeaturesclose-upsfromthePlatesincatego-
riessuchasColumnCapital,WallSurfaces,andTiles.
ThefinalsectionofthebookisGraphics,withphotographsofsigns,banners,
andpackagingfromalloverthecountry.
The accompanying CD contains image files of all the color photographs in
the book. These files can be used for ease of reference in design work, and as a
Introduction vii
basis for redrafting for incorporation into design or art projects. (They may not
be used directly for commercial purposes or published in any form without the
priorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.)
As1examinedmycollectionofphotographs,Irealizedsomeofthemseemed
toinaccuratelyshowthesizeoftheirsubjects,soIhaveaddeda1.8m(6ft)scale
humansilhouetteora20cm(8in)scalehandsilhouettetosomeimagesinorder
tohelpclarifythesizing.
I hope these images will transport you to Egypt. Every time I look at them,
I’mremindedhowarchitectureandcultureareintertwined,andourlivesarenot
completewithoutappreciatingboth.
viii Introduction
Introduction ix