Just thirty minutes from downtown Cairo, architect Tarek Shamma's family home stands as a striking example of contemporary Egyptian architecture that honors both ancient traditions and modern sensibilities. Built on a former mango plantation in the Egyptian countryside, the residence combines the clean geometric lines reminiscent of pharaonic temples with a rich, cosmopolitan interior that tells the story of a well-traveled family.
The journey to reach Shamma's home offers a gentle disconnection from the bustling chaos of Cairo, with roads that grow quieter and darker as they wind through the countryside. Shamma's parents purchased the land shortly after their marriage but left it undeveloped for some time. What began as a desire for a weekend retreat eventually evolved into a dream of building a multigenerational family home that would grow with future generations.
The architectural vision came together through a chance encounter during a cruise on Lake Nasser, Egypt's great southern reservoir. While traveling with his aunt, Shamma met Lebanese architect Antoine Maamari, who was accompanied by his wife and son. "They were very cool and a bit eccentric," Shamma recalls. "I came back knowing I had found the right architect." Though Shamma modestly attributes the home's entire design to Maamari, noting his own minimal contributions, his parents were primarily concerned that the house harmonize with its natural environment.
Building in the Egyptian countryside presented two clear options: a contemporary-style house or a more traditionally-rooted dwelling. The family chose the former, opting for clean architecture with precise lines. The entire structure is clad in local Egyptian marble, including Brescia and Galala varieties, which extends seamlessly into the interior spaces. "For the bathrooms, we used terrazzo, which wasn't common at the time," Shamma explains. He describes the house as austere, with linear, elongated windows that dress almost the entire façade. Their curved frames cast deep shadows on both walls and floors.
Upon entering, guests are welcomed by a double-height atrium clad in marble and bathed in sunlight from a skylight above. Washingtonia palms reign at its center, immediately establishing the impressive scale of the home. The execution is impeccable, and the way it naturally connects different spaces is remarkable. From this atrium, a rectangular room houses an indoor swimming pool, where large windows open to reveal lush gardens beyond. To the right, living spaces flow into the architect's bedroom and additional bedrooms on the upper level.
"We love pharaonic temples," Shamma explains regarding the sizing of spaces, which progress from largest to smallest as one ventures deeper into the interior. The design philosophy emphasizes volume and light rather than multiplying materials and ornaments. "What's important here is this idea of progression and movement. It's not about being ostentatious, but about favoring volume and light rather than multiplying materials and ornaments," he notes.
In striking contrast to the minimalist architecture, the more generous interiors are furnished with antique furniture, 17th-century Chinese chests, 19th-century English sofas, modern Arab artworks, and tapestries that contribute to the intimacy and conviviality of the space. "I think this is typical of the Middle East," Shamma confides with a laugh. "We love being surrounded by objects. We're incapable of being satisfied with just one pot, one sculpture, or one painting."
To give the house personality, the family decorated it with objects from their numerous travels and older pieces that belonged to different family members. "We never considered an object as a trophy. My grandfather, for example, had an affinity for old doors. We found some on site, restored them, framed them, and installed them everywhere," the architect recalls. "It's important that everything in the house is Egyptian, because we're proud to be Egyptian. But we also have the good fortune of having traveled extensively and being open to the world. The house tells this story."
The building sits on a former mango plantation that the family decided to preserve, keeping most of the trees intact. "We have so many mangoes that we give them away! We also make preserves with them," Shamma notes. The same abundance applies to other fruits growing on the vast property, including dates. If Shamma naturally loves entertaining – "it's almost a family pastime" – the abundance of the location lends itself perfectly to hosting, with palm leaves and flowers from frangipani and bougainvillea trees serving to decorate tables. The garden was his mother's pride.
Occasionally, landscape designer Louis Benech would come stay with the family and give advice on how to cultivate it. "It has always been a source of inspiration for me. I love going there and being calm to read and draw. Yet I didn't like gardens. I think it comes with age. Today, I'm so happy to wake up and see a tree in front of my bedroom. It's a bottlebrush tree, which only blooms for a very short season. Its flowers are red and, for a few weeks, it looks like it's on fire. It's so beautiful."
The impressive indoor pool, built with consideration for a painting by Gilles Ballini, also serves as a dining room. On each side, windows open onto the lush gardens, creating a seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces. The main living room, often reserved for receiving guests, benefits from natural light streaming through tall windows that bring warm clarity to the space. In the background, on a console made of limestone and alabaster designed by Tarek Shamma himself, sits a sculpture by Dutch artist Corneille Guillaume Beverloo.
Throughout the home, the family's artistic sensibilities are evident. In the TV room, a ceiling decorated by the family features antique doors and a fireplace made from local Hashmi stone. Side tables designed by Tarek Shamma display busts of the architect's grandmother created by Mahmoud Mokhtar. The bathroom features a wooden sculpture signed by Mahmoud El Dewihi, while Shamma's bedroom contains a floor lamp he designed himself, antique Turkish chests, and an ancient Kerman rug from Ubuntu art gallery.
This remarkable residence stands as a testament to how contemporary architecture can honor cultural heritage while embracing global influences, creating a home that is both monumentally impressive and warmly inviting.
