Crafting Cairo's Soul Through Global Design
Karim Mekhtigian
Karim Mekhtigian by Ämr Ezzeldinn
Karim Mekhtigian is, without a doubt, one of the most prominent Arab architects of our time. Through his design studio, Alchemy, he has left a mark and built a remarkable legacy. Aside from being a design mastermind, he’s a passionate and creative force that loves to explore art in all its forms and connect with the world every chance he gets. DIVAZ sat down with Mekhtigian for a deep and insightful chat.
How have your cultural experiences shaped your identity, not just as a designer but as a person?
I was born in Egypt to an Armenian family. I lived in Egypt for about 15 years. I decided to study in Paris and ended up spending 15 years there. I started my professional career in France, before coming to Egypt. I always wanted to go back to Egypt. I had dreams that I wanted to achieve in Egypt. My work is very related to the country, its customs and its stories. I wanted to come back and do something over here. And I’ve been in Egypt for 25 years now.
Why did you pick this line of work in specific?
Look, honestly, in the beginning of my life, I was very confused. I mean, I didn’t know what I was going to do or what I wanted to be. I wanted to be a filmmaker for a while, an architect for a while, an artist for a while and a painter for a while. I studied cinema and production design, and then I did architecture and design, and I eventually continued in design. I’m very expressive; if I see that there is a certain message that I have to present, I will do it either through design, or with a chair or a film or a painting, a carpet, whatever. All of these things, for me, are means to express what I want to say or what I want to do. Alchemy encourages this. I don’t want to give myself a title that I have a certain style. My job is to try to bring things together in a certain way, in a harmonious way, to bring beauty and aesthetics together.
Would you say your work reflects your cultural heritage? If so, in what way?
All my life, I’ve always wanted to create a brand in Egypt—an Egyptian product on an international level. I want the world to see that Egypt has ideas. Everything was imported back then. We imported ideas, styles, and I think we don’t need to import these things; we don’t need to import ideas. We have very creative and hardworking people here. We have a history, heritage and culture, layers of the pharaohs, the Coptic, the Islamic, etc. We have layers of cultures that are diverse and different. It’s the only place in the world where you can find all these things together. Why leave all this behind and import?
Can you walk us through a day in your creative process?
I wake up early in the morning, pray Fajr and exercise. The only time I work alone is from 8:30 to 10:30 am, until my colleagues come to the office. That’s when we start working together. There are meetings, but I’m very passionate about the team I work with. I have to constantly inspire them and direct them to produce the best work we can. We’re always busy. Some people wake up in the morning thinking about how to make money, how to do things, how to grow. However, when I wake up in the morning, I think about my projects, and what I’m going to do with them.
What moment stands out as a deeply personal victory that made you feel proud of yourself and your work?
When people are happy and use the space that you created, and want to be there—of course, that’s something that’s always very rewarding. Recently, we created our company, Alchemy Experience. We do our own projects. If I create a hotel, it’s my own hotel, in my own way. If I create a restaurant, it’s my own restaurant, in my own way. So, I try to apply everything I’ve been trying to apply with a client but couldn’t, or when our visions did not align. Now, we can do it in the projects that belong to us.
Looking back at your journey, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Take more risks—I should have been a little crazier. I don’t know why I wasn’t daring; I could have been more deluded...This delusion could have led me to certain places and I could’ve done more. It took me a long time to realize that. I used to feel so shy, and I think at a younger age, that can really hold you back from reaching your full potential and it limits you.
Who is your Diva?
For me, divas influence people. They change the world. They leave a mark. They have a statement in the way they work and speak. Samir Ghanem is a diva. Sottsass and Starck are divas. They changed things and left marks on the world. I think divas are people who are charismatic and influence people and have lots talent.
