Modern Designs’ Big Badie
Mohamed Badie
Portrait of Mohamed Badie by Ämr Ezzeldinn
Specialized in commercial and residential projects, Badie Architects is one of the leading architectural firms in Egypt. Its award-winning lead architect and founder, Mohamed Badie, prioritizes creativity and inclusion above all else. His main goal with every new design is to spark change and inspire others with his originality and innovation. DIVAZ sat down with Badie to delve deeper into his design process and how his upbringing has shaped him into the acclaimed architect he is today.
Talk to us about your background. How have your cultural experiences shaped your identity?
I was born in Sharqia and I lived there for 20 years. My father was an army officer and my mother was very religious. So, there was a lot of conservatism in my household, both religiously and culturally. Of course, I couldn’t cope with this until I grew up and learned that it was all shaping me up to be who I am now. I started to realize that it was actually such an advantage, and that it helped me become a completely different person.
Talk to us about your studies; how have they influenced your creative approach?
I didn’t study engineering because I wanted to, but because of social pressure. I was conforming because I couldn’t make any life decisions yet. I didn’t have any will to choose what I wanted to be and where I wanted to go. After I grew up, I realized that engineering was very important to me. I used to be a very lazy person, and engineering fixed that part of me.
What would you say are the main influences that have factored into shaping your aesthetic?
I think that real inspiration always comes from the most absurd or wrong things. They trigger you to think of a solution, and that is inspirational to me. Architecture is all about finding creative solutions and overcoming obstacles.
Esca Cueva Photographed by Nour ElRefaie
How do you begin your creative process when it comes to new projects?
I always skip to the design part; I don’t send mood boards and I don’t compare a project to something that already exists, because that’s not how my creativity works. So, there are often clashes in the beginning, but it always pays off.
When you’re working on a new project, is there a specific place or experience you return to mentally that provides you with clarity or inspiration?
I remind myself that I don’t want my work to be exclusive. I don’t want to exclude a certain class or cater to a specific demographic. I always want to have a big impact on everyone.
Who is your Diva?
To me, people are part of nature. I always progress through what I learn from other people. I observe people, I watch people, I see what they wear, how they talk, and the more I engage with them and learn about them, the better my designs become.
3B Citadel Pavillion Photographed by Nour ElRefaie
