History speaks, but who’s there to translate?

📺 Egyptian streets are rife with history — millenia-old architectural marvels and centuries-old pathways and towns converge in a manner that only exists in Om El Donia. But how much do we know about them? And how do they inspire us today? These are the questions The Local Show wants to answer. A docuseries spotlighting Egypt’s architectural landmarks — old and new — dissecting their heritage, functionality, and role in fostering community, The Local Show gives viewers a much-needed glimpse into an Egypt hidden in plain sight in bite-sized episodes.

Hosted by Egyptian designer Ramzi Makram Ebeid and directed by Sherif Nakhla, the Marakez- and Ismailia for Real Estate Investment-sponsored production debuted its first episode on Saturday, 15 November. The English-language docuseries is set to traverse Egypt, dissecting some of its pivotal architectural landmarks and rising design stars.

The first stop: Basuna — a city wedged between Asyut and Sohag. There resides a state-of-the-art mosque, drawing from its surroundings. In the first of a three-episode series on Basuna, Ebeid meets the mosque’s architect, Walid Arafa.

Conscientious architecture: The episode begins with Ebeid relaying the story of how he came to know Arafa, introducing his project and how it came to be. The city was in dire need of a mosque to replace the historical predecessor that had fallen into ruin, and Arafa stepped in, designing and executing a modern marvel that traces its roots to Islamic architecture. Arafa then explains his design philosophy, and how he sought to build a project that both complemented and respected its surroundings and the people whom it served.

Ebeid’s narration, Arafa’s insights, and the cityfolks’ reactions to the mosque make for an incredibly wholesome, informative, and entertaining seven-minute watch. The episode explores Arafa’s approach, detailing the city that served as his muse, and invites viewers to witness the work that goes into bringing a vision to life. While production is humble, it perfectly encapsulates the soul of the destination explored. The Basuna Mosque will be further explored in depth in two more upcoming episodes dedicated to the project.

Despite there being only one episode released at the time of publication, we’re confident that The Local Show will evolve into a pivotal resource for architects, artists, historians, and the general public alike. If you’re looking to satiate your architectural curiosities, we’d recommend pressing play and keeping an eye out for upcoming episodes (and destinations to be explored).

WHERE TO WATCH- You can stream the docuseries on YouTube.