
Badie Architects Ignites Cairo’s Dining Scene with Escá Cueva
Among the inspirations for Escá Cueva, a new restaurant by Egyptian firm Badie Architects that’s heating up Cairo’s culinary scene, is the feminine form. “I was looking to reflect the body’s complex elegance, while prioritizing comfort and practicality,” recalls founder and chief architect Mohamed Badie, who earned his master’s in architecture from SCI-Arc. But, as witnessed by the sweeping rocklike formations pervading the 5,300-square-foot venue, it’s clear nature contributed to the concept as well. “There’s a sense of enclosure and intimacy, similar to what would be experienced in a grotto,” adds junior architect Farah Kamel—an apt description, as cueva means cave in Latin.
Sited atop a hill with panoramic city views, the architects have built upon the existing base of a former home, softening and reshaping it with organic forms cut from silhouettes of the human body in motion, and added an expansive dining terrace to take advantage of those vistas. The undulating contours, while raw and elemental, were complex to formulate, made possible by mixing 3-D software and traditional hand craftsmanship by local artisans, wrapping a steel skeleton with a cement-polymer mix painted the color of sand dunes.
Rough surfaces, such as the ecru flooring, complemented by modern custom furniture upholstered in earthy-toned leathers ground the scheme, illuminated by natural and artificial light. Stretched ceiling fixtures emulate the diffuse glow of sunlight filtering in through the rounded openings, while others embedded into creases and depressions accentuate depth and texture. “Blurring the lines between architecture and nature, the user and their surroundings, strategic placement of lighting helped enhance the forms, creating a visual peace,” Kamal adds. The vibe intensifies, however, in the restrooms, where the fluid, monumental curves are lit by vividly hued LEDs that may remind patrons of saffron, a common Egyptian spice.
Explore This Trendy Restaurant by Badie Architects









PRODUCT SOURCES FROM FRONT: AQUA ART: STUCCO WORK (RESTROOM). THROUGHOUT NEOCEMENT: WALLS, FLOORING. COLORTEK: PAINT. MRIYA BY ELLA: BLACK CERAMICS. ARCHILIGHT: LIGHTING DESIGNER. FREE ART STUDIO: GENERAL CONTRACTOR.
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