This is the first women-only club in Egypt, aiming to promote physical and mental wellbeing in order to foster women’s social integration and empowerment. As well as offering recreational facilities, the club provides services such as marital counselling and training in cooking, art and other subjects. Privacy was the key consideration, so an L-shaped building frames a central courtyard with a pool, the whole surrounded by a wall. Large glazed areas open onto the courtyard, integrating interior with exterior, while external walls are solid with few openings. Surface detail is minimal, with textured earth-coloured render articulating the built form.

Source:

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2011.