From the bustling metropolis of Algiers to the serene Egyptian desert, two Swiss artists, Alexander Cyrus Poulikakos and Laurence Bonvin, immersed themselves during their respective research trips in the complexities of regional architecture. Through photography and in-depth research, they delve into the interplay of history, culture, and design across diverse landscapes.
Swiss architect/visual artist Alexander Cyrus Poulikakos recently completed a research trip at Rhizome in Algiers. This trip directly informs his ongoing project, « Confusion of Tongues, » which documents contemporary cities in the SWANA region through photography, text, and collage.
« Confusion of Tongues » deconstructs the spatial and architectural traces of Orientalism, Occidentalism, coloniality, and globalization in their present-day context. This second phase builds upon Poulikakos’ first book, « Resurrecting Babylon, » which explored cities in the Arab States of the Gulf.
Poulikakos’ trip to Algiers allowed him to experience these complex layers firsthand. While visiting pre-selected buildings, he found the in-between spaces, often overlooked by history, to be even more compelling. These hidden realities became a crucial focus of his project.
While exploring Algiers’ Cité Mahieddine, a massive housing complex, the artist was invited into a resident’s home. There, he learned the complex was a product of the 1953 CIAM project, designed by Le Corbusier’s students to replace shantytowns with « modern » housing for the local population. Through this encounter, the artist gained firsthand insights into the building’s history and its residents’ lives.
Swiss visual artist Laurence Bonvin recently completed a research trip around the Egyptian desert and Nile valley, focusing on the architectural legacy of Hassan Fathy, vernacular architecture, and desert architecture. Bonvin’s journey encompassed various locations across Egypt.
In the White Desert, she aimed to capture the interplay between these natural structures under the full moon’s glow. Through nighttime photography, she explored the orientation techniques used by the locals in the oasis, essential for desert navigation. To further her research on architectural forms, Bonvin visited Luxor, Gourna, Dakhla and Kharga oases, Baris, and Aswan. Throughout the trip, she documented these diverse styles through photography.
Bonvin continued her research at the American University in Cairo, delving into the Hassan Fathy’s archive for photographs and audio recordings. She also met with several architects and experts who had personal or professional connections to Hassan Fathy, gaining valuable insights into his life, work, and context.
Bios:
Alexander Cyrus Poulikakos is an architect and artist based in Zurich. He completed his master’s degree in architecture in 2019 from ETH Zurich. He founded the design and research practice Bab Al Morpheus, which focuses on documenting and mapping contemporary space in a globalized world through its margins. He is the author of the book “Resurrecting Babylon”, a portrait of the contemporary urban landscape in the Arabian Gulf Region. Trans Magazine and Saqi Books have published his texts, and his works have been exhibited at Exhibitions, Museum für Gestaltung Zurich and Espacio Gallery London.
Laurence Bonvin is a Swiss photographer and filmmaker whose work explores the interplay of nature, society, and urban environments. Her projects often intertwine architecture, landscape, and history. Based in Lisbon and Switzerland, Bonvin has exhibited internationally and is a professor at ECAL, Lausanne. Her films and publications complement her photographic practice, offering diverse perspectives on her subjects.
