The essence of a building is subtly revealed in the metaphors behind the design, the minds that built it, and the stories that linger on.
Makram-Ebeid decided to capture the soul of exceptional buildings and the architects who skillfully crafted them with grace and functionality.
The Local Show debuted after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2025. It highlights prominent Egyptian architects who either saved and revitalized heritage buildings in collaboration with local communities or designed monumental buildings that deserve to be in the limelight.
Targeting design enthusiasts, the show, like its name, tells the story of the local architectural gem within its intangible cultural heritage context.
In April 2026, Ramzi Makram-Ebeid was among the artists honoured by the annual Turathi Award for their outstanding work in safeguarding and documenting heritage buildings through The Local Show.
When did it all start?
"I grew up around history, art, and design. My dad was the kind of person who could turn a museum visit into a masterclass, so we spent a lot of time exploring historical sites and exhibitions with him,” Makram-Ebeid said.
He went on to say how his mother “encouraged the practical side of that interest, taking me antiquing and letting me redesign my bedroom and eventually parts of our home, within a budget of course.”
Remembering where we came from
Makram-Ebeid is a functionalist and minimalist with an element of intangible cultural heritage that lingers in all his interior work.
“I always try to keep things in a home that carry real meaning for the client, whether that's their grandmother's dining table or a rug passed down through the family. It means the home reflects where they've come from, not just where they are today,” he said.
“The architecture of the building itself concerns me. If it is Art Deco, for example, or mid-century, I will incorporate their respective elements into the interior of the home. I believe we have to connect the interior with the exterior, out of respect for the architect and the area,” he noted.
The COVID effect
During COVID-19, being in home confinement probably inspired people to take a special interest in interior design, and many social media platforms started to address the concept. Their perceptions have changed.
Having studied interior design, Makram-Ebeid believes that the way design was introduced on some shows on national television and radio was quite superficial, pretentious, and offered little educational value.
“Maybe spending more time at home made people think differently about their homes and how they wanted to live in them. But somewhere along the way, a lot of people started equating good design with big budgets, which isn't necessarily true,” he added.
Makram-Ebeid felt that the obsession with bling and luxury finishes often missed the point. “It always seemed a bit excessive to me, especially in a country where that kind of spending is out of reach for most people. I was certain that there were plenty of others who felt the same way.”
“What I wanted to see was a show that celebrated beautiful design while also taking heritage, sustainability, functionality, and community into account. Something aspirational, but still approachable. Something both design professionals and complete newcomers could enjoy and learn from. We have so much incredible talent in this country that embodies all of that, so I wanted to put the spotlight on them,” he continued.
Ramses Wissa Wassef
“Take the church we're standing in front of now,” he said, pointing to the iconic St. Mary's Church in Zamalek. “To me, church architecture should be humble rather than extravagant. It should reflect the values of the faith itself. That's what Ramses Wissa Wassef achieved here. He created something that feels distinctly Coptic, not just visually but philosophically as well.”
“There's a real sense of serenity about the building. The way Wassef used materials and natural light creates a connection to nature, and through that, a connection to the Creator,” he added.
This church and the story of Ramses Wissa Wassef are featured in one of the episodes of The Local show.
“One of the privileges of living in a country with such a long history is having all those layers of culture and design to draw from,” he noted. “What I especially love about this church is the way Wassef elegantly brought so many of those influences together, from Ancient Egypt all the way to Egyptian mid-century design.”
With that in mind, Ramzi explained that he wanted to create something that showed people that high-end design does not have to be extravagant and help them recognise it when they see it.
“I wanted people to better understand what makes certain buildings, spaces, and objects examples of great design,” he said.
Ramzi pointed out the many layers of symbolism woven throughout the church. “The bell tower, for example, draws inspiration from the obelisk, which has long been associated with light and triumph.”
That sense of symbolism extends throughout the building. “At eye level, you see paintings of saints—people who, like all of us, were flawed but worked to become better versions of themselves. Then, as your gaze moves upward, Wassef guides you through the story of Christ, and higher still, the stained-glass windows evoke Heaven.”
“Nothing is there by accident. Every element is part of a larger narrative. That's what great design does—it tells a story and gives people something to connect with,” he expressed.
Community engagement
The Local Show features prominent Egyptian architects who have inspiring experiences in community engagement.
These include Professor Alaa El-Habashi’s iconic Beit Yakan in Historic Cairo, architect Omniya Abdel Bar’s restoration journey with Beit al-Razzaz, and architect Waleed Arafa’s mosque project in the village of Basouna.
“Waleed was the first architect we interviewed. To me, he's an architectural poet. There's a real sense of spirituality in his work,” he said. “I was struck not only by the beauty of the mosque, but by the fact that something of that quality had been built in a small town in Upper Egypt.
“What impressed me most was the impact it had. It transformed the community around it and raised the bar for what architecture could be in a village that would otherwise have been overlooked,” Makram-Ebeid noted.
He explained how Arafa applied the essence and principles of architecture to rebuilding the mosque after the original structure was destroyed.
The documentary shows how an elderly woman willingly donated her land to serve as the site of the mosque. It also highlights how the new mosque addressed community needs by including, for the first time, a section for women worshippers as well as a small community centre. Interestingly, around 70 percent of the mosque’s visitors are women.
“He focused on functionality, community needs, and sustainable local material,” he added.
The upcoming episode will show the before-and-after journey of the restoration of Beit Al-Razzaz, as well as the surrounding area, by architect Omniya Abdel Barr.
Makram-Ebeid noted that The Local Show is more of an organic conversation, with a flexible skeleton that allows them to see where the day takes them.
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