The Munya

Private Client

The Munya brings together five years of research and travel, and yet more research. From India to Bahrain, and then to Libya, it is a design for an architecture that combines the principles of Islamic geometry as well as new modes to conceive of architectural drawing.
Currently under construction, the project also furthers many years of research into the use of earthen materials in architecture. From as early as the Terra Rossa series in 2008, the idea of site specific mud has been proposed as an architectural material - often as a counter to the cool white of Italian rationalism, so prevalent in the architecture of Benghazi's old town.
The entire project was conceived as a series of architectural drawings all produced by hand, and many carved into Gypsum using the grids of Medieval craftsmen. An entire new system of drawing was required to produce the architecture.
The result is an architecture that speaks both to the earthen construction techniques of North Africa, and centuries of tradition in the art of geometry - all reconceived into an architecture of contemporary spectacle.

2025-2026

1. Samt Elevation 01 - 251.21 - Southwest facade on the 4th of April at 4.00 pm.
2. Conceptual drawing which initiated the project and three times of day to be investigated.
3. North Elevation at early morning.