What does it take to bring new life to a city without erasing what made it special in the first place?

In Esna, a historic city along the Nile, architect Kareem Ibrahim and his team have spent years finding out. Their approach starts not with buildings, but with the people already there: local craftspeople, business owners, traditions and knowledge that can easily be overlooked when cities are redeveloped.

In this episode of This Being Human, Mai Habib speaks with Kareem about the long, sometimes messy work of earning a community’s trust, and how that process helped transform Esna into an award-winning model for heritage and tourism in Egypt. They also trace the unlikely story of Okra, a cooking competition that grew into a women-run restaurant attracting visitors from around the world. It’s a conversation about what can happen when preservation means more than protecting old buildings—and when the future of a place is built from what is already there.

*The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human.*

Guest Bio

Kareem Ibrahim is an Egyptian architect, urban development expert, and co-founder and CEO of Takween Integrated Community Development. His work spans heritage conservation, inclusive urban revitalization, community development and urban policy. In 2025, Takween’s Revitalization of Historic Esna project received an Aga Khan Award for Architecture for its approach to preserving the city’s heritage while supporting local economic and community development.

Links & Resources

• This was just one example of Muslim art and culture that sparked curiosity and a great conversation. There is so much more to see at the Aga Khan Museum. Support the Museum's vision to impact lives and contribute to more inclusive and peaceful societies. Go to agakhanmuseum.org to plan your visit or make a donation.
• You can find more about Takween Integrated Community Development and its projects online and on Instagram.
• For a taste of Esna, be sure to look into Okra, the restaurant in Esna entirely operated by local women.
• Check out more episodes in full video.

Key Moments

00:21 Intro to This Being Human and Egyptian architect Kareem Ibrahim

01:40 The city of Esna’s historical significance

04:16 Peeling back layers: what it takes to support an award-winning revitalization project

08:23 The importance of inclusion and community in consensus building

13:31 MasterChef Esna: enabling and empowering local women through gastronomy

20:41 Esna as a model for the future of Egyptian tourism

23:32 Developing and supporting areas in need

28:47 Kareem Ibrahim’s closing remarks on creating human impact

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