Being Modern, Building Modern: L'Union Féministe Egyptienne's headquarters in Cairo in 1932

The interpretation of what modern ideas and modern architecture mean varies significantly across different regions and historical contexts. At the same time, definitions of modernity and modern architecture evolve over time, reflecting cultural, social, and political contemporary challenges. This paper explores the architectural project of the professional school and headquarters of L’Union Féministe Egyptienne (UFE) in Cairo, to reflect on how modern articulations of architectural design programs intersected with ideals of first wave feminism and their local interpretations. Founded by Egyptian feminist Huda Shaarawi and her peers in 1923, the UFE successfully established its headquarters and a vocational school on Kasr-al-Aini street in Cairo by 1932, realized through the designs of Egyptian architect Moustapha Fahmy. Based on archival information from the UFE mouthpiece, L’Egyptienne – a monthly on feminism, sociology and art – this paper primarily investigates the rationale behind the design and construction of the union’s headquarters. As a journalist and a member of the UFE, Ceza Nabarawi, described the building in 1932 in L’Egyptienne: “For it is not only the purely artistic monuments that should hold our attention, but everything - ancient or modern - that has been erected with the noble purpose of alleviating human suffering and contributing to the enrichment and progress of civilization”. From this particular case study, the discussion seeks to contribute to remapping modernisms from a feminist and postcolonial perspective that considers, makes visible, and values women’s contribution to the history of the built environment, also in North Africa. Lastly, this paper traces the recent history of the building and its transformations over the preceding years, adding to the discourse on the public perception of modernist landmarks in the Middle East and beyond, as well as the challenges of maintaining historical narratives for these structures to ensure their conservation and preservation for future generations.