IJAR Volume 5, Issue 1 (complete publication).
New Architecture with Old Ideas: An Egyptian Acculturation
Type
journal article
Year
2011
A product of any culture, such as architecture, becomes a travelling icon upon migrating to another culture. By the time the travelling icon reaches the host culture, it loses much of its original content keeping primarily its form. The host culture starts giving it new meanings and interpretations; and even working around its limitations through a process of acculturation.
I argue throughout the article that the travelling icon despite losing most of its original content still maintained its power to disseminate among the newly rising elite of Egypt. The power to disseminate was based on a consistent campaign carried out by Rifa‘a al-Tahtawi (and successive intellectuals) on issues of progress and modernity. al-Tahtawi devised a theory of progress that triggered a huge process of acculturation. This led to the evolution of the new villa so particular to the Egyptian society. It was not a mere copy of the Palladian villa but an acculturated one that had no precedence.
I argue throughout the article that the travelling icon despite losing most of its original content still maintained its power to disseminate among the newly rising elite of Egypt. The power to disseminate was based on a consistent campaign carried out by Rifa‘a al-Tahtawi (and successive intellectuals) on issues of progress and modernity. al-Tahtawi devised a theory of progress that triggered a huge process of acculturation. This led to the evolution of the new villa so particular to the Egyptian society. It was not a mere copy of the Palladian villa but an acculturated one that had no precedence.
Citation
Asfour, Khaled S. "Configuration of Carved Components and Its Layout Patterns in Malay Timber Houses," in ArchNet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. 5, issue 1 (2011).
Parent Publications
Copyright
Khaled S. Asfour
Terms of Use
CC BY-NC-ND
Country
Egypt
Language
English
Keywords
New Architecture with Old Ideas: An Egyptian Acculturation
Type
journal article
Year
2011
A product of any culture, such as architecture, becomes a travelling icon upon migrating to another culture. By the time the travelling icon reaches the host culture, it loses much of its original content keeping primarily its form. The host culture starts giving it new meanings and interpretations; and even working around its limitations through a process of acculturation.
I argue throughout the article that the travelling icon despite losing most of its original content still maintained its power to disseminate among the newly rising elite of Egypt. The power to disseminate was based on a consistent campaign carried out by Rifa‘a al-Tahtawi (and successive intellectuals) on issues of progress and modernity. al-Tahtawi devised a theory of progress that triggered a huge process of acculturation. This led to the evolution of the new villa so particular to the Egyptian society. It was not a mere copy of the Palladian villa but an acculturated one that had no precedence.
I argue throughout the article that the travelling icon despite losing most of its original content still maintained its power to disseminate among the newly rising elite of Egypt. The power to disseminate was based on a consistent campaign carried out by Rifa‘a al-Tahtawi (and successive intellectuals) on issues of progress and modernity. al-Tahtawi devised a theory of progress that triggered a huge process of acculturation. This led to the evolution of the new villa so particular to the Egyptian society. It was not a mere copy of the Palladian villa but an acculturated one that had no precedence.
Citation
Asfour, Khaled S. "Configuration of Carved Components and Its Layout Patterns in Malay Timber Houses," in ArchNet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. 5, issue 1 (2011).
Parent Publications
Copyright
Khaled S. Asfour
Terms of Use
CC BY-NC-ND
Country
Egypt
Language
English