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This six-day course welcomes artists, designers, architects, and those with a passion for heritage crafts and woodwork to merge the intricate art of wood inlay with precious materials and the enduring tradition of Islamic wood joinery. Participants will explore techniques from the Mamluk and Hijazi traditions while collaboratively creating a large Mangour screen and a wooden jewelry box inlaid with materials such as mother-of-pearl, camel bone, ebony, and brass. The course blends theory, history, and hands-on practice, allowing participants to learn about the cultural and architectural significance of Mangour screens and gain hands-on carving and inlaying skills. Moreover, the participants will come together as a group to construct and decorate one large screen panel that can be displayed at Ithra Academy.
Course Objectives:
- Obtaining a deep understanding of Islamic wood joinery and inlay traditions.
- Learning how to design and construct geometric wooden structures.
- Acquiring practical techniques in carving and inlay with precious materials.
- Fostering collaborative making by creating a large display piece.
- Inspiring new interpretations of heritage techniques in contemporary design.
Course Outcomes:
- To learn hands-on skills in carving, joinery, and inlay techniques.
- To gain a deeper appreciation of Islamic woodwork heritage across regions.
- To experience collaborative craftsmanship.
- To produce one large mangour screen panel as a group.
- To individually create an inlaid wood jewelry box.
Recommended for:
- Beginner to mid-level artists, designers, architects, and artisans.
- Individuals interested in heritage crafts, woodwork, and Islamic geometry.
- Those seeking to expand traditional knowledge into contemporary applications.
Facilitator
Alyaa Aboalhoda
Architect, designer, and educator with a passion for geometry and heritage crafts. She was an apprentice who learned from a master craftsman in Cairo about traditional woodworking and geometric techniques, developing an educational methodology that bridges hands-on heritage practices with modern design. She further strengthened her expertise under a Spanish master specializing in Andalusian woodwork, collaborating on geometric wooden domes. Alyaa has led workshops at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jiddah, as well as in Cairo, Riyadh, AlUla, and Segovia, Spain, training over 100 architects, designers, and artisans. Dedicated to preserving endangered traditions, she integrates technology into her process to enhance analysis, precision, and fabrication, ensuring that these timeless skills thrive in contemporary creative practice.
