Dr Ehab Kamel
Senior Lecturer

Profile

Biography

Ehab Kamel brings a wealth of experience to the field of architecture as an educator, researcher, and designer, accumulating over twenty-five years of international practice. His research interests focus on architectural and urban design, with a particular emphasis on contextual interpretation strategies for cultural heritage sites and architecture for wellbeing, shaping his pedagogical approach, notably in design studio settings.

Dr. Kamel earned his PhD in Architecture from the University of Nottingham (UK) in 2011. His professional journey includes a decade in architectural practice across the Middle East and North Africa, where he contributed to and spearheaded various design projects encompassing residential, healthcare, educational, commercial, and cultural sectors. His teaching experience extends across Egypt, China, and the UK, including a pivotal role in establishing the Architecture Programme at the University of Nottingham in China (Ningbo).

Prior to joining the University of York in December 2024, to establish the new architecture programmes, Dr. Kamel served as the course leader for the undergraduate Architecture course and led the PhD programmes at the Grenfell-Baines Institute of Architecture, UCLan. His teaching experience spans across the undergraduate, masters teaching and PhD supervision.

In his role at the University of York, he looks forward to fostering a dynamic learning environment that merges research insights with practical design experiences, preparing the next generation of architects and architectural researchers to engage critically with the challenges and opportunities of the built environment.

For any inquiries or collaborations, Ehab welcomes discussions and exchange of ideas within the architectural community and beyond.

Departmental roles

• Programme Director for BA (Hons) Architecture
• Director of Teaching and Learning
• Chair of Board of Studies
• Admissions Tutor

Research

Overview

Ehab's research explores urban memories and the inter-connections between city cultures, architecture, and users' perception and wellbeing, investigating how new design interventions and development for culturally rich sites and historic cities can learn from the past to create sustainable environments. His research is applicable to both small-scale functional spaces such as offices, schools, and houses, as well as cultural cityscapes.

His work led to the development of a comprehensive 5-pillar strategic interpretive plan called Understanding people, Narrating stories, Conserving the spirit of place, Architectural intervention, and Preserving the built environment (UNCAP). This strategy has been successfully applied to various contexts, thanks to its flexibility and adaptability.

Recently, Ehab collaborated with The Harris Museum, Library, and Art Gallery of Preston on the Re-imagining the Harris project, and Edwin Beattie’s 19th Century Preston Exhibition (Streets of Change). Moreover, Ehab’s research explored several sites in UK, Egypt, China, and Jordan.

Projects

• Architectural Design Strategies for Cultural Heritage Sites
• Architectural and Urban Design for Healthy Ageing and Users' Wellbeing
• Architecture and Urbanism of MENA Countries
• Architectural Design Studio Pedagogies

Teaching

Undergraduate

First Year

• Architectural Design 1: An introduction to Architecture [self-space-presence] - Module Coordinator
• Architectural Design 2: An introduction to Architecture [community-place-time] - Module Coordinator

Second Year

• Architectural Design 4: Retrofitting - Module Coordinator

Third Year

• Architectural Design 6: Integrated Design - Module Coordinator

External activities

Memberships

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)  [2016-present]
• RIBA Affiliate Membership [2014-present]
• Steering Group member at the Architectural Humanities Research Association (AHRA) [2017-present]
• Member of the Federation of Arab Engineers (FAE): Chapter of Architecture [2018-present]
• Member of the Egyptian Syndicate of Engineers (ESE)- Chapter of Architecture [1998-present]
• Member of Forum UNESCO- University and Heritage Network [2008-present]

Invited talks and conferences

• The 6th International Conference: Archaeology and Heritage: Authenticity, Risks and Challenges, 2018
• Streets of Change: Beattie’s Preston and Beyond. Exhibition of an interactive map of Preston. 30 Sep- 26 Nov. The Harris Museum, 2017
• Architecture Connects: Strategies for the Co-production of Knowledge International Conference, 2017
• The 2nd International Workshop: Critical Planning for Chinese Cities (CPCC), 2013
• MAEC 2012: The Future of Architectural Education, 2012 
• The 3rd International Symposium on Low Carbon Building (ISLCB), 2012
• Conservation: Principles, Dilemmas and Uncomfortable Truths Symposium, Royal Academy of Arts, 2009
• AESOP 2009- Why Can’t the Future Be More Like the Past?, 2009
• ISAAC International Conference: Promoting Cultural Heritage Tourism through Integrated e-Services, 2009
• 12th International Seminar of Forum UNESCO- University and Heritage, 2009