Trend Micro Offices – Cairo
Part office and part cultural experience, Trend Micro's offices in Cairo pay homage to Ancient Egyptian methods of securing knowledge while offering employees a comfortable workplace for supporting modern security and protection.
Dalia Sadany Dezines has converted a university theater into an inspiring space for Trend Micro‘s offices located in Cairo, Egypt.
Originally the building was a university theatre built in the 1960s. It was later leased to a technology park in 2013 where it was modified and leased as office space to several companies. In 2017 our client leased the building and commissioned us to redesign it for their headquarters.
Several original features of the project surfaced during the renovation process most importantly the stage turntable – the inspiration behind the project. Turntables typically used as a theatrical element to assist in changing scenes looked like a science fiction time machine changing place and time hence the concept of traveling to the past was introduced. Our clients line of business was researched in the Ancient Egypt context and this project created to tell the story.
The design is an authenticated story linking past to future, a cultural experience created for the visitor to relive the journey through a carefully thought out design. The layout, lighting, choice of materials, colour palate, fittings and furniture were all carefully studied and used to enhance the experience.
The design research depended on work prepared by an accredited Egyptologist assisted by a Cyber security professional. The latter covered modern day security approaches while the former researched similarities in securing knowledge in Ancient Egypt. The research shows similarities in concept and approach to modern day encryption, hierarchy, passwords, firewalls and maze use in design. The concept revolves around similarities between then and now and how real physical protection 5000 years ago against thieves while nowadays the protection is virtual from hackers and cyber threats.
The project is comprised of a first floor, ground floor and new purpose built basement to house a multipurpose cyber security museum. The museum aspects include a renovated stage turntable, custom designed abstract artefacts, wall claddings and accessories with carved writings on marble and inscribed on metal manifesting all means of protecting knowledge in Ancient Egypt. Some parts of the past were carried to the first floor which includes the break area and workspace.
Designer: Dalia Sadany Dezines
Photography: Nour El Refai
