Dr Yasser Megahed

(he/him)

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

Megahed’s research interests include methods of design research, interrogating cultures of contemporary architectural practice through practice-based methodologies, in addition to a specific interest in design fiction, storytelling and cartoons as tools for communicating architectural ideas. His research culminated in the single-author book and architectural graphic novel: Practiceopolis, Journeys in the Architectural Profession (published: July 20202 by Routledge). The book is an architectural graphic novel that crosses over between design research and professional practice literature. It acts as an exemplar of unorthodox practice-based research around the values of the contemporary architectural profession. Megahed’s research has been translated into several book chapters and journal papers that include papers in JAE, Interstices, and arq journals as well as a forthcoming book chapter in the edited book: Creative Practice Inquiry in Architecture, ed. by Mason A. and Sharr A. (Routledge, 2022). Megahed is also interested in the critique of contemporary mosque typology, where he has produced several publications. He is a recurrent invitee, keynote speaker and conference chair for several research events for Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture and Bahrain University and is currently a research consultant for developing Abdullatif Alfozan International Award for Mosque Architecture web Research Database: Mosqpedia, 2022-25.

My current research involves:

• The Evolution of Design Research in Architecture
• Design Fiction, Comics, Cartoons, and Graphic Novels as a research tool for architecture
• Critiquing mainstream ‘commercial’ architecture and professional practice, the Value of the Architect, Value conflict in the building industry.
• Critique of Contemporary Mosque Design

PUBLICATIONS (Full list)

Books:
Megahed, Y. Practiceopolis: Stories from the Architectural Profession (London: Routledge, 2020).

Book Chapters:
Megahed, Y. ‘Revising the Majaz Embodied Thresholds: The Madrasa of Sultan Hassan, Cairo’, in Embodied Awareness and Space in Architecture, eds. Kakalis, C. and Boyd, D. (Palgrave Macmillan, expected 2025).
Megahed, Y. Storying Practiceopolis’ in Creative Practice Inquiry in Architecture, ed. Mason A. and Sharr A. (London: Routledge, forthcoming 2022).
Megahed, Y. ‘Is the mosque a male-dedicated building?! A critical view on women praying space in contemporary mosque design’, in Mosque: Building Crosses Cultures, eds. Al Naim, M. et al. (Al Khobar: Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture, 2022) pp. 499-517.
Megahed, Y. ‘Dramatising Conflicts in Architectural Production: Using an architecturally-themed graphic novel to examine competing ideologies at work among actors of the contemporary construction industry’ in RIBA President’s Awards for Research 2020/21 Book of Abstracts, ed. by Allford, S. (London: RIBA, 2022).
Megahed, Y. ‘Has mosque design really developed? Notes on the hidden complexities of mosques’ architectural brief’ in Mosque architecture: Present issues and future ideas, ed. by Al Naim, M., et al. (Al Khobar: Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture and Kuala Lumpur: Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia Berhad (ITBM), 2019) pp. 139-153.

Megahed Y. and Connolly K. ‘On value conflicts: negotiating difference in the renovation of historic buildings’ in REHAB 2017, Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Preservation, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Historical Buildings and Structures, ed. by Amoêda, R., Lira, S., and Pinhiero, C. (Barcelos: Green Lines Institute for Sustainable Development, 2017) pp. 759-768.

Sharr A., Connolly K., Longfield J., and Megahed Y., ‘The pleasure’s all ours: Productive trades between practice and research’ in Asymmetric Labour, ed. by Deamer P. (New York: Architecture Lobby, 2016) pp. 220-224.

Megahed Y. ‘Practiceopolis: Journeys in the architectural profession’ in RIBA President’s Awards for Research 2017 Book of Abstracts, ed. by Martindale K. and Dixon D. (London: RIBA, 2017) pp. 66-71.

Journal papers:
Megahed, Y. and Themistokleous, G., ‘Disrupting design research in architecture: Speculating on the third phase of architectural design research’, arq: Architectural Research Quarterly, (expected 2025).

Megahed, Y. ‘Geoengineering questions made architectural - The Planet After Geoengineering By DESIGN EARTH’, arq: Architectural Research Quarterly, 26/3 (2022), 289-292.

Megahed, Y. ‘On ‘normative’ architecture: Notes on the domination of the technical-rational mode of thinking on mainstream architectural production: A historical highlight’, Materia Arquitectura 19 (2021): 98-103.

Megahed, Y. ‘Acerca de la Arquitectura “Normativa”. Notas acerca del dominio del modo técnico-racional de pensamiento en la producción arquitectónica convencional: Una revision histórica’, Materia Arquitectura 19 (2021): 35-43.

Megahed, Y. and Sharr A. ‘Practiceopolis: From an imaginary city to a graphic novel’, JAE, Journal of Architectural Education 72.1 (2018): 146-166.

Megahed, Y. ‘On research by design’, arq: Architectural Research Quarterly, 21/4 (2017), 338-343.

Megahed, Y. Sharr A., and Farmer, G. ‘Practiceopolis: Journeys through the contemporary architectural profession’, Interstices: Journal of Architecture and Related Arts (2017).

Conferences:
Adam Sharr, Kieran Connolly, Yasser Megahed and Harry Thompson, Design Office: Practice, Design, Research, in Project Offices Forum (Newcastle University, 2024)

Aljhadali, A. and Megahed, Y. ‘Identifying architectural tasks suitable for automation using artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML)’ in CAADRIA 2024: Accelerated Design, eds. Gardner, N. et al. (Hong Kong: CAADRIA, expected 2024).

Megahed, Y. and Themistokleous, G. ‘Minding the triangular gap: Architectural design-research as a mediator for the gap between research, education and practice in architecture’ in The Association of Architectural Educators (aae) 2023 Conference: Productive-Disruptive: spaces of exploration in-between architectural pedagogy and practice, (Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, July 2023).

Sharr, A., Connolly, K., and Megahed, Y. ‘A Decade of Design Office: Productive and disruptive entanglements between research, practice and pedagogy’ in The Association of Architectural Educators (aae) 2023 Conference: Productive-Disruptive: spaces of exploration in-between architectural pedagogy and practice, (Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, July 2023).

Aljhadali, A., Megahed, Y. and Gwilliam, J. ‘Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in practice: A comprehensive investigation into the utilization of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in architectural practice’ in C+++: Computation, Culture, and Context – Proceedings of the 11th International Conference of the Arab Society for Computation in Architecture, Art and Design, eds. Abdelmohsen S., Al-Jokhadar, A. (Oakland, US: ASCAAD, 2023).

Megahed, Y. ‘A critical view on women praying space in contemporary mosque design’, in the International Conference on Mosque Architecture, ICMA 3 (Kuwait, 2022).

Megahed, Y. ‘Revisiting the majaz: Reading the embodied multi-sensory experience in the threshold space of Al-Sultan Hassan mosque in Cairo’, in Embodied Awareness and Space (EAS) Symposium, (Newcastle, 2021).

Megahed, Y. ‘Practiceopolis: A case study on practice-based research’, the AHRA Annual Symposium, (Newcastle, 2020).

Megahed, Y. ‘Architectural graphic novels as a potential method for practice-based research—A detailed case study’, in 16th Annual International Conference of the Architectural Humanities Research Association AHRA, Architecture Collective Life, (Dundee, 2019).

Megahed, Y. ‘Dramatising bureaucracy in architectural production: Using an architectural Graphic novel to examine the competing ideologies of multiple actors in the contemporary construction industry’, in Architecture and Bureaucracy: Entangled Sites of Knowledge Production and Exchange International Conference, (Brussels, 2019).

Megahed, Y. ‘Using an architectural graphic novel to examine competing ideologies of multiple actors in the contemporary construction industry’, in Fieldwork Seminar Series, (The Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, 2019).

Megahed, Y. ‘Design Office, An Experiment in Practice-based Research’, RIBA North East Research & Innovation Symposium, (Newcastle, 2018).

Megahed, Y. ‘Practiceopolis: Representing practice-based research through an architectural graphic novel’, in Fieldwork Seminar Series, (The Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, 2018).

Megahed, Y. ‘Journeys in the contemporary architectural profession’, in Industries of architecture Seminar Series (ARC: Architectural Research Collaborative, Newcastle University, 2017).

Megahed Y. ‘Practiceopolis: Setting-out an imaginary city of architectural practice’, in Setting Out - 11th AHRA PhD Symposium (Dublin, 2014).

Megahed Y. and Gabr H., ‘Quantitative architectural aesthetic assessment’ in the Conference of Aesthetics + design: Dresden International Symposium; 21st Biennial Congress of International Association of Empirical Aesthetics, IAEA, (Dresden, 2010).

Teaching

I have a broad experience in Higher Education in the UK and Egypt in architecture and the built environment. I am a Fellow of Higher Education FHEA. Prior to joining WSA, I was Senior Lecturer at Leicester School of Architecture where I worked as Design Studio and Year Leader for BA2. Previously I taught design studio and architectural history and theory modules at the School of Architecture, Newcastle University and at the Department of Architecture, Cairo University.

Responsibilities

I contribute to the following areas of activity at the Welsh School of Architecture:

• MArch-2 Chair and Design Studio Leader (2023-present)
• MArch-2 Studio Unit Lead: De/Re-programming the Corporate Workspace (2023-present)
• Design Subject Lead in the Programme Redesign and Curriculum Development (2022-present)
• Design Tutor, Y2: Project: Subterranean Mediatheque, Raglan Castle (2022).
• WSA Degree Show (Students Exhibition) Lead (2023-present)
• PhD and Master dissertations supervision
• Deputy Module Leader of Design Studio 2 (Year 2), 
• Deputy Module Leader of Design Studio 2 (MArch 1)
• Tutor in the Research Prep. Module (MArch 1)
• Dissertation Supervisor (MArch 2)
• Postgraduate Research Supervision (PhD)
• Personal Tutelage

Biography

Yasser Megahed is Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design (Associate Professor, US) at the Welsh School of Architecture and Associate Architect at Design Office, Newcastle. Megahed is a researcher and practitioner with several years of experience in the profession and academia in the UK and the Middle East. He holds a PhD by Design degree from the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, as well as MSc, BArch-Eng, Dip Arch. from Cairo University.

Megahed’s research interests include methods of design research, and interrogating cultures of contemporary architectural practice through practice-based methodologies, in addition to a specific interest in design fiction, storytelling and cartoons as tools for communicating architectural ideas. His research culminated in the single-author book and architectural graphic novel: Practiceopolis, Journeys in the Architectural Profession (published: July 20202 by Routledge). The book is an architectural graphic novel that crosses over between design research and professional practice literature. It acts as an exemplar of unorthodox practice-based research around the values of the contemporary architectural profession. Megahed’s research has been translated into several book chapters and journal papers that include papers in JAE, Interstices, and arq journals as well as a forthcoming book chapter in the edited book: Creative Practice Inquiry in Architecture, ed. by Mason A. and Sharr A. (Routledge, 2022). Megahed is also interested in the critique of contemporary mosque typology, where he has produced several publications. He is a recurrent invitee, keynote speaker and conference chair for several research events for Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture and Bahrain University and is currently a research consultant for developing Abdullatif Alfozan International Award for Mosque Architecture web Research Database: Mosqpedia, 2022-25.

In terms of Practice, Megahed is Associate Architect at Design Office, UK where he was part of the concept design team of the £25 million project of the renovation of the Grade II listed building: Armstrong Building, Newcastle, shortlisted for the RIBA North East Award 2019. He was selected for the AJ (Architects’ Journal) Magazine’s prestigious award 40 under 40 in 2021. Previously, he worked as Senior Architect and Design Team Leader at AUG: Architecture and Urbanism Group - Cairo, where he was involved in several projects and winning architectural competitions covering different building typologies in Egypt and the Middle East. Megahed has participated in several international architectural competitions and won the first prize in Al-Othaim Shopping mall competition, KSA, 2006 over 38 entries of renowned Middle Eastern architectural firms.

Megahed has a long experience in Higher Education in the UK and Egypt in architecture and the built environment. He is a Fellow of Higher Education FHEA. Prior to joining WSA, Megahed was Senior Lecturer at Leicester School of Architecture where he was Design Studio and Year Leader for BA2. Previously he taught design studio and architectural history and theory modules at the School of Architecture, Newcastle University and at the Department of Architecture, Cairo University.

Honours and awards

• 2020 Named in the Architects’ Journal (AJ) 40 under 40 2020 with the team of Design Office.
• 2019 RIBA North East Awards Shortlist for the Armstrong Building regeneration project, Newcastle: as part of my involvement with Design Office architectural practice.
• 2006 Winning the first prize in ‘Abdullah Al-Othaim Shopping Mall Competition, Madina, Saudi Arabia, winning over 38 entries from renowned Middle-Eastern architectural firms.

Professional memberships

• The Higher Education Academy (Fellow, FHEA)
• Member of Architectural Humanities Research Association AHRA
• Egyptian Syndicate of Engineering, Architecture Section

Academic positions

• Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University (2022 - present)
• Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Leicester School of Architecture, De Montfort University (2019 - 2022)
• Lecturer of Architecture VC2020, Leicester School of Architecture, De Montfort University (2018 - 2019)
• Associate Architect, Design Office, Newcastle (2012 - presently as an advisor)
• Teacher of Architecture, School of Architecture, Newcastle University (2013 -2018)
• Senior Architect & Design Team leader, the Architecture and Urbanism Group, Giza, Egypt (2004 - 2010)
• Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport, Cairo, Egypt (2010)
• Assistant Lecturer at the Architecture Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University (2004 - 2010)

Speaking engagements

• ‘Transformations in design-research in Architecture’, presented at Design-Research & Professional Practice DRPP-RSG Workshop, Cardiff University, 2023.
• Keynote speaker at the Heritage Building Forum, Bahrain University, 2021, titled: Negotiations between Design, Conservation, and Practice-based Research.
• Keynote speaker at the UIA-sponsored ‘Abdullatif Al Fozan International Award for Mosque Architecture’ Cultural event, Paris, 2019, titled: Has Mosque Design Really Developed? Notes on the Hidden Complexities of Mosque’s Architectural Brief.
• STORYING PRACTICES: Representing Practice-based Research through an Architectural Graphic Novel: The Architectural Association AA, 2021.
• Representing Practice-Based Research Through an Architectural Graphic Novel, The Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, 2018, 2019.
• Journeys in the Contemporary Architectural Profession, a Seminar under the theme ’Industries of Architecture’, Organised by ARC: Architectural Research Collaborative, Newcastle University, 2017.
• Ideas in Practice, Design Office: An Experiment in Research by-Design, Newcastle University, 2016.
• Invited speaker for the Virtual Roundtable Seminar ‘Mosque Design under Covid’ organised by Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture, 2021.
• Interview by New Book Network NBN Architectural Podcast about my book: Practiceopolis, Stories from the architectural profession, by Architect Bryan Toepfer, US, 2020.

Committees and reviewing

• Editor for the Journal on Architecture, Design, and Built Environment, Bahrain University Journal, 2025
• Reviewer for Routledge Book Publishing, 2024.
• Reviewer for the RIBA Journal of Architecture, 2023.
• Reviewer for the Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians JSAH, 2023.
• Reviewer for arq: Architectural Research Quarterly Journal, 2022.
• Reviewer for the Journal of Urban Planning, 2022.
• Member of the scientific committee for the Association of Architectural Educators (aae) conference, Productive-disruptive: Spaces of exploration in-between architectural pedagogy and practice, Cardiff University, 2023.
• Member of the scientific committee for the 2nd Architecture and Design Conference (IADC2023): Reinventing the ARCHIDES through Humanization and Emerging Technologies: New Creative and Investment Perspectives, Effat University, 2023.
• Member of the scientific committee for the 1st International ARCH+DESN Conference Man and Place: Creative Transformations, Effat University, 2022.
• Member of the review and nomination panel for the China Scholarship Council Research Excellence Scholarships applications 2023 and 2024.
• Member of the review and nomination panel or e AHRC South Wales and West studentships (SWWDTP) 2022/23.
• Reviewer for FRS-FNRS-Belgium research-grant 2022.
• Visiting Design Reviewer to other UK Schools of Architecture
• External examiner for the graduation projects at the Department of Architecture, Bahrain University
• Reviewer for the new edition of the Saudi Mosque Building Code
• Award Nominator for the third cycle of Abdullatif Alfozan Award for Mosque Architecture
•  

Supervisions

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the following areas:

1) The Development of Design Research in Architecture 

Keywords: Architectural Design Research, research by design, creative practice research in architecture, practice-based research, practice-led research

2) Design Fiction, Comics, Cartoons, and Graphic Novels as a research tool for architecture

Keywords: Architectural cartoon, comics, fiction, storyboards in architecture, Dramatising Conflicts in Architectural Production

3) Critiquing mainstream ‘commercial’ architecture and professional practice, the Value of the Architect, and Value conflict in the building industry.

Keywords & Topics: the Value of the Architect, Value conflict in the building industry, Corporate architecture, mainstream practice, commercial architecture, generic architecture, the architecture of bigness, globalised architecture, technical-rational architecture, architecture of capitalism, the architecture of neoliberal economy, professional practice, building industry

On CAD, REVIT, BIM, and Beyond: Interrogating the Promise of Technology, A Reading Through Mainstream Architectural Advertisement

4) Critique of Contemporary Mosque Design

Keywords: Contemporary Mosque design, creative brief, challenging architectural typologies, women in the mosque

Supervision Responsibilities

PhD

• Fahad Alshiddi, Examining The Sustainability Of Mosque Design In Saudi Arabia Through The Global Sustainability Assessment System, (PhD in-progress, co-supervised with Dr Julie Gwilliam)
• Abdulrahman Aljhadali, The Value Of Architects In The Era Of Artificial Intelligence (PhD in-progress, co-supervised with Dr Magda Sibley)

MArch Design Thesis

• Recycling Plastic Sustainably, the shared responsibility, Fizzy Drinks Industry Office, by: Rokas Vilciauskas (2023-24)
• The Resilient Office of the Sharing Economy, by Matthew Gibson (2023-24)
• Repairing the Fabric of the City: Retail Industry Office Re-Use, by Justyna Matuszewska (2023-24)
• Follies for Finance: Challenging Accounting & Finance Workplace, by Jermaine Chok (2023-24)
• The Future of the ‘Corporate’ Office, Revisiting the Railway, by Isaac Slater (2023-24)
• From the Business Park to the ‘Work’ PARK, by Eleni Bertoli (2023-24)
• Redefining the IT workplace, by Athanasia Theofilia Mavrommati (2023-24)
• The Investment ‘Biking’ Office: Designing for Movement and Employee Wellbeing, by Aisling Begley (2023-24)

Current supervision

Abdulrahman Aljhadali

Research student

Fahad Alshiddi

Research student