As part of its mission to foster international cooperation and exchange on the one hand, and to preserve Alexandria’s heritage on the other, Alex Med organized a workshop for student architects, jointly with the École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles and the Centre d’Études Alexandrines.

The workshop took place at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina between 5–21 April 2008. It was attended by students from the École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles as part of their masters programme, and students from the École supérieure d’architecture de Paris-Belleville as part of their DSA Architecture et patrimoine des villes orientales programme.

The workshop focused on four areas in the Turkish Town of Alexandria: the Magarba Alley, the Wekalat el Lamoun and traditional markets area, Abul Abbas Mosque Square and Mansheya Square. Members of Alex Med’s Architectural Unit accompanied the student architects on site visits and discussion panels. They also attended a lecture on the historical development of the city and its contemporary development patterns and problems, by Mohamed Awad, the Director of Alex Med. During the final discussion, attended by representatives of the local authorities, the students presented their findings on the urban and conservation problems of the areas studied.