Ahwa Baladi – Traditional Egyptian Café

Software Used: Autodesk Maya (Modeling) | Substance Painter (Texturing) | Blender Cycles (Rendering)
This project is a real-time 3D environment recreation of a traditional Egyptian café, locally known as an “Ahwa Baladi.” The goal was to capture the authentic mood, storytelling, and visual essence of a nostalgic local setting, commonly seen in Middle Eastern culture.
Breakdown:
Modeling: All assets were modeled from scratch in Maya, focusing on realistic proportions and structural imperfections to reflect age and heavy use.
Texturing: Materials were textured in Substance Painter, with a focus on:
Worn wood, grimy concrete, and aged textiles
Authentic graffiti decals, dirt overlays, and hand-painted signage
Lighting & Rendering:
Scene rendered using Cycles in Blender
Soft, dusty lighting using volumetric fog and fluorescent-style tube lights for a grounded, cinematic effect
Camera depth of field and slight lens blur used to create a storytelling-focused composition
This scene aims to evoke a sense of nostalgia and cultural immersion, celebrating the subtle details of everyday environments.