Building in an extreme place like the Egyptian desert requires a great deal of knowledge and often the best solutions are those that belong to ‘traditions’. Near the oasis of Kharga, the archaeological research centre is the result of advanced analyses that draw on local history. The complexities of the site and the function accommodated have become first possibilities and then strengths: the study of typical local architecture and design requirements have been translated into a system that coexists with its surroundings without being affected by them.