Located on the archaeological site of Amheida, Egypt, the Excavation House is an undergraduate field school and excavation quarters for the International Dakhleh Oasis Project of the Classic Department of Columbia University.

The organization of the building takes advantage of the topographic conditions of the site, leaning towards the northern oasis. Programmatically, the building is inspired by vernacular local architecture, where private and communal spaces overlap in sequences such that the enclosed bedroom suites slip into communal courtyards. The resulting programmatic axis creates continuity between the interconnected system of courtyards, terraces, and indoor spaces.

The mud plaster construction not only provides weather protection from the harsh climate but also creates continuous surfaces from floor to walls and ceilings, materiality that is reinforced by a dramatic use of natural light through light wells and small windows, providing dramatic light changes and colors throughout the day.