Towards Urban Resuscitation

Downtown Cairo has been undergoing swift transformations in its politics and urban fabric in the past few years. With increased developments focused on the city’s outskirts, and with many residents turning to gated suburban life, this district near Tahrir Square is experiencing gradual urban degradation.

Starting with a macro analysis followed by the dissection of selected blocks, this work examines the current Haussmannized colonial fabric, the voids, the pedestrian pathways and their accompanying activities, using these elements as a reference to create a modern vibrant mixed-use district that respects but does not replicate its former existing fabric.