Al-Azhar Park, 2005, Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s Historic Cities Programme

Originally the large dump-full land lot, in the east quarter of the heart Cairo was used as a municipal garbage dump for almost half a millennia. The space that was to be transformed into today’s Azhar Park needed a 80,000 truckload of garbage and debris to be removed before its development and the restoration of its neighboring and buried ancient and architectural heritages.

It encompasses an area of 30 hectares of green spaces complemented by walkways aisled by fountains and artificial lakes. The walk way flows down with the contours of the hill over looking towards the Salah el-Dins Medieval fortress walls flanking the magnificent Ottoman Mosque of Muhammad Ali. The park is enriched with its gardens not only acting as a space for gathering but a haven of collections upon collections of botanical gardens. To maintain a circulation within park at either ends of the park are 2 cuisine-ly rich restaurants enveloped by what architecture theorist Kenneth Frampton would have described as “Critical Regionalist” architecture over looking unique views of Cairo’s heritage.

For long Cairo has suffered many problems with pollution from noise, air to littering. Not only did this project respond to Cairo’s yearning for a proper green public space that acts a green lung within the city but also as a communal space for gathering and providing a view  for the appreciation of Cairo’s multicultural eras, exemplifying its architecture in an almost collage like view of its skyline promoting a sense of pride to the city.

Lara Waked

Originally Posted by Lara Waked on: http://www.daviddiez.com/SDW/?p=2390