Urban Design in Historic Context The North-Eastern Edge of Historic Cairo

Transcription

1 Urban Design in Historic Context The North-Eastern Edge of Historic Cairo September 17 th 26 th 2012 Program German - Middle East Cooperation for Urban Design and Development University of Technology Cottbus, Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning University of Cairo, Faculty of Engineering University of Aleppo, Faculty of Architecture University of Alexandria, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Architecture University of Baghdad, College of Engineering American University of Beirut, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture University of Damascus, Faculty of Architecture Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

2 Dear Colleagues, dear Students, We are very happy that the Joint Urban Design Workshop will take place in Cairo this year. We thank the University of Cairo, Department of Architecture for hosting the Workshop and supporting all our activities to conduct the entire workshop. We thank the German Academic Exchange Service for their financial funding. And we are pleased that the Universities of Aleppo, Alexandria, Baghdad, Damascus and the American University of Beirut are participating in the Workshop. We hope all participants will have an interesting time, full of new experiences and professional contacts, while in Cairo. We are looking forward welcoming all of you. Sincerely Prof. Dipl. Ing. Heinz Nagler Department for Urban Design and Development University of Technology, Cottbus / Germany Mr. Prof. Dr. Nabeel El-Hady Department of Architecture Faculty of Engineering, University of Cairo/Giza Introduction In Cairo, a mega-city with a population of more than 17 million inhabitants, the topic of the Joint Urban Design Workshop urban design in historic context is in correlation with the urbanisation and globalization of the whole inner city. The world cultural heritage of Historic Cairo is one important element of this development process. The original structures and the historic monuments and buildings must be protected and rehabilitated to maintain the identity and the character of the town. At the same time the city must be prepared for the requirements of international competition between cities. World cultural heritage and innovation for future development are no contradictions in urban planning. In the case study area of the North-Eastern Edge of Historic Cairo we will examine a situation where both poles, tradition and innovation, can fit together in synthesis for sustainable urban development. The needs of the inhabitants, the respect for historic architecture, the characteristics of the existing urban structure, the lack of qualified open space and the challenges of a the main streets as barriers to the neighbouring quarters with different urban structures form the basis for study in the workshop. In Cairo, the building fabric in many historic districts is in a critical state. Social segregation has taken place over decades, and the actual state of development planning is often not satisfactory for the protection and revitalization of the historic quarters. There is a great challenge for strategic and conceptual planning for these districts. Today the most important questions are: How to encourage sustainable development? How to combine the protection of historic structures and listed buildings with the challenge of innovative and vital development reflecting economic, social and cultural affairs? Since the 1980 s, the most important historic districts of Islamic-Arabic towns have received World Cultural Heritage status from the UNESCO. In the definition of the UNESCO a World Cultural Heritage 2

3 site is a transferable good that we inherit from previous generations. It is our souvenir from the past. In its broader sense cultural heritage presents antiquity, its characteristic and its spiritual aspects. It is a potent reminder of human achievement. It defines our origin and expresses to the present generation the glory of ancient times. It is an irreplaceable fortune as well as a unique attribute that distinguishes societies. Cultural heritage resources included on the World Heritage List are examples of outstanding universal cultural and natural value. This global approach of being an exceptional universal example denotes that the preservation of these sites is not only the concern of individual states. It is the duty of the international society. For the studio work of the Joint Urban Design Workshop we have chosen together with the Architecture Department, University of Cairo the North-Eastern Edge of Historic Cairo. When looking at the Cairo map made by the French expedition around the beginning of the nineteenth century no traces of urban fabric can be found for this area. The study area is formally called Al-Darrassa. It lies between the eastern edge of the Fatimid edges of Cairo and the eastern wall the City wall of Salah al Din. The area was used as a place for quartering of the strops. The current urban development was laid out at the beginning of the twentieth century and the construction began around the 1930s. Two rent controlled housing complexes were built in the areas during the 1960s. Next to the rehabilitation and renewal needs of the area, between the different elements and structures of the area and its neighbourhood there are several brown fields waiting for qualified development. The case study area is appropriate for the Joint Urban Design Workshop because it is on the one hand manageable in its extent, but on the other hand it reflects many of the important problems of a complex inner city situation. Case study area The North-Eastern Edge of Historic Cairo 3

4 Curriculum of the Summer School The workshops will comprise three basic elements: Lectures Excursions and field trips Studio work in mixed working groups During the workshop there will be 12 lectures relevant to the topic. During the excursions we will visit Historic Cairo, the Al-Azhar Park project in the Islamic Arabic town, the new settlements of 6 th of October in the West of Cairo, the Pyramids of Gizeh and the city of Port Said. The studio work of the workshop in Cairo will be organized in five working groups and each group will focus on a specific point for the urban development of the North-Eastern Edge of Historic Cairo. Each working group will be guided by one lecturer from the University of Cottbus and one lecturer from the other participating Universities. By working collaboratively in practice and by discussing the different strategies for handling the challenges of the development of historic districts, we hope to reach new insights and to enrich the experiences of all participants. Focal Topics of the Working Groups The five focal points are: Development of public spaces as initials for a renewal process Design of new building typologies in the historic context Integration of institutional buildings as an initial for a renewal process Design of community based development strategies Elaboration of urban design guidelines and a Masterplan for the case study area and its adjacent areas Each group will work out an urban design for the study area. Between the five focal topics of the working groups there are many intersections, and finally we will have five different development concepts, which may or may not be complementary. At the end of the first week we will schedule an intermediate presentation and at the end of the workshop we will have a final presentation and an exhibition of our working results with guests. Topics and keywords for the five working groups for the studio work Development of public spaces as initials for a renewal process What are the qualities and the problems of the public spaces? Links between the neighbouring quarters and the case study area, Relationship between the buildings and existing and potential public spaces, Potentials of the wide main streets in the area, Relationship and composition of archaeological remains and new public spaces, Needs of public spaces for the inhabitants and the role of public spaces for the neighbourhood, Defining new public spaces, Designing the existing and new public spaces, Atmosphere and function of the public spaces 4

5 Integration of archaeological remains and institutional buildings as initials for a renewal process Situation and conditions of archaeological remains (Ayyubid Wall) in the area, Which functions could institutional or specific buildings accommodate, with an initial impulse for the development of the area? Dialogue and relation between historic monuments, public space and new specific buildings, Designing a rehabilitation process, with a new institutional or specific building as initial Design of new building typologies in the historic context What are the conditions of the commercial and residential buildings? New typologies of commercial and residential buildings for the empty lots of the area, Contemporary architecture with a new interpretation of traditional architectural elements, Defining the edges of the main streets and public spaces, Relationship between the existing building structure and new building typologies Design of community based development strategies Who are the stakeholders in the area and what are their interests? Strategies to support the local inhabitants to restore their buildings, to develop their enterprises and to rehabilitate their neighbourhood, How to integrate the local players, stakeholders and inhabitants for the rehabilitation of the infrastructure and other public or common facilities? Strategies and actions for a bottom up development Elaboration of urban design guidelines and a Masterplan for the case study area and its adjacent areas What part does the area play in the inner city of Cairo? What are the main functions? Relationship between the area and the other quarters of the inner city? Integration of the traffic situation passing through and framing the quarter, Guidelines for the urban design of the quarter, Urban design for the whole quarter and a Masterplan for its adjacent areas 5

6 Timetable Joint Urban Design Workshop Cairo, September 17 th 26 th Sunday Monday Individual Arrival 9:00 in front of Pension Roma downstairs: common moving to the University of Cairo/Giza 10:00 Welcoming in the Faculty of Architecture, University of Cairo/Giza Welcome speech, Introduction 11:15 Lecture: Prof. Dr. Shahdan Shabka: Revitalization of Darb Al-Ahmar: Discussion on Sustainability and Community Development 12:30 Common Lunch 14:00 Lecture, Prof. Dr. Nabeel El-Hady and Preparation Group: First analysis of the case study area and a first approach to development needs 15:15 Lecture: Christoph Wessling: Different Approaches to Urban Design? Introduction to the working groups and constitution of the Working Groups 17:00 Sailing on the Nile with the Working Groups Tuesday 8:30 Citadelle of Cairo Visit of Historic Cairo and the Case Study Area guided by Prof. Dr. Nabeel El-Hady 13:30 Working groups Wednesday 10:00 Lecture, Dr. Khaled Fahmey: Modernization of Cairo: From "Paris along the Nile" to "Cairo 2050" 11:15 Lecture, Prof. Dr. Dalila El-Kerdany: Port Said: Challenges for Architecture and Urban Conservation Introduction for the Excursion 12:30 Lecture, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ouf: Transformation of Public Places in Egyptian Cities - changes of the meaning of public spaces after the Revolution :00 Working groups Thursday 10:00 Working groups 15:00 interim presentation; analysis, guidelines and first designs for the concept Friday 13:30 in front of Pension Roma: facultative: afternoon excursion Cairo: Pyramids, New Settlement 6 th of October and Al-Azhar Park 6

7 Saturday 8:30 in front of Pension Roma: Excursion Port Said, guided by Prof. Dr. Dalila El-Kerdany (back in Cairo around 21:00) Sunday 10:00 Mohamed El-Shahed (Architect): "1950s architecture between International modernism and Nasserism" 11:15 Lecture: Prof. Heinz Nagler: Development of public spaces as initials for urban development 13:30 Working groups Monday 10:00 Lecture: Prof. Dr. Hebatalla Abouelfadl: Alexandria new monuments for specific institutions and adaptive reuse of historic building ensembles as initials for revitalization of the city centre 11:15 Lecture: Prof. Inken Baller: Rehabilitation of World Heritage Cities 13:30 Working groups 13:30 Dialogue Forum for the Professors and Coordinator: Implementation of the Joint Master Program Revitalization of Historic City Districts Tuesday 10:00 Lecture: Prof. Dr. Saba Jabbar AL-Khafaji: Approaches for revitalization of historic city districts in Iraq 11:15 Lecture: Prof. Dr. Howayda Al-Harithy: The contested heritage of living medieval cities 13:30 Working groups 13:30 second Dialogue Forum for the Professors and Coordinator if necessary Wednesday 13:00 Presentation and debate of the Urban Designs of the Working Groups 18:00 Opening of the exhibition of the working results with guests Snacks and drinks Thursday Individual Departure 7

8 List of the Participants of the Joint Urban Design Workshop, Cairo 2012 University of Aleppo, Faculty of Architecture Ms. Prof. Dr. Fatina Kourdi Mr. Prof. Dr. Salah Haj Ismail Ms. May Jamal Aga Ms. Noura Alsaleh Mr. Mher Darakjian Mr. Zohrab Ourishigian Ms. Layla Zeebar Ms. Yara Khouri University of Alexandria, Faculty of fine Arts Ms. Prof. Dr. Hebatalla Abouelfadl, Department of Architecture Lecturer: Mr. Ahmed Hassan Moustafa Mr. Mohammad Ahmed Mahmoud Abdelkhalek Mr. Muhammad Nabeel Abdel Hafez Mr. Moustafa Fathy El Said Mansour Ms. Ghada Essam Sayed Ahmed Ms. Bassant Essam Mahmoud Morsy Ms. Toka Ebrahim Mohamed Tawfik University of Baghdad, College of Engineering Ms. Prof. Dr. Saba Jabbar AL-Khafaji, Head of the Department of Architecture Lecturer: Mr. Hisham Alaa Ms. Israa Jabir Theeban Ms. Tara Osamah Elias Ms. Shahad Raad Hameed Ms. Minatullah Taha Sami Mr. Meelad Saif Saliem Mr. Ahmeed Younis American University of Beirut, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture Ms. Prof. Dr. Howayda Al-Harithy, Chair of the Department of Architecture and Design Ms. Reem Fayyad Ms. Joyce Abou Moussa Ms. Myriam Zaloum Ms. Salwa Sabbagh Mr. Rudy Maroun Mr. Ali Zeineddine Mr. Hassan Awada Guest: Ms. Joelle Zalloum University of Damascus, Faculty of Architecture Mr. Prof. Dr, Oqba Fakoush, Vice Dean of the Faculty Lecturer: Iyas Shahin Ms. Salma Jabri Ms. Nour Harastani Mr. Muhammad Mahdy Al Sous Mr. Samer Said Mr. Edwar Hanna Mr. Firas Hawasly University of Cairo, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Architecture Ms. Prof. Dr. Dalila El-Kerdany Mr. Prof. Dr. Nabeel El-Hady (Coordinator of the Workshop) Mr. Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ouf Ms. Prof. Dr. Shahdan Shabka Ms. Dr. Asmaa Abdel Aty Ms. Dr. Sherin Ali Ahmed Gammaz Teaching Assistants: Mr. Tamer El-Serafy Ms. Nourhan Hisham Mr. Mohamed Elsaid Ms. Sara Ibrahim Mr. Ahmed Abdallah Mr. Ahmed Ezzat Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Alshafie Mr. Ata Hany Ata Bazbaz Ms. Farida Waheed Ms. Ghada Mourad Ms. Hadeer Adel Sabry Mr. Ibrahim El Hadidi Mr. Ibrahim Abdelaziz Mr. Mohamed Ehab Mr. Mohamed El-Dibawy Ms. Noorhan Mustafa Hanafi Mr. Omar Mahmoud Ms. Sameh Shaalan Mr.Sami Ahmed 8

9 University of Cottbus, Faculty of Architecture, Urban Planning and Civil Engineering Mr. Prof. Dipl.Ing. Heinz Nagler Ms. Prof. Dipl.Ing. Inken Baller Assistant Prof. / Lecturer: Ms. Dr. (des.) Juliane Jäger Ms. Gabriele Moritz Ms. Stefanie Wladika Mr. Benjamin Wille Mr. Saoud Al-Jaraki Mr. Christoph Wessling Ms. Melike Selin Durmaz Ms. Dominika Słaboń Ms. Ksenia Mitasova Ms. Sophia Klauke Ms. Maria Feil Ms. Anouk Conde Gil Ms. Pilar Bustillo Iguaz Ms. Ecem Sarıçayır Ms. Sandra Izabela Lysakowska Mr. Florian Ibold Mr. Benjamin Bialon Mr. Richard Koschorreck Mr. Lourenço Barreto Mr. Moritz Mechtel Guest/Trainee: Mr. Jonas Buch 9

10 Appendix Addresses and Contact Hosted and co-organized by: University of Cairo, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Architecture Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Nabeel El-Hady Prof. Dr. Dalila El-Kerdany Place of the Workshop The workshop will take place at the University of Cairo/Giza, Department of Architecture. Premises: Faculty Club Organization: University of Cottbus Department for Urban Development and Design Prof. Dipl.Ing. Heinz Nagler, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning Prof. Dipl. Ing. Inken Baller Middle East Cooperation unit (MEC) Dr. (des) Juliane Jäger and Christoph Wessling Coordinators of the Middle East Cooperation Mobile Fon in Egypt:

11 Further Cooperation Partners and Participants: University of Aleppo, Faculty of Architecture Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Fatina Kourdi, Department of Architecture University of Alexandria, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Architecture Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Hebatalla Abouelfadl University of Baghdad, College of Engineering Coordinator Prof. Dr. Saba Jabbar AL-Khafaji, Head of the Department of Architecture American University of Beirut, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture Chair of the Department of Architecture and Design, Prof. Dr. Howayda Al Harithy University of Damascus, Faculty of Architecture Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Oqba Fakoush, Vice Dean of the Faculty Accommodation Student Hostel: Pension Roma 169 Shar'a Muhammad Farid, Downtown Cairo Phone: 022/ Lecturer Hotel: Cairo Khan Hotel 12, 26th of July Street / Corner Shar'a Muhammad Farid Downtown Cairo (next to Pension Roma) Tel : info@cairokhan.com Professor Hotel: Hotel Longchamps, 21 Ismail Mohamed Street Zamalek, Cario, Egypt Telephone:

12 Literature and References Stierlin, Henri: Islamic art and architecture, (Thames & Hudson) London 2002 Fathy, Hassan: Architecture for the Poor: An Experiment in Rural Egypt, University of Chicago Press, 2000 Kairo: Alsayyad, Nezar, Cairo; histories of a city, 2011, AUC press. Behrens-Abouseif, Doris: Islamic Architecture in Cairo, An introduction, The American University in Cairo Press 2005 Yeomas, Richard: The Art and Architecture of Islamic Cairo, Ithaca Pr (Publisher) 2006 Mohamed Scharabi (): Kairo Stadt und Architektur im Zeitalter des europäischen Kolonialismus. Verlag Ernst Wasmuth Tübingen, Germany 1989 (in German) Noweir, Sawsan and Panerai, Philippe, Cairo : the Old Twon Raymond, Andre, Cairo, AUC press. Roddenbeck, Max, Cairo the city victourious, 1999, AUC press. Sims, David: Understanding Cairo - The Logic of a City Out of Control, Cairo 2010, AUC press. Warner, Nicholas: Monuments of Historic Cairo, A Map and Descriptive Catalogue / A comprehensive mapping of Cairo s historic Islamic monuments, The American University in Cairo Press Soheir Zaki Hawas: Khedivian Cairo, Identification and Documentation of Urban-Architecture in Downtown Cairo, 2002 ETH - Studio Basel, Cairo Atlas, 2010: Fiction: Alaa al-aswani: Yacoubain Building, Cairo 2002 Naguib Mahfouz: The Cairo Trilogy, 1957 Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) German-Arab/Iranian Higher Education Dialogue 12