Contemporary Egyptian architecture draws from a rich history. As a cradle of civilization, the transcontinental country has influenced diverse building styles and design cultures. Home to some of the earliest urban developments and centralized governments, Egypt is defined by its geography and its multicultural background. Today, its modern architecture must contend with a legacy of building that spans millennia.
Shaping architecture and construction around the world, Egypt's roots are tied to the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East. Most of the country's population is concentrated along the Nile Valley and Delta, historically avoiding the intense desert conditions of the Sahara and the Libyan Desert. While much of the world knows Egypt for its temples and tombs, the Great Sphinx, or the iconic Giza pyramid complex, the country has built many modern projects over the last decade.
A mix of public and private projects, they reflect how architects are designing to reinterpret the country's history and traditions.
The influence of Egyptian civilization on architecture
Much of the world knows Egypt for its temples and tombs, the Great Sphinx, or the iconic Giza pyramid complex, as Egypt’s roots are linked to the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East.
Because most of the country’s population is concentrated along the Nile Valley and Delta, they have historically avoided the extreme desert conditions of the Western and Libyan Deserts.
The country has built many modern projects over the past decade, reflecting how architects designed to reinterpret the country’s history and traditions.
Contemporary Modern projects built across Egypt
Library of Alexandria
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina was built on a site beside the ancient port of Alexandria in the historic center of the city, and was designed by Snøhetta.
The 11-storey library building holds up to 4 million volumes of books, and can be expanded up to 8 million using compressed storage. In addition to the facilities attached to the library, it also contains other cultural and educational functions including a planetarium, several museums, an information science school, and preservation facilities.
Wadi El Gemal National Park (WGNP)
The Wadi El-Gamal Visitor Center building was designed by the Egyptian Land Building Society, and is located 50 km south of Marsa Alam city on the Egyptian Red Sea coast. This area has been officially declared the 24th Reserve in Egypt due to its amazing natural scenery, in addition to its important cultural resources. The visitor center is located at the northern entrance to the WGNP, which is located as a focal point along the Suez Beach/Ber Shalateen Expressway.
Katameya Dunes Palace
Architect and interior designer Hisham Alaa won the design of the Katameya Palace project in July 2017. The building was only a concrete structure that had already been built and purchased by the owner. The client had the desire to live in a luxurious modern mansion overlooking the views of the Katameya Dunes Golf Course.
Khufu Observatory Residence
Designed by Malka Architecture Studio, the project is located on the plateau of the Giza Cemetery, in the village of Nazlet El-Samman. The ancient site of this project was founded in the 7th century by desert tribes fascinated by the pyramids.The Khufu Observatory is an artist’s residence, with a gate at the entrance to the desert and an inhabited belvedere within walking distance of the largest pyramids and the Giza plateau.
Al-Ezba Roundabout Cultural Center
Dawar Al-Ezba Cultural Center was designed by the engineer Ahmed Hossam Saafan, and it is a social institution located in Ezbet Khairallah, which is considered one of the largest slums in Cairo. The center provides employment and vocational training opportunities for migrant, refugee and Egyptian women, through catering and other forms of food production. The building also aims to change the deteriorating architectural fabric by showcasing the possibilities of using existing resources to create aesthetic and functional value.
Assicurazioni Generali di Triesta Building
Assicurazioni Generali di Triesta Building (aka. Triesta building or Central Bank building) designed by the Slovenian-Italian architect Antonio Lasciac in 1910. The building is located in Kasr El Nile St., in Downtown Cairo. The building was owned by the Italian insurance giant corporate Generali, the company that was established in the Italian city of Trieste in 1831. The building is currently owned by the Central Bank of Egypt and it was renovated in the year 2015.
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