by Francesco Siravo

1. THE AGA KHANTRUST FOR CULTURE
AGA KHAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
Reconciling Conservation and Development:
the Case of Cairo
Kuala Lumpur, 2 November 2017

2. Opera del duomo, disbanded in 1965
Orvieto
Cathedral, 1290 circa
Etruscan necropolis, 6th c. BCE

3. …. extraordinary feats of engineering …

4. Zanzibar
Mumbai
Florida Beijing
... unprecedented urban development ....

5. Lucca, Italy
Siena, Italy
Fribourg, DE Brussels, BelgiumHababa, Yemen
... quality, harmony, conviviality, human scale….

6. … but not all is well in Paradise ….
Europe’s historic areas suffer from increasing commercialisation,
traffic and social transformations

7. In Africa and the Middle East, historic cities are affected
by abandonment, collapse, haphazard & faulty infrastructure, lack of
investment and uncontrolled development

8. … but everywhere the problem is the same:
How to preserve historic areas without destroying
or betraying their very essence?
How to preserve their human scale?
How ensure quality and continuity of investment?

10. AKTC focuses on culture to enhance the revitalization
of communities throughout the Islamic world
Education and Culture Programme:
strengthens education of architectural students
and professionals.
Aga Khan Award for Architecture:
recognises excellence in architecture within
the Islamic world.
Historic Cities Support Programme:
focuses on culture to enhance the physical,
social and economic revitalisation of urban
communities.

11. Afghanistan
Mali
India
Pakistan
Zanzibar (Tanzania)
Cairo
Syria Tajikistan
Bosnia-
Hercogovina
Current programmes
Past programmes
The Historic Cities Programme’s field activities
Uzbekistan
Malaysia

12. Historic Cities Programme:
Restoration of buildings and integrated
urban rehabilitation projects in Islamic countries

13. Al-Azhar Park
CAIRO = 33 ha
Humayun’s Tomb Complex
DEHLI = 26 ha
National Park of Mali
BAMAKO = 24 ha
Bagh-e Babur
KABUL = 11 ha
City Park
KHOROG = 5 ha
Forodhani Park
ZANZIBAR = 1. 4 ha
Parks and gardens

14. Cairo as a case study (1999-2009)

15. AL-AZHAR PARK

16. Al-Azhar Park was the catalyst
for urban rehabilitation in Darb al-Ahmar

17. Originally a dumping ground and wasteland above the
obsolete fortification of eastern Cairo …
1870s 1980s

18. … the land was gradually reclaimed and re-shaped
• One million cubic metres of fill moved
• 1000 cubic mt. of water for irrigation
• 7600 sq. m. lake reservoir and amenity
• 220,000 sq. m. of planting

19. Main entrance
Side entrance
Hilltop restaurant
Children playground
Main promenade
Lakeside café
Passage to neighborhood
Community sports complex
Viewing platform
Rampart walk

20. Today, the Park is already self-sustainable and one of
Cairo’s most popular attractions
• Total surface: 30 hectares
• Project development: 1997- 2005
• Total cost: USD 30 million
• Visitors per year: 1 073 000
• Visitors per day: 3 000
• Most visitors in single day: 17 000

22. THE CONTEXT OF THE PARK &
THE STRATEGY OF INTERVENTION

23. Azhar Park & Darb al-Ahmar
within Greater Cairo
• Total population of Cairo: 17 million
• Green space/person: 1 footprint
• Population of DAA: 160 000
• DAA surface: 110 hectares
• Population density = 1,450/hectare
• Registered monuments: 152
• Significant buildings: 200
Fatimid City

24. Al-Darb al-Ahmar in context

25. Darb al-Ahmar income levels are very low ..

26. .. its historic fabric
and infrastructure are poorly kept ..

27. .. but the area contains an array of landmarks …

28. .. and remains an active residential area..

29. .. with hundreds of shops and productive activities

30. Strategy of intervention

31. Parallel socio-economic and physical
rehabilitation actions

32. Physical rehabilitation components
• Restoration of the Historic
Ayyubid Wall
• Housing Rehabilitation
• Community Buildings
• Monuments
• Open Space
• Infrastructure

33. THE RESCUE & RESTORATION
OF THE HISTORIC AYYUBID WALL

34. Historic Ayyubid Wall

35. Bab
al-Mahruq Burg al-Mahruq
Ramparts
Promenade
Bab
al-Barqiyya
Archeological
Triangle
Visitors
Circuit
Bab
al-Wazir
N
Historic wall plan & components
• Construction dates: 1176 - 1238
• Total length: 1300 metres
• Exposed wall height: 2 – 12 metres
• Number of towers: 15
• Number of gates: 3
• Restoration dates: 2000 - 2008

36. Historic views
Circa 1950 (Creswell Archives)Early twentieth century

37. Site photographs before park construction
Early 1990s

38. Historic wall activities
• Excavation and archaeology
• Documentation
• Condition survey
• Intervention guidelines
• Conservation work
• Training
• Visitor presentation

39. Archaeological excavations
Open court
Tower 6
Tower 7
Vaulted space
East
opening
North opening
N

40. Documentation and condition survey

41. Guidelines for intervention
Status Condition Action
Original wall
extant
•Loss of facing stones
•Total loss of facing stones
•Partial loss of crenellations
•Total loss of crenellations
•Replace in-kind
•Stabilize core
•Anastylosis only
•Replace in-kind
Original wall
repaired
•Partial loss of repair
•Substantial loss of repair
•Replace/repair in-kind
•Replace with similar masonry
Original wall
replaced
•Partial loss •Repair in-kind
Original wall
missing
•Total loss •Re-integrate missing wall in ways
that are compatible but distinct

42. Repairs and replacement of facing stones

43. Masonry conservation work
• Shoring and stabilization
• Pre-cleaning
• Cleaning
• Repointing
• Grouting
• Plaster re-attachment
• Masonry repairs
• Stone replacement

44. Training
• Traditional construction
• Stone cutting
• Masonry repairs
• Conservation of surfaces
• Production of lime
• Archaeological work
• Survey and documentation
• Architectural conservation

45. Bab
al-Mahruq Burg al-Mahruq
Ramparts
Promenade
Bab
al-Barqiyya
Archeological
Triangle
Visitors
Circuit
Bab
al-Wazir
N
Historic wall plan & components
1
2
3

46. Visitor presentation: the Barquiyya Gate
Date of construction: 1171 - 1177
Features: bent entrance and gate,
dedication stone, moat and drawbridge
Gate restoration: 2003 - 2004
Drawbridge restoration: ongoing

47. Barquiyya Gate: before and after restoration

48. Barquiyya Gate: final plans

49. Barquiyya Gate: presentation model

50. Barquiyya Gate: restoration completed

51. Visitor Presentation: al-Mahruq Gate
Date of construction: 1178 - 1193
Condition: fragmentary, largely
buried, heavily encroached upon,
evidence of re-use
Features: bent entrance, no moat,
no bridge, double entry towers
Excavation: completed
Restoration: under way

52. Al-Mahruq: excavation of the gate

53. Al-Mahruq:
plan of future presentation of the ruin

54. Al-Mahruq:
model of future presentation of the ruin

55. Al-Mahruq: stabilisation and conservation

56. Al-Mahruq: the completed restoration works

57. Visitor presentation:
rampart promenade and interior galleries
N
Bab al-Mahruq
community gate
Bab al-Barqiyya
community gate
Bab al-Wazir
community gate
Sections
of ramparts
accessible
to visitors
Aslam
Mosque
Museum of
Historic
Cairo
Fatma
Nabwaiyya
MosqueKhayr Bek
Mosque
Archeological
Triangle
Sultan Hassan
and Rif’ai
Mosques
The
Citadel

58. The visitor circuit provides an understanding of the wall’s
defensive components and features
Tower 5
Tower 4
Darb Shoughlan
Community Centre
Al-Azhar Park
N
Tower 4
Tower 5
Exit
Entrance

59. Visitors can explore the ramparts, tower interiors
and archers’ galleries …
The interior of Tower 4
with new lighting
Passage to an archer’s
gallery
Restored ramparts
with the Citadel
in the background

60. … and understand how they were used over time through
interpretative exhibits
Entrance
Tower 4
Al-Azhar
Park
To the Darb Shoughlan
Community Centre and Tower
5

61. THE DARB AL-AHMAR
HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAMME

62. Housing Rehabilitation

63. Housing Rehabilitation

64. Housing encroachments near Tower 9
Tower 9

65. Types of encroachments
and existing conditions near Tower 9
1 2
3
1. Small extension
on rampart
2. Full room
on rampart
3. Extension
substitutes wall

66. Alternative scenarios:
demolition or rehabilitation?

67. Housing near Tower 9: before, during and…

68. …. after rehabilitatian

69. Detailed studies and surveys
Lifestyle profile
Demographic surveys
Building condition form

70. N
District plan &
housing rehabilitation programme
• Buildings in DAA = 10 000
• Buildings in planning area = 1 900
• Target by 2009 = 200 BU* (10%)
• Completed to date = 55 BU
• Ongoing = 10 BU
• Pending applications = 19 BU
* 1 Building Unit = 190 square metres

71. Action Area plans

72. Streetscape improvement plans

73. The housing rehabilitation process
• Carry out information campaign
• Receive applications
• Complete social, technical and financial
investigations
• Give preliminary approval
• Finalise technical and financial package
• Give final approval
• Sign contract
• Implement rehabilitation works
• Deliver completed house to residents
• Start loan repayment

74. Facts and figures about
the housing rehabilitation programme
• Average cost/building unit: $ 25 000
• Average cost/sq.m: $ 130
• Preliminary procedures: 4 months
• Construction time per unit: 6 months
• Number of people employed: 125
• AKTC contribution: technical services
• Other donors: 70 percent of cost (SFD)
• Residents: 30 percent of cost (initial)

75. Before and after

76. Before and after

77. Before and after

78. Before and after

79. Before and after

80. …. interior units after rehabilitation

81. Cumulative results in 2009
• 285 households granted secure tenure status
• 200 houses enrolled in the housing credit programme
• 85 buildings fully rehabilitated
• 42 private bathrooms and 55 extra kitchens installed
• Additional privacy through numerous extra rooms
• Potential to rehabilitate 55 apt.s/year
• Private contribution over 50% of cost
• Loan recovery rate over 90%

82. INFRASTRUCTURE

83. Infrastructure (1): existing conditions

84. Plans for infrastructure and public spaces

85. Infrastructure: paving design

86. Infrastructure (3): implementation of paving

87. Infrastructure:
Public lighting and signage

88. Public lighting

89. OPEN SPACES

90. Streetscapes and shopfronts

92. The improvement of public open spaces: analysis

93. The improvement of public open spaces: design

94. The improvement of public open spaces: details

95. The improvement of public open spaces: general views
Before As proposed After

96. The improvement of public open spaces: before & after

97. The improvement of public open spaces: before & after

98. ADAPTING COMMUNITY BUILDINGS

99. Community facilities
The former Darb Shoughlan School
Construction date: 1911
Past use:
• family mansion
• neighborhood school
Present use:
• library & resource centre
• educational / community
activities
Rehabilitation: 2001-2003
Cost: $ 450 000

100. Community facilities

101. Community facilities

102. CONCLUSION

103. Rehabilitation: gaining momentum

104. The park was the catalyst for the positive transformation
of the adjacent historic neighbourhoods.

105. Here, the link between conservation and development
fosters a sense of pride
and gives residents hope for the future ...

106. The rehabilitation of the park & its neighborhood offered a
sustainable and socially responsible alternative to
displacement & radical transformation.
Its long-term aim? To restore the beauty and integrity of an
economically depressed historic area.
The prevailing trend …. .... and the alternative to be pursued

107. The City Science Initiative at the MIT Media Lab
“We stepped back and looked at
the cities where we all like to be
– many of them historic
European cities”
“So we decided to graft new
technology on to the best human
settlement patterns from the
past.”
(Kent Larson, Co-Director, City Science
Initiative, MIT)

108. Indeed, too often we forget that we have unsurpassed
models of urban quality before our eyes ...
... these must be protected
when they still exist, ....
... should guide the process
of planning when they can
be saved ...
... and should constitute a
reference model when they
are lost or no longer
retrievable.
S. Giminiano, Italy
Djenne, MaliTunis, Tunisia
Fribourg, Germany

109. Changing Course

110. HISTORIC CITIES REGENERATION
A FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
MARSEILLE
SIENA
BARCELONA
8 BN Eu. investment
60,000 jobs/year
Repaid museum in 4 Y.
generates 40 M Eu./year
8th most visited city
Generates 1.8 BN Eu. /year 22,000 jobs
BILBAO
Europe’ s Capital of Culture;
660M Eu. invested to date
 STRONG POLITICAL WILL
 DEDICATED PLANNING ENTITY
 GOOD BUSINESS PLAN
 QUALITY IN PLANNING
 QUALITY IN ARCHITECTURE

111. THE INGREDIENTS OF A COMMON WINNING STRATEGY
THESE INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS STORIES EXEMPLIFY A COMMON
APPROACH TO THE PLANNING OF HISTORIC CITIES:
Compatible
GrowthQuality Urban
Development
Sense of Place
+
Economic
Devt.
+
Sustainable
Communities
Conservation
of Heritage Assets
IN ALL THESE CITIES CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT ARE BEING
INTEGRATED INTO A SINGLE STRATEGY OF URBAN REGENERATION.
HERE CONSERVATION IS NOT OPPOSED TO CHANGE, BUT CHANGE
OCCURS IN CONTINUITY AND NOT IN OPPOSITION TO THE PAST.

112. … if only we could learn again
how to manage continuity
1 2Masaccio, History of St. Peter,
Brancaccio Chapel, Florence (1426)
San Giminiano, Piazza del Duomo
(1992)
Continuity across time ….. …... and generations

113. … an art we seem to have lost today
Footrace, Panathenaic
Festival, 530 BCE
The Ephebic Oath sworn by the Athenian youth (5th C. BCE):
 We will ever strive for the ideals and sacred things of the city;
 We will honour the memory of our fathers;
 We will guard the Temples and the Centres of Civic Life;
 We will not leave a diminished heritage, but greater and better
than when we received it.