Joint Urban Design Workshop Cairo "Urban Design in Historic Context" 2012
Case study area: The North-Eastern Edge of Historic Cairo
17th - 26th September, 2012
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 urbanization 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 architectur characteristics of the existing urban structure, the lack of qualified open space and the challenges of 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?