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A critical study of the Banque Misr buildings in Downtown Cairo

Submission Type:

1 GUC, Egypt,Cairo, Eng

2 Telecom, Communications, Engineering, Leeds

Abstract

This research examines the importance of ensuring compatibility between newly constructed buildings and their surrounding heritage areas to preserve the visual identity and architectural character. The study aims to strike a balance between urban development and the conservation of cultural and architectural heritage, as preserving historical identity is essential for maintaining community heritage, enhancing the attractiveness of heritage sites, and positively impacting tourism and the local economy. The research focuses on a case study of the three Banque Misr buildings on 151 Mohamed Farid Street in downtown Cairo, where each building underwent different forms of development, resulting in architectural disparities between them and the original building, which maintains the traditional urban character. The study adopts an inductive approach, analyzing the concept of architectural identity and urban integration in heritage areas while emphasizing the role of descriptive architectural criticism in assessing the compatibility of contemporary buildings within their historical context. The analysis relies on specific visual criteria to evaluate the degree of integration of these buildings with the historical environment, the balance between modernity and heritage, and their impact on the urban fabric and local community. By applying these criteria, the research assesses the compatibility percentage of each building with its surroundings, highlighting the differences caused by varying development approaches. The study concludes with findings on the extent to which these buildings align with their urban context and provides recommendations to ensure visual and architectural harmony in future projects, whether for new constructions or the renovation of existing structures within heritage zones.


Main Subjects

Arts
Basic and Applied Sciences
Engineering

Keywords

telecom
5G
communications

License

Journal License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license

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Pages 1 - 10

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References

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[2] W. Fahmi, K. Sutton, Reclaiming Cairo's Downtown District: Contesting the Nineteenth-and Early Twentieth-century European Quarter, International Development Planning Review, 2010. DOI: 10.3828/idpr.2010.01. BJEST (2025) Vol. 1

[3] A.M. Hassan, H. Lee, U. Yoo, Evaluation of the Contemporary Urban Design through the Classic Urban Theories: Cairo and Gwangju Downtown as a Case Study, HBRC Journal, 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.hbrcj.2014.01.005

[4] A.K. Kandil, Appropriating Modernism in the Egyptian Urban and Architectural Context During The First Half of The 20th Century – A Critical Investigation, Journal of Urban Research, 2024.

[5] M. Abaza, Cairo’s Downtown Imagined: Dubaisation or Nostalgia?, Urban Studies, 2011. DOI: 10.1177/0042098011399598 [6] S. H. Hawass, "Cairo Khedive: Documentation and Monitoring of Architecture and Urbanism in Downtown Cairo," Architectural Design Center, 2001.