The evolution of Al-Azhar Street, Al-Qahira, Egypt

Abstract

The historic quarter of Cairo, al-Qahira, is going through a period intense transformation that is threatening the physical environment as well as the social and economic fabric of the city. The transformations taking place in al-Qahira are threatening the diverse cultural, social and economic makeup of the city that have existed for centuries in an attempt to satisfy the agendas of interest groups external to the existing community that want to capitalize on the city's historic features. Al-Azhar Street and the surrounding area is at the center of the transformations taking place in Historic Cairo today. Through an analysis of the area, an urban solution will be developed that mediates between the various interest groups acting in al-Qahira today. The intention is to present a physical design that demonstrates a way of addressing the needs of the quarter's existing inhabitants as well as the needs of new interest groups to the area.