Cairo, an iconic city in Egypt known for its rich history and vibrant culture, is undergoing a significant renovation in its downtown area as part of a broader plan to boost tourism and promote economic development.
Although the Egyptian capital was founded more than 1,000 years ago, downtown Cairo was developed in the 1800s, renowned for its European-inspired architecture.
The area's design was influenced by Baron George Haussmann's Paris urban model, with several streets circling each main square to connect the city center.
"Downtown Cairo is like an open air museum since it was built by the orders of Khedive Ismael in the 1860s," said Ashraf Reda, CEO of Arts and Culture Complex of the Helwan University.
Known as the Paris of the East, the historic downtown area is a cluster of the finest architects from across Europe.
"You might find European architecture along with the Egyptian architecture, the ancient Egyptian, the Coptic and Islamic architectures," said Osama Kamal, a higher committee member of Egyptian National Organization for Urban Harmony.
However, decades of population growth, congestion, pollution and negligence have damaged most of the beautiful buildings and architecture.
The government has recently stepped up its efforts to restore the area to its original state. The Al Sharifain Street, the first to be developed, is turned into a pedestrian zone. It houses historic buildings like Egypt's Stock Exchange and the old National Radio Broadcaster built in early 1900s.
"I've been working in downtown for more than 15 years, and the renovation is extremely important," said Yasser, a local lawyer.
The Egyptian National Organization for Urban Harmony is leading the renovation work in downtown Cairo, which houses 537 historic buildings registered as UNESCO world heritage sites.
"We start by fixing and cleaning the damaged areas, so that we can restore the area to its origins, not only the buildings, but even the spaces in-between the buildings, like alleys and pavements," said Kamal.
The restoration and renovation of downtown Cairo will cost about 200 million U.S. dollars, and is aimed at transforming the area into a vibrant touristic hub with pedestrian zones.
Art students have planned open air activities in downtown Cairo to build public support for the restoration initiative.
"Having different exhibitions here would strengthen the cultural bond with the people, and raise their awareness towards the place," said Maryam, a student from the Faculty of Arts of the Helwan University.
While international hotels will manage several historic buildings, including those at the famous Tahrir Square, other sections will be turned into open-air museums and cultural centers.
Egypt gives Cairo's historic downtown area major facelift
