After his visit to Fustat Gardens Project: The Prime Minister ...

July 7, 2024

After his visit to Fustat Gardens Project: The Prime Minister inspects the project to revive Al Azbakeya Park and its components

Today, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly - Prime Minister, inspected the project to revive Al Azbakeya Park, which comes within the Khedivial Cairo Development Project, accompanied by Dr. Manal Awad - Minister of Local Development, Eng. Sherif El-Sherbiny - Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, and Dr. Ibrahim Saber - Governor of Cairo, Major Gen. Ibrahim Abdel Hadi - Deputy Governor of Cairo for the Western Region, Major Gen. Mahmoud Nassar - Head of the Central Reconstruction Agency, Eng. Khaled Seddik - Chairman of the Urban Development Fund, and Dr. Abdel Khaleq Ibrahim - Assistant Minister of Housing for Technical Affairs. During the tour, Dr. Maher Steno - the project consultant, explained the general location map of Al Azbakeya Park and the proposal to revive it on an area of 9.8 feddans. Dr. Steno said that the project's vision aims to restore the heritage components of the park, and this vision is based on preserving the heritage trees and the hill area, renovating the crown top pergola, the archaeological fountain, and the Fencing Club, and reviving the lake, the wooden bridge, the garden wall, and the historical pergolas. He explained that the development work of Al Azbakeya Park has been completed by 93%, except for the book kiosks, the Fencing Club, and the archaeological fountain. In this regard, he added that the administrative building, the restaurant, the Roman theater and the lake have been completed, while thework is ongoing in the gates, water tank, fire fighting, pergolas, fences and landscaping. Regarding the historical trees in the park, the Prime Minister directed ti have an explanation of the history of each tree and the type of these trees. They were accompanied during the visit by Eng. Heba Abu Al Ela - Board Member of the Arab Contractors Company which executing the works, Eng. Mohamed Awni - AC Executive Board Member and Eng. Khaled Rayan - Manager of the Distinguished Buildings Department. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister inspected the work to revive the archaeological fountain, as it was noted that the implementation of the project has begun under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the development work on the archaeological fountain is scheduled to be completed before the end of this year 2024. Regarding the revival of Al Azbakeya Book Market, Dr. Maher Steno indicated that an architectural design competition was launched for Egyptian university students to develop the wall, in cooperation between the ministries of: Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Culture, in June 2022. He added that there is a coordination with the contractor to complete the first group of book kiosks before the end of 2024. He explained that there is a mandate to move the book selling market from its current location to the new place that is being developed in a square adjacent to the Opera Central, provided that the vision submitted by the Ministry of Housing regarding the design of the book selling market kiosks will be implemented. The project consultant said that the area adjacent to the Opera Central was handed over; the waste was removed and the site is paved. Eng. Steno explained the plan for developing the eastern entrance to the park from the theater square (the Vanguard Theater, the Puppet Theater, and the National Theater). He also presented the implementation status of the development of the Fencing Club building, where it was pointed out that it is considered the oldest club in Egypt and a meeting place for princes and nobles. It was founded in 1891 by General Maxwell and the world-renowned weapons trainer, Constanzi, and Chicuril; and King Farouk called it the "Royal Egyptian Fencing Club." and he was its honorary president. The club includes many artifacts, including the helmet of Salah Al-Din Al-Ayoubi , and a group of swords that were transferred from the Citadel of Salah Al-Din, as well as many pictures belonging to the era of the monarchy. He explained that the Fencing Club building is located on an area of 2,000 m2, and the building consists of a heritage part and a newly added part. Dr. Maher Steno explained that as for Attaba Central, the building has strong structural elements and is in good condition, it also has wide architectural surfaces and heights suitable for many activities. A group of new uses for Attaba Central Building and its external surroundings were presented, which contribute to reviving the cultural image of Attaba Square. The Prime Minister directed that Attaba Central Building should be optimizing to highlight the cultural and historical identity of the region.