islamic cairo - studio basel · fatimids in its early years, the fatimid city, al-qahira, was...
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– 3 –– 2 –
ISLAMIC CAIRO
0 1000 800 n.Chr.
Nilebank 800 Nilebank today
Babylon
Acces to the Red Sea
Fustat
Al-Askar
Al-Qatai‘l
Site selectet by Jawhar 969
0 1000969 n.Chr.
Al-Qahira
Garden
Palaces
Bab al FutuhBab al Nasr
Bab Zuweila
Ayyubid WallBulaq
Citadel
Cemetery
Azbakiya
Birqat al-Fil
Al-HusayniyahBulaq
Citadel
Azbakiya
Birqat al-Fil
Cemetery
Cemetery
1870 n.Chr.
Bulaq
Citadel
Muhammed Ali Boulevard
Muski Street
The firsT muslim seTTlemenTs
This area is a site of several cites constructed by the ancient Ecyptians and the Persian Babylonians. The city of Fustat near the remains of he Bay-lonian fortress was the first Muslim settlement. After that, settlements as Al-Askar of the Abba-sids and later Al Qata’i of Ahmed ibn Tulun were built further north. In 969 the Shii’te Fatimid Caliphate conquered Egypt and developed a first plan (rectangular grid) for their city on a new site (Al-Qahira, al Mu‘izz).
faTimids
In its early years, the Fatimid City, Al-Qahira, was simply a royal and military refuge. Fustat (Misr) remained a commercial metropolis. 1087 a new wall had to be built because Al-Qahira had expanded outside of its walls. The main street was called Bayn al-Qasrayn (today: Al-Muiz li-Din Allah) which means‚ between the palaces‘ and goes from Bab al Futuh to Bab al Zu-weila.The structure within the walls was almost a rectangular grid with wide streets.
ayubbids (family of salah al-din)As the Ayyubids came to power, Salah-al-Din, principle ruler, built a gigantic wall encercling Fustat and Al-Qahira and opened the former princely city to the public who began to bild in its spaces and gardens, changing the old func-tion and structure of the Fatimid‘s city. It was de-veloped a very dense pattern of houses that built new streets. The citadel between Al-Qahira and Fustat became the seat of governement during the Ayyubids reign.
mamluks
During the period of the Bahri Mamluks Cai-ro experienced a great growth. It was during al Nasir‘s reign that Cairo experienced its greatest change and the western development was encou-raged by the construction of Khali al-Nasiri. The Bahri Mamluks are famous for their ambi-tious building activity of madrasas, mosques, sabil-kuttabs etc.. Under the ruler of the Burij Mam-luks Cairo began a remarkable recover or revival after the plague of the Black Death and famine.
oTToman
With the Ottoman Cairo becamea provincial ca-pital. The old part of the city got less important as the centre moved westwards to Azbakiya (espe-cially the elite). During the rule of Muhammed Ali and his sucessor a replanning of the streets, new zoning plans and the restauration of mo-numents became crucial. 1798 the French inva-sion influenced the structure of the city with its military strategies. New Streets as Sharia Muski or Mohamed Ali Boulvard were built.
presenT
Due to the exponential expansion of Cairo the last few years a lot of new districts were developed and are still growing vastly. While decentralisati-on proceeds, the islamic part of the city is de-terorating. The city is endeavoured to conserve and reconstruct the medieval heritage but ignores the ramshakled medieval residential areas next to the monuments. Capacity overload of traffic is a big problem. But there are also positive developments for example the Al-Azhar park.
969-1076
Fatimids Dynasty
Al-Qahira
1174-1250
Ayyubids
Salah al-Din
1250-1382
Bahri Mamluk
Dynasty
1516-1918
Ottoman
639
Muslims Capture
Babylon
1798
Napoleon
1801
British Takeover
1863
Enlightened Rule :Ibrahim
Pasha and Muhammad Ali
1922
Egyptian Independence
2010
A.A. Mussa Wazir
1382-1517
Burji Mamluks
1979
UNESCO inscription
of islamic part
641
Foundation
of Fustat
750-1258
Abbasid Dynasty
972
Al-Azhar
1012
Al-Hakim
1175
Madrasa system of
school indtroduced
1309-40
Reign of Muhammed
ibn Qala‘un, greatest
mamluk builder
1900-2010 n.Chr.
Citadel
Al-Azhar Park
Roda
7.9 Mio. Admin. City
20 Mio. Greater City
- ISLAMIC CAIRO-
DRAFT© ETH Studio Basel
– 5 –– 4 –
El-M
asou
riah
Southern Walls(Fatimid)
Al-Azhar Street
Gawhar El-Qaaed Street
Nafak Elazhar Street
Khan el-Khalili
Al-Hakim Mosque
Al-Azhar University
Al-
Mui
zz li
-Dee
n Ill
ah
El-G
aish
Ahmed Maher
Legend
Mosques
HotelsSchool (Madrasa and University)
Kuttab-Sabil
CommercialMainstreet of medieval architectural treasures
Bab Al-Nasr
Bab Zuweila
Bab Al-Futuh
Northern Walls(Fatimid)
Ayyubid Wall
Ayyubid Wall
Al-Azhar Park
El-M
asou
riah
Southern Walls(Fatimid)
Al-Azhar Street
Gawhar El-Qaaed Street
Nafak Elazhar Street
Khan el-Khalili
Al-Hakim Mosque
Al-Azhar University
Al-
Mui
zz li
-Dee
n Ill
ah
El-G
aish
Ahmed Maher
Legend
Mosques
HotelsSchool (Madrasa and University)
Kuttab-Sabil
CommercialMainstreet of medieval architectural treasures
Bab Al-Nasr
Bab Zuweila
Bab Al-Futuh
Northern Walls(Fatimid)
Ayyubid Wall
Ayyubid Wall
Al-Azhar Park
map:
American Research Center of Cairo
Abb 1: Sabil Kuttab A. R. Kathkhuda
Abb 2: Qalawun Complex
Abb 3: Sultan Muayyad Mosque
Abb. 4: Babal-Futuh
Abb. 7:Al-Azhar Mosque
Abb. 6: Khan el-Khalili
Abb.5: Dead-End-Street
Abb. 8.: Al-Azhar Park
MONUMENTS
DRAFT© ETH Studio Basel
– 7 –– 6 –
Al Mu‘izz Street
Al-Mu‘izz Street is probably the oldest and most
stable street of Fatimid Al-Qahira. Starting from
Bab al-Futuh and ending at Bab Zuweila, it cop-
rised the main spine of the city. Its structure and
appearance changed continously. In the following,
the influences of the empires on this street and on
the monuments are documented.
AL-HAKIM 990-1013
Wide triangular spaceparallel to street centerline and vertival to Qiblahuman proportions in size and hightrecessed Domes
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides, Entrance usually narrowMonumental scaleMinaret has various locationsDomes recessed
AL-SalEH (AYYUBIDS)
Small rectanglar space with recessed sidesAligned with centreline of streethuman scale in size and hightDome sometimes protruding on the street
BAHRI MAMLUKKANGHA OF BAYBARS
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapeshuman/monumental scale and deep proportionsminarets are usually located at the end of the space or where the space meets the streetlocation of minaret decided according to its position within the urban settingdomes on corners, very close to spaces
Khanga of Baybars
Abu Al-Dahb
Al-Barquqiya
very small spaces on the street, except if in a vista positionmonumental scaleminarets are in variable positionsdomes do not usually appear except from the axial view
AL-HAKIM 990-1013
Wide triangular spaceparallel to street centerline and vertival to Qiblahuman proportions in size and hightrecessed Domes
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides, Entrance usually narrowMonumental scaleMinaret has various locationsDomes recessed
AL-SalEH (AYYUBIDS)
Small rectanglar space with recessed sidesAligned with centreline of streethuman scale in size and hightDome sometimes protruding on the street
BAHRI MAMLUKKANGHA OF BAYBARS
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapeshuman/monumental scale and deep proportionsminarets are usually located at the end of the space or where the space meets the streetlocation of minaret decided according to its position within the urban settingdomes on corners, very close to spaces
Khanga of Baybars
Abu Al-Dahb
Al-Barquqiya
very small spaces on the street, except if in a vista positionmonumental scaleminarets are in variable positionsdomes do not usually appear except from the axial view
AL-HAKIM 990-1013
Wide triangular spaceparallel to street centerline and vertival to Qiblahuman proportions in size and hightrecessed Domes
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides, Entrance usually narrowMonumental scaleMinaret has various locationsDomes recessed
AL-SalEH (AYYUBIDS)
Small rectanglar space with recessed sidesAligned with centreline of streethuman scale in size and hightDome sometimes protruding on the street
BAHRI MAMLUKKANGHA OF BAYBARS
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapeshuman/monumental scale and deep proportionsminarets are usually located at the end of the space or where the space meets the streetlocation of minaret decided according to its position within the urban settingdomes on corners, very close to spaces
Khanga of Baybars
Abu Al-Dahb
Al-Barquqiya
very small spaces on the street, except if in a vista positionmonumental scaleminarets are in variable positionsdomes do not usually appear except from the axial view
AL-HAKIM 990-1013
Wide triangular spaceparallel to street centerline and vertival to Qiblahuman proportions in size and hightrecessed Domes
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides, Entrance usually narrowMonumental scaleMinaret has various locationsDomes recessed
AL-SalEH (AYYUBIDS)
Small rectanglar space with recessed sidesAligned with centreline of streethuman scale in size and hightDome sometimes protruding on the street
BAHRI MAMLUKKANGHA OF BAYBARS
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapeshuman/monumental scale and deep proportionsminarets are usually located at the end of the space or where the space meets the streetlocation of minaret decided according to its position within the urban settingdomes on corners, very close to spaces
Khanga of Baybars
Abu Al-Dahb
Al-Barquqiya
very small spaces on the street, except if in a vista positionmonumental scaleminarets are in variable positionsdomes do not usually appear except from the axial view
AL-HAKIM 990-1013
Wide triangular spaceparallel to street centerline and vertival to Qiblahuman proportions in size and hightrecessed Domes
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides, Entrance usually narrowMonumental scaleMinaret has various locationsDomes recessed
AL-SalEH (AYYUBIDS)
Small rectanglar space with recessed sidesAligned with centreline of streethuman scale in size and hightDome sometimes protruding on the street
BAHRI MAMLUKKANGHA OF BAYBARS
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapeshuman/monumental scale and deep proportionsminarets are usually located at the end of the space or where the space meets the streetlocation of minaret decided according to its position within the urban settingdomes on corners, very close to spaces
Khanga of Baybars
Abu Al-Dahb
Al-Barquqiya
very small spaces on the street, except if in a vista positionmonumental scaleminarets are in variable positionsdomes do not usually appear except from the axial view
Abb. 9 Sreetstructure
Structure of the Al Muizz Street: commercial
buildings approachable by primary streets, resi-
dential area accessible by the secondary dead end
streets.
FATIMIDS AYYUBID BAHRI MAMLUKS BURIJ MAMLUKS OTTOMAN
Com
mer
cial
/Res
iden
tial
Com
mer
cial
/Res
iden
tial
Roy
al West Palace
Old Wall and gates
Rahbat Al-Hakim
New wall of BadrBab Al-Futuh
Al-Hakim Mosque
Al-Aqmar Mosque
East Palace
Dar Al-Ilm
Al-Afkhar Mosque
Bab Zuwaila
Al-Saleh Mosque
1000
Com
mer
cial
Com
mer
cial
Edu
catio
nal Ruins of the Eastern
Palace used as the Great Bimaristan
Ruins of the Western Palace
Al-MadrasaAl-Salihiya
Al-MadrasaAl-Siyu�ya
Al-MadrasaAl-Kamiliya
1000
Res
iden
tial/
Com
mer
cial
Rel
igio
us/E
duca
tiona
lC
omm
erci
al
Bishtak Palace
Khanqah of BaybarsAl-Gashankir
Al-Madrasa Al-ZahiriyaOalawun Complex
Al-MadrasaAl-Nasiriya
1000 1000
Com
mer
cial
Com
mer
cial
/Res
iden
tial
Edu
catio
nal
Rel
igio
us
Hamman Ienal
Al-Madrasa Al-Barquqiya
Al-Madrasa Al-Ashra�ya
Al-Ghuri Complex
Al-Muayyad Mosque
1000
All
Com
mer
cial
/Res
iden
tial
Mosque of Al-Silahdar
Sabil Kuttab Katkhuda
Sabil Muhammad Ali(Nahassiyn)
Mosque of Sheikh Mutahar
Mosque ofAbu Dhahab
Mosque ofAl-Fakahani
Sabil Muhammad Ali(Aquadiyn)
Wekela of Saiyda Na�ssa
Sabil KuttabAl-Silahdar
1000
Spaces
Facade
Qibla direction
Abb. 11: Al-SalihiyaAbb. 10: Al-Hakim Abb. 12: Khanqah of Baybars Abb. 13: Al-Madrasa Al-Barquqiya Abb. 14: Mosque of Abu Dahab
Floorplan
Wide triangular space
parallel to street centerline and vertival to Qibla
Small rectanglar space with recessed sides
Aligned with centreline of street
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides
Entrance usually narrow
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapes small spaces on the street
AL MU‘IZZ
DRAFT© ETH Studio Basel
– 9 –– 8 –
SOURCES IMAGE CREDITSBooks
Al-Sayyd Nezar M. , Streets of Islamic CairoA Configuration on urban themes and patterns, 1981
Sanders Paula , Creating medieval Cairo, Cairo : The American University in Cairo Press, 2008
Campi Mario; Bucher Franz, Cairo / Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Abteilung für Architektur, Zürich : Professur Mario Campi,1997
Williams Caroline, Islamic Monuments in Cairo, The practical Guide, The American University in Cairo Press, 2004
Internet
http://archnet.org/library/images/index.jsp?collection_id=23
http://www.planetware.com/map/cairo-map-egy-cai_ce.htm
http://archnet.org/library/places/places.jsp?country_code=eg
http://archnet.org/library/places/places.jsp?country_code=eg
www.archnet.org/library/documents/
Titlepicturehttp://namasteegypt.com/media-gallery/
Abb. 01http://www.flickriver.com/photos/mitopencourse-ware/popular-interesting/
Abb. 02http://www.flickr.com/photos/37779490@N06/3507587649/
Abb. 03http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Muayyad_mosque.PNG
Abb. 04http://www.discoverislamicart.org/exhibitions/ISL/fati-mids/exhibition.php?theme=1&page=2
Abb. 05http://aelfwine.net/egypt/?page_id=3
Abb. 06http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3932706
Abb. 07http://www.geo-reisecommunity.de/bild/188815
Abb. 08http://everydaytrash.com/2009/03/03/al-azhar-park/
Abb. 09Panerai Phillipe, Analyse Urbaine, collection eupalinos, 2009
Abb. 10http://www.flickriver.com/photos/mitopencourseware/popular-interesting/
Abb. 11http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/ayyub.htm
Abb. 12http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/khanqahbar-quq.htm
Abb. 13http://www.flickr.com/photos/16102025@
N00/129525768
Abb. 14http://www.flickr.com/groups/islam/pool-with/3458674173
map: American Research Center of Cairo/
DRAFT© ETH Studio Basel