Al-Azhar Park
| Al-Azhar Park | |
|---|---|
 Distant view of Mosque of Muhammad Ali at Al-Azhar Park. |
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| Location | Cairo, Egypt |
| Coordinates | 30°02′26″N 31°15′53″E / 30.040523°N 31.264631°E |
| Area | 30 hectares |
| Created | May 2005 |
| Website | www.alAzharPark.com |
Al-Azhar Park is a public park located in Cairo, Egypt.
Among several honors, this park is listed as one of the world's sixty great public spaces by the Project for Public Spaces (PPS).[1] The park was created by the Historic Cities Support Programme (HCSP) of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), an entity of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The park, developed at a cost in excess of USD $30 million, was a gift to Cairo from Aga Khan IV: a descendant of the Fatimid Imam-Caliphs who founded the city of Cairo in the year 969.
The park project included
- The development of the park
- Archeology involving a 12th century Ayyubid wall
- Historic building rehabilitation (the 14th Century Umm Sultan Shaban Mosque, the 13th century Khayrbek complex, and the Darb Shoughlan School)
- Several quality of life improvement initiatives requiring skills training, area rehabilitation, microfinance, and support in the areas of health and education, among others.
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[edit] The gardens of al-Azhar Park
Opened to the public in 2005, the gardens of al-Azhar are reminiscent of historical Islamic gardens, with a blend of modern and traditional elements. The central terraced formal gardens, emphatic use of fountains, Mamluk multicolored stonework, sunken gardens, intersecting waterways and bold Islamic geometry are all integrated into a contemporary site design; cafes are situated at the entrance, playgrounds and scenic overlooks are arranged along curving paths. The site is supported by a reservoir constructed for the project.[2]
[edit] Urban Plaza and Museum of Historic Cairo
At the Northern end of the park, an "Urban Plaza" project is under development which will house the Museum of Historic Cairo. The Urban Plaza will be a mixed-use centre with underground car parking, shops and cultural facilities. It is being built by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt.[3]
The Museum will describe the evolution of Egypt's capital city Cairo[4], and house some of the great wealth of art and artefacts of the city's Islamic heritage that are not currently on display. With 4,000 square metres of exhibition space spread over two floors, the museum is expected to have 1,000 pieces on display from different historical periods. It will provide visitors insight into the urban, cultural and architectural history of the heart of Cairo.[3]
To conserve and restore all the artefacts and artworks which will be shown in the museum, the Trust has set up a major conservation laboratory, which is training young technicians in this field. It is also being used to restore important art and architectural elements for the Cairo Museum of Islamic Art.[3]
[edit] Awards and recognition
- Al-Azhar Park is listed among the 60 of the World's Great Places by Project for Public Spaces[1]
- 2005 Travel +Leisure magazine Global Vision Innovation Award[5]
[edit] Photos
- Al-Azhar Park
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The ancient Ayyubid wall
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Crepe jasmine along a walkway
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Purple albizia along a road
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City view from an overlook in the park
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Waterways and walkways
[edit] References
- ^ a b "60 of the World's Great Places - Project for Public Spaces". http://www.pps.org/info/gps/60places?referrer=gps_home. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
- ^ Ruggles, D. Fairchild (2008). Islamic Gardens and Landscapes. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 168. ISBN 0-8122-4025-1.
- ^ a b c "Two Major Landmarks Restored in Historic Cairo" (Press release). Aga Khan Development Network. 2007-10-26. http://www.akdn.org/news/2007october26.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
- ^ "Museum to tell the history of Cairo - Brazil Arab News Agency, November 15, 2006". http://www.anba.com.br/ingles/noticia.php?id=12884.
- ^ "Innovation - T+L 2005 Global Vision Awards". http://www.travelandleisure.com/globalvision/innovation.cfm. Retrieved 2006-12-11.[dead link]
[edit] Sources
- "Article: Rescuing Cairo's Lost Heritage - Islamica Magazine, Issue 15, 2006". Archived from the original on 2006-10-26. http://web.archive.org/web/20061026205029/http://www.islamicamagazine.com/issue-15/rescuing-cairos-lost-heritage.html. Retrieved 2006-12-06.
- "Aga Khan and Madame Mubarak Inaugurate Cairo's Al-Azhar Park - AKDN, March 25, 2005". http://www.akdn.org/news/2005March25.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-06.
