Cairo – Old and new matrixes

There is a matrix for every organized place. Even the diversity has a matrix.

The carpets Chinese or Iranian have a matrix different than cotton and different than silk ones. A flower or fruit garden has a different matrix than cloth. Each matrix has parallel or intersecting lines in two or three or more directions. A matrix can be of vertical lines as in matrix of flowers or trees or planting crops. It can be a matrix of dots or slots or geometric shapes, or circles or triangles. Even human beings walking in a parade as soldiers or students each have a matrix of its own.

In special matrix on an urban scale the unit of matrix can be a villa or a walking up building or towers. The matrix can be in constant, or upward or downward or irregular rhythm in thickness, height, spacing, color, texture or unit. It can be complex with several matrixes mixed together making it one general complex matrix. In any case the intention of the designer of the matrix whether steady or diversified should be comprehended by the viewer or the result can be hazardous.

In old Cairo, the matrix was perfectly homogeneous. Narrow broken traffic streets with an important building on each break, being a mosque, sabil, or madrassa. Such streets are lined by shops with residences above interrupted by squares with the main mosque or important palaces on each side (Bein ElQasrain)

From these street branches narrow harras lined by houses and Rabaa's (group of houses around a court). Lots have broken irregular, lines, and geometric inner courts. They branch also to covered soukes.

All this matrix is homogenous, functional and sensible with carriages, donkeys as main transportation. They are not spoiled by motor traffic on side walks emitting gases in faces of passersby. Shops extend to the streets thus increasing traffic jams. In case of destruction of some of these units they are being replaced by catastrophic new buildings spoiling the matrix in height, construction, color and age. One building out of matrix destroys the whole harmony of the place. This is what happened all over old Fatimid Cairo. It can be stopped by declaring whole districts under law 144, 2006 as national heritage. It should be kept and maintained as it is. Any destruction by bad condition of unit should be replaced by the same old elevation, height and materials.

New Cairo started by the French expedition (1798-1801) by demolishing old harras around Azbakia Lake (transformed to be a Garden).

Straight wide roads were started to connect Azbakia with Boulaq (26th July street). Mohamed Ali started a road connecting Azbakia to Citadel (Kalaa). Another road was constructed from Azbakia to Azhar (El-Seka El-Gadida). Planning started for a new district between Azbakia and the Nile. This was executed with western matrix completely different than that of east. Straight wide streets interesting in circular squares with high buildings on both sides with very strict building regulations for form and content. Even cost of building was restricted to above E.P 2000, which was a lot at that time. This secured a matrix of western urban design with streets expecting future multi – transportation unknown at that time. The result, during Isma'il and Tawfik rules was the most homogenous and rich collection of buildings at a time of western eclecticism. The groups came out as a collection of different western styles (New Baroque, High Victorian, Romanesque, Art Nouveau, and later Art Deco) all mixed with Islamic details that went along western eclectic tendencies of the turn of 19c. All buildings are of the same heights, richness, materials and details in balconies, entrances toppings in cones or domes … etc.

Since then we have witnessed catastrophic interference with this matrix. Towers started to appear, modern buildings, with glass curtain walls; match boxes with strip balconies replaced others of fer forge’ and decorated stone parapets.

Shapes with different colors, and displays with large protruding signage, side walks completely interrupted by street peddlers, beggars with no place for pedestrians. Cars are lined on both sides in pairs. Signage for doctors, tailors, companies occupy the whole elevations in a very confusing matrix.

Heritages Committees have to get to work as fast as possible on bases of declaring untouched homogeneous street matrix as urban heritage. All interferences with the original matrix should be removed by force of law.

Special building codes should be declared for such urban heritage districts. Committees should be sure that these codes are imposed on old existing building and in new ones replacing any possible future demolitions.

In Europe old elevations are preserved untouched while the whole buildings behind are being repaired or demolished.

Maadi, Helwan, Garden City, Zamalek, Helmeia and Abbasiya all have special early 20c matrixes that should be preserved. Maadi famous by its villas matrix, garden city with its winding streets with Art Deco four story apartment buildings, etc… . They all have richness in handcrafts, materials and decorative historical forms. They are now under destruction by greedy unappreciative investors. Preservation of urban heritage should have teeth to stop spoiling our urban matrixes.

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