Project Description
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
It was announced today by the Egyptian Ministry
of State for Urban Renewal and Informal Settlements (MURIS) that Foster +
Partners has won the competition to design the masterplan for the Maspero
Triangle District in downtown Cairo. The neighborhood, situated on the banks
of the River Nile is characterized by its informal settlements and dense urban
fabric. The 35ha masterplan aims to introduce new residential, commercial and retail
spaces, while rehousing the majority low income population in the same area and
retaining its unique character and spatial attributes.
The project is envisaged as a combination of public initiative with private
investment support to produce a viable urban regeneration scheme. Based on
estimated land values, the masterplan places commercial and residential spaces
along the river edge and main street frontages, while mixed use buildings and
open community spaces occupy the more private, central core of the scheme. This
allows the existing population of the district to maintain their overlapping
spatial live-work relationships while new office and retail spaces on the edges
of the site create employment opportunities for the entire city of Cairo.
Following a flexible approach, the first phase will fill the empty spaces
within the district with greenery to enhance the vibrant public realm in the
community. This will improve the quality of life in the district and benefit
the existing community immediately. Subsequently, the parts of the residential
and commercial areas will be built in tandem creating a sustainable model of
development.
The design of the public realm is key to the project, and in addition to the
green spaces throughout the settlement, a central open space has been created
at the heart of the neighborhood for community events and celebrations. This
space links directly to the food market, serving visitors and locals alike,
which in turn leads to the retail spine and the hospital at the northern corner
of the site. The settlement prioritizes pedestrian traffic with its narrow,
shaded streets, it also connects across the river to the exclusive
neighborhood of Zamalek via a footbridge that boosts the connectivity of the
area. At the foot of the bridge, there is the ‘Lagoon’, lined with a number of
cafés, restaurants and shops that will make this a highly desirable leisure
destination.