The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Image via Al Monitor

“Fashion was born in Cairo long before Paris” is a common phrase among us Egyptians to acknowledge the grandeur of Egypt’s glorious past. In the era of Ismail Pasha, an architectural revolution was pioneered in Cairo by some of the world’s most reputable architects and designers to deliver some of Downtown Cairo’s most impressive buildings, the beauty of which shows the intricacy and craftsmanship that went into them. Here are five of the most striking buildings in Downtown Cairo that will leave you in awe at their beauty.

Tiring

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The Tiring building is unique in its design, with only three like it in the world, located in Al Ataba Square. Though it often goes unnoticed, it is undoubtedly one of the most awe-striking buildings once you pay attention to the details. The design was created by Austrian engineer Oscar Horwitz, inspired by the Neo-Baroque style, with distinctive carvings and a dome, on top of which a large ball is held up by four statues. The marvellous building was completed in 1910.

Trieste

From the engineer/architect Antonio Lasciac, located on Alawi Street Downtown, Trieste was built in the Neoclassical style at the time of its construction in 1911. If you look closely, you can see the decorations and openings that local buildings in Egypt were famous for at the time. You can also find traits from the Renaissance era in Europe, making it the first building to unite local and European architecture in Cairo. Trieste is now known as the Central Bank Building. 

J. Groppi 

Built in 1924, the Groppi building is one of the most distinguished and well-known historical places in the Downtown Cairo area, mainly because of the iconic Café Groppi, where many films, including The Green Threshold by Ismail Yassin, were shot. The building was designed by architect Giuseppe Mazza (a pupil of Antonio Lasciac) in a European style mixed with an Egyptian spirit, with incredible attention to detail, and is distinguished by its curved shape. The building is now home to the Greek Club.

Yacoubian

Image via Mille World

The Yacoubian building is primarily known thanks to the iconic film directed by Marwan Hamed, adapted from Alaa El Aswany’s novel. The story revolved around the building despite never being filmed inside it. Yacoubian was built by Hagop Yacoubian in 1937 in the decorative Art Deco style, which was designed by Architect Jaro Balian. 

Baehler

Image via Grand Hotels Egypt

We are all familiar with the famous Baehler Corridor in the centre of Downtown, which separates Talaat Harb and Qasr Al-Nil streets, but what is arguably more notable is the Baehler building, which was built by Charles Baehler in 1924. It was designed by the French engineer Leo Navelian, consisting of six buildings of one design but still separate, with each having its own private entrance. It is said to be an exact copy of “Rue de Rivoli” street in Paris but on a smaller scale.