Reshaping Azbakeya in Central Cairo: a treasure of green threatened by harsh gray infrastructure

Abstract

This article explores the urban transformation of Azbakeya in the heart of Central Cairo. Currently identified as a gray transportation hub at the confluence of viaducts and tunnels, it has been a key catalyst for the city’s changes, encapsulating the historical impact of both blue and green infrastructure in the unique context of a desert city. Azbakeya serves as a compelling case study, showcasing relevant shifts in the city’s history: evolving from a formidable lagoon integral to the city’s canals and ponds to its desiccation, emerging to a green center that would be modeled after the finest Parisian parks, just before its decay due to the city’s motorization. Set to reclaim its role as a metropolitan cornerstone, the research informs the present and future of this special piece in Cairo, emphasizing the significance of central nodes in the future of more sustainable, inclusive, and verdant metropolises.