Alexandria’s architectural heritage has come under attack. Investors are purchasing and demolishing historic buildings and constructing residential towers in their place, which has prompted activists to organize themselves and defend the city’s heritage.
Alexandria’s architectural heritage has come under attack. Investors are purchasing and demolishing historic buildings and constructing residential towers in their place, which has prompted activists to organize themselves and defend the city’s heritage.
Mohamed Adel Dessouqi, a lecturer in the Department of Architecture and Environmental Design at the Arab Academy for Science and Technology, and some members of the Technical Secretariat for Architectural Heritage Preservation in Alexandria (Heritage Committee) were surprised by a decision of Kamal Ganzouri, prime minister from December 2011 to August 2012, serving to ‘obliterate’ a building, Shekorel villa, listed in the adopted Heritage List.
The villa is located at the main street of Abu Qir, and attributed to Shekorel, the Egyptian Italian businessman who left Egypt in the 1960s. Dessouqi confirms that the decision was made without reference to any specialists or experts of architecture or archaeology; the decision has been issued, even though the Ministry of Culture Grievance Committee refused removing the same building from the lists of archaeological sites.
A public phenomenon
What happened to Shekorel villa is not a rare condition; many antique villas and buildings in Alexandria are exposed to demolition for the construction of residential buildings that are profitable for investors. According to Abdelqader Mansour, an economic researcher, the number of violations in construction projects, including demolishing, building and adding new floors to ancient historical buildings, amounts to 100,000. When translated economically, these projects yield at least $ 200 million for contractors and investors.
“The revolution and the accompanying state of lawlessness are a main reason that has pushed major investors and contractors to buy historical buildings and build residential towers to make money. The absent officials and corrupted government system have helped them,” Mansour added.
A history in the windward
Architect Mohsen Sharif says that according to the archive of the Architectural Heritage Committee, ‘Naqeeb Villa’, which is threatened by demolition, was inhabited by the family of Dr. Naqeeb, the manager of Muwasat Hospital and the doctor of King Farouk. In addition, Queen Narriman, the last queen of Egypt, lived in the villa after she married Dr. Adham Naqeeb. The villa had been abandoned for about four years until a few days ago, when a contractor said he bought it and would demolish it.
For his part, architect Mahmoud Fouad tells the story of the villa located in 89 Abdulsalam Arif Street in Glim. The villa is included in the Heritage List under No. 1203, ‘local level’. Its owner began demolishing it in early March 2011, in ‘insecurity’ period, without obtaining any licenses. Military police responded to complaints after bulldozers had started working, and stopped them after they had demolished a large part of the main façade. The situation remains unchanged, according to Fouad.
‘Save Alexandria’
In order to defend the architectural heritage of Alexandria, a ‘Word’ culture initiative, which includes hundreds of Alexandrian youth, launched a campaign called ‘Save Alexandria,’ which aimed at organizing sits-in before targeted villas and gaining access to officials and investors in order to stop their architectural plans.
Ahmed Ali, a young man participating in the campaign, confirms that it has attracted more than 300,000 Alexandrian citizens, pointing out that about three months ago, he was surprised by attempts to demolish the Gustave Aghion Villa, which is located at Waboor al-Myiah area (east of the city) and was built by the famous French architect Auguste Perret more than a hundred years ago. It is still repairable, according to Ali.
Mona Fawzy, a young participant, notes that there is currently an attempt to demolish ‘Shekorel’ villa after the issuance of a ministerial decree specifically to remove it from the list of heritage buildings in Alexandria for the benefit of a big investor. She confirms that they will continue their demonstrations against greedy contractors.
“A contract is the law of contractors”
However, investors have another opinion. “A contract is the law of contractors”, says Mohammed Mirghani, a contractor in Alexandria. He points out that many ancient pieces of real estates are demolished based on their owners’ wishes, stressing that he buys a building or enters into partnership with the owner to demolish it then construct residential towers. This is legal as long as there is a contract and agreement.
Mohammed Muntasser, a businessman and owner of a contracting company, shares the same view, as he believes that the demolition of archaeological villas and old property, by some investors, does not violate the law, as long as it is based on a contract with the owners who agree with the investor or contractor on the sale or partnership.
Ahmed Buhimi, the owner of a real estate investment company, believes that young people have the right to demand that their country’s ruins and Alexandria’s history are preserved against recent demolitions. “Business’ is heartless,” he says.
“When the owner of an ancient villa or property asks me to buy it or to enter into partnership with him to demolish it and build a residential tower or tourist resort, I find it difficult to refuse because this is my job” Buhimi says, stressing that the legal form is ensured as long as there is an original owner and a valid contract.
