Page 22 - Issue 72

V O L .1 E L I T E ISSUE 72

Between the Past and the Future: Change or

Preserve? — The Case of Cairo’s Historic Buildings”

Malak Hossam Eissa - Poltical science - Fourth year

In the last decade of the contemporary era, Since August 11, 2025, particularly following
many tourist monuments have already the formalization of the decision after years
disappeared from our physical world but never of executive hesitation, social media has been
from our minds: the traditional Thursday abuzz with a revolution against the
market at Khayamiya in Old Cairo, devastating decision, which has been
Mohammed Ali's palace in Shubra El-Kheima perceived as a crime against the country's
in Cairo, the historic cemeteries of Cairo in the memory, or absolute consent to the decision
Mamluk necropolis, the Abu El-Iqbal Mosque for more utilitarian purposes than any other.
—also known as the Banana Mosque—and Both sides have a legitimate right to express
many others. All of them have disappeared for their opinions. But which side will ultimately
the same reason: to widen the streets, in line tip the balance?
with development requirements and economic
interests.
Amidst widespread silence, demolition
decisions continue. However, the decision to
destroy the historic Ramses Railway
Engineering Building came as a surprise. This
building is now located in a crucial location:
next to the 6th of October Bridge, which was
not the case in the past. This historical
landmark, which was built in 1906 during the
Khedivial era of Cairo, embodied both the
spirit and intelligence of Egyptian
transportation. It is classified as a heritage
building, designed in a unique architectural
style according to Law 144 of 2006 and 22
officially registered in 2008.