Architects of Zamalek
Haussmann, who was commissioned by Khedive Ismail, originally developed the general plan of Cairo. Hussmann came to Egypt with a wide group of foreign architects, who assisted him achieving his plans of developing Cairo. Those architects chose the architectural styles used back in their hometowns. As a result, the city of Cairo was with European style with local influences.
The works conducted during Cairo development, attracted the foreign money from Europe and that was an attraction of foreigners to come to Egypt. The increasing of foreign population lead to boosting the development and a group of foreign architects were among this population.
The two groups of foreign architects that came to Egypt contained a wide variety of nationalities. such as Italians.
Antonio Lasciac who was born in Gorizia, Slovenia in 1856, and died in Egypt in 1946. He worked as Chief architect of the khedivial palaces. He was Member of the Comité de conservation des monuments et de l'art arabe.
Mario Rossi was one of those Italian architects. He was graduated from L'Accademia di Belli Arti, Rome, Italy in 1917. He worked as a Chief architect at the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf. Another Italian architect was
Ernesto Verucci who was born in force, Italy on March 14th, 1874. He was graduated from L'Accademia di Belli Arti di Modena in Italy. He worked as Chief architect of the royal palaces in Egypt. He died in Force, Italy in 1947.
Among those Italian there was
Cesare Bazzani(1873- 1939),
Giuseppe Garozzo,
Giuseppe Mazza, and
Paolo Caccia Dominioni,
Florestano de Fausto,
Giuseppe Tavarelli and
Nello Sinigallia whose work is evident in Downtown.
Also, The group contained French architects like
Georges Parcq,
Alexandre Marcel,
Jacques Hardy who graduated from L'Ecole des beaux-arts, France,
Max Edrei who graduated from L'Ecole des beaux-arts, France and
Vector Erlanger.
Moreover, some architects were from Austria like the architect
Eduard Matasek who was born in Vienna, Austria on March18th, 1867 and died in Alexandria, Egypt on October 31st, 1912, and
Max Herz who was orn in Otlaka, Rumania on May 19th, 1856 and died in Zurich, Switzerland on May 5th, 1919. He worked as Chief architect at Khedive Tewfiq's court. He was Deputy head of the Comité de conservation des monuments et de l'art arabe.
Some were from England like
Ariston St. John D and
Robert Williams.
This group included many much other architects like
Aristide Leonori,
Gaston Rossi,
Gustave Brocher,
Henry Gorra,
Leo Nafilyan,
Gustave Brocher, and
Domenico Limongelli.
The European architectural styles prevailing in that period in Europe brought to Egypt by foreign architects and young Egyptian and Arab architects influenced by. This emerged the term Neo. The term that was added to the names of architectural styles to refer to the renewal of the old classical architectural styles. Resulting the appearance of the revivalist styles, which were characterized by a modern touch commensurate with the period in which they appeared.
We cannot help but mention the Egyptian and Arab architects of the early twentieth century who were pioneers in the field of architecture. Their work is evident in Cairo districts showing the harmony of using the European styles modified with Islamic and local architectural elements. They design remarkable buildings that together formed the soul of Downtown.
The names are many but we can mention some,
Moustafa Fahmy who was born 1886, graduated from L'ecole Nationale Superieure Des Beaux Arts and worked as Chief Architect of Ministry of Public Works,
Ahmed Charmy and
Mahmud Fahmy who was born in 1856 and worked as Chief architect at the Ministry of Public Works and Awqafs. He was a Member of the Comité de conservation des monuments et de l'art arabe.