Azbakeya Residence: A Contemporary Life Behind a Historic Facade

Cairo University, Faculty of Engineering Architecture Department.

Idea projektu

The project proposes a contemporary residential complex developed on the former site of the Continental Hotel in Downtown Cairo, where only one historic façade remains. Rather than treating the remaining façade as a detached relic, the design reintegrates it as an active architectural element within a new residential development.

The project is conceived as housing for diplomats and official guests, responding to the surrounding urban context of embassies, cultural institutions, and frequent international events. The core design principle ensures that every residential unit enjoys a minimum visual connection to the historic Azbakeya Garden, with selected units benefiting from dual views overlooking both the garden and Opera Square.

Through a carefully studied neoclassical architectural language, the project aims to revive the spirit of Downtown Cairo while providing a modern, functional, and contextually rooted residential environment.

Popis projektu

Located in the heart of Downtown Cairo, the former Continental Hotel site stands as a powerful symbol of loss and memory, where extensive demolition has left behind a single historic façade overlooking Opera Square. Surrounded by embassies, cultural landmarks, and public institutions, the area has long served as a diplomatic and cultural hub, yet it lacks contemporary residential developments that respect its architectural identity.

The project responds to this condition by transforming the site into a residential complex specifically designed for diplomats and official guests. This programmatic choice aligns with the surrounding urban fabric, addressing the need for secure, high-quality housing that supports the area’s international character and event-driven nature.

A key design challenge was ensuring equitable visual access to Azbakeya Garden, one of Cairo’s most significant historic green spaces. The massing strategy and unit layouts were carefully developed so that every residential unit achieves, at minimum, a direct view of the garden, while several units enjoy dual views toward both Azbakeya Garden and Opera Square. This constraint became a generative design tool, directly shaping the building form and spatial organization.

The residential units vary in typology, including single-floor apartments and duplex units, allowing flexibility in accommodation while maintaining visual continuity and privacy. Circulation and setbacks were designed to maximize daylight penetration, natural ventilation, and framed urban views.

Architecturally, the project adopts a neoclassical language derived from an analytical study of Downtown Cairo’s existing buildings. Rather than replicating historic elements, the design reinterprets proportions, rhythms, cornices, and façade articulation to create a contemporary expression that remains deeply rooted in its context. All façades were treated consistently to reinforce urban continuity and avoid the notion of a “front” and “back” building.

By integrating the remaining historic façade into a cohesive residential complex, the project seeks to preserve collective memory while offering a living, functional architecture that respects heritage, enhances the urban fabric, and reactivates a key site in Downtown Cairo.

Technické informace

Project Type: Residential Complex

Location: Downtown Cairo, Egypt – Former Continental Hotel Site, Opera Square

Main Users: Diplomats and official guests

Design Approach: Adaptive reuse and heritage integration

Contextual Strategy: Full visual integration with Azbakeya Garden and surrounding historic fabric

Residential Units:
Single-floor apartments
Duplex units

View Strategy:
Minimum requirement: direct view to Azbakeya Garden for all units
Selected units with dual views (Azbakeya Garden & Opera Square)

Architectural Language: Contemporary interpretation of neoclassical architecture

Façade Treatment: Context-driven neoclassical articulation on all elevations

Key Design Focus: Heritage preservation, urban integration, and view-oriented housing