Abdeen Square Development

Abdeen Square, surrounded by the historic Abdeen palace, is a public square located in downtown Cairo. It covers an area of 36,600 square meters and, in 2015, was identified for renovation as part of the Khedivial Cairo Redevelopment Plan^{i 1}. The Khedivial Cairo redevelopment plan was announced in 2014², and is an essential component of the Egyptian government’s strategic urban development plan³. It has two major components, façade and public space renovation, as well as addressing traffic congestion issues⁴. The redevelopment proposes interventions through four pilot projects, aiming to transform major squares in downtown Cairo into vibrant green spaces connected by green pedestrian friendly networks accessible to everyone⁵.

Abdeen square was one of the four pilots selected for the renovation under the redevelopment plan. Historically, the square has gone through multiple land uses changes, such as its conversion to a school and residential building which impacted the size of its gardens as well as the type of activities taking place around the palace⁶. Moreover, the area surrounding the palace was suffering from traffic and congestion issues. The plan for Abdeen square then was developed with the aim to both create a space that celebrates the palace and addresses traffic congestion⁷. The Abdeen square renovation transformed the square from a parking lot into an inclusive and accessible green public space for all ages and social classes⁸.

The plan focuses on preserving the historical value of the area, while at the same time, providing a safe and vibrant green space for recreational and cultural activities⁹. The proposed design is inspired by formal gardens of historic Cairo, with the use of straight lines and rectilinear shapes¹⁰. There are four primary design concepts guiding the renovation plan¹¹:

• Retaining the existing road network, and intervening only at the level of on street parking;
• Creation of a main gathering plaza that fosters social activities;
• Plantation of palm trees to create a vista of the Abdeen palace;
• Connecting the two parks in the square and adopting elements of classical landscape design.

The square itself was programmed into four zones, responding to the building fronts, gardens, main plaza, and groundcover respectively¹². Following the renovation, the square has become a successful recreational site in the city, providing residents with a safe space to walk, cycle, and exercise on a daily basis¹³.

The plan was prepared in 2015 by the UN-Habitat, through Gateway consultants, and in collaboration with the General Organization of Physical Planning, and the Cairo governorate¹⁴. It was technically supported by the faculty, students and staff of the Urban Planning Department at Cairo University¹⁵. The construction works for building renovations were carried out by the contractor ‘The Arab contractors’, with completion in 2016¹⁶.