ABSTRACT
Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is a chaotic megacity where extremes are spotted in everyday tradition and modern life. The land on which historical Cairo was established in 969 was under water just over 300 years earlier, when al-Fustat was founded. Bulaq with historical Cairo was formed through a set of routes. Cairo's development strategy, established in the early 1990s, intended to transform the heart of Cairo and change the image of the city. Historical Cairo attracted numerous rehabilitation, preservation and restoration studies, proposals and projects through governmental, bilateral and multilateral efforts. The new 70-storey tower was designed as a gracious volume that elegantly borders the Nile River in the heart of Cairo. Fieldwork and regular visits to the district were undertaken in Cairo during 2010 and 2013. This chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book.
