Heliopolis style

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Heliopolis style is an architectural style specific to an Egyptian district in eastern Cairo. At the beginning of the 20th century, the architects of the Cairo Electric Railways and Heliopolis Oases Company which was the Belgian company responsible for the building of a new suburb “Heliopolis” ; also had a new style exclusively designed and developed to use it in the buildings of the new district.

Until today, this suburb is the only unique example which exists for this architectural form, and it is still very well preserved. It is represented by a large ensemble of buildings spanning a wide area of land, and with its typical historic form-language that relates itself to several epochs, this style is a unique mixture of the Moorish, Arabic and European styles.

The creators of this style tried to successfully implement the aesthetic and functional advantages of the three styles. Combining the qualities of these types (Moorish facades, Arabic sections, European plans) in a homogeneous unit; suitable for :

1. The general atmospheric conditions in the northern African countries (Implemented in sections).

2. The Arabic-Moorish sense of style in buildings which spread and was appreciated in the region (Implemented in facades).

3. The social traditions of the Egyptian domestic life at the turn of the century (Implemented in plans).

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Dobrowolska, Agnieszka [2006]. Heliopolis: Rebirth of the City of the Sun (Paperback), First (in English), American University in Cairo Press, 176. ISBN 9774160088.