OLD BUILDINGS ARE ...

Amazing, Beautifull, Constructed, Dreams, Ephemeral, ....... Valiant, Wonderfull, Xtraordinary, Y Zen destroy them?

1900bp stands for 1900 Buildings Preservation


This blog was set up as a device to launch a campaign against the often conscious and deliberate destruction of some amazing old buildings that are part of our common human heritage.
Showing posts with label dismantling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dismantling. Show all posts

11.14.2007

No comment


Around the diplomatic club (Club Mohamed Ali) At the corner of Talaat Harb and Bostan streets stands he diplomatic club... these pictures were taken in the blocs behind the club Mohamed Ali.

10.13.2007

Origin

Why was this blog started?
I really do not know ...
It all started with a discussion in a group on Facebook. A group whose main topic of discussion is how to try and preserve some of the endangered historical buildings.



As I felt there was an actual concern about those buildings and out of a genuine concern after the final dismantling of this amazing "Villas jumelles" that used to be a school at a point, or the even less understandable dismantling of the Abou el Ela bridge and its disappearance. I thought about launching a cause again on Facebook to see how many are we that are really concerned and who might given the right informations at the right time try their best to prevent such "crimes" .
Somehow, the cause has become a success and has been growing steadily since its launching. It is true that there are no specific plans as yet in order for us to make our voices heard, but in union lies strength .
The next logical step was to launch a blog which eventually might become an "official" voice opposing uncalled for dismantling and eventually to pressure towards restoration of such buildings. And what I personally mean by restoring is not the slightly incredible Walt Disney revamping that happens these days in Islamic or Coptic Cairo.



I do not understand for example the glass veranda on this under restoration building nor why the originally unpainted Stones have been painted in a creamy color that will probably be dirty yellow when it is time for a highly mediatized re inauguration.
Finally, I still mourn the Mohamed Ali Stables in "Beau Lac"that are supposedly under restoration but somehow I doubt it will ever go back to its former glory fearing it will will suffer the same indignity as this British Building that I think was the Gaz company in Abdel Moneim Ryad square whose facade stood for a few years after the building was dismantled raising hopes that it would be kept. But then all of a sudden this standing facade was not standing anymore. Same thing happened to the Matatia Building and I am now really worried about the rest of the Attaba Square. First on the line will probably be the central post office specially after the revamping of all Post offices unless it is the Tiring building that goes first.
I actually hope that this nightmare of mine will never come true...