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LIBERA UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DELLA SICILIA CENTRALE KORE ENNA

thesis in

The Italian Architecture in Alexandria, Egypt

(the conservation of the Italian residential buildings)

By

Mohamed Ali Mohamed Khalil

Supervisors

Prof. Teotista Panzeca

Prof. Emanuela Garofalo

Prof. Daniela Villari

Thesis submitted to University Kore of Enna to obtain

Second level master degree in architecture restoration

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ii

Supervisors

The Italian Architecture in Alexandria, Egypt

(the conservation of the Italian residential buildings)

Thesis title:

Mohamed Ali Mohamed Khalil

Assistant lecturer, Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Egypt.

Researcher name:

Supervisors

signature profession

name Prof. Teotista Panzeca

Prof. Emanuela Garofalo

Prof. Daniela Villari

The president of Kore University The Master Director

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The Italian Architecture in Alexandria, Egypt

(the conservation of the Italian residential buildings)

Thesis title:

Mohamed Ali Mohamed Khalil

Assistant lecturer, Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Egypt.

Researcher name:

Supervisors

signature profession

name

Prof. Teotista Panzeca

Prof. Emanuela Garofalo

Prof. Daniela Villari

Examination Committee

signature profession

Name

The president of Kore University The Master Director

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iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The researcher would like to express his sincere and profound gratitude to the following persons and instituutions who, in many ways have generously contributed to the successful completion of the study:

Prof. Teotista Panzeca, the director of the course. for his sincere concern, assistance and

for his continues support.

Prof. Emanuela Garofalo & Prof. Daniela Villari, the research supervisors. for their

invaluable suggestions in the improvement of the study, this humble research would not have been completed with out their support.

Prof. Infranca, Prof . M. Al-KHouri, Prof. M. Salerno, Prof. L. Zito, Dr. Messina.

the scientific Committee of the course for their support and cooperation.

University Kore of Enna, for offering this generous grant and for care and supporting

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To Prof.

T. Panzeca

my

Parents

My Gulfillmrnt and preseverance

wife Eman

My sweetheart

son Eiad

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vi

ABSTRACT

Thesis title:

The Italian Architecture in Alexandria, Egypt

(the conservation of the Italian residential buildings)

Researcher: Mohamed Ali Mohamed Khalil

Assistant lecturer, Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, Egypt.

Second level master degree in architecture restoration (2008-2009)

University Kore of Enna, Sicily, Italy.

Supervisors: Prof. Teotista Panzeca, Prof. Manuela Garofalo, Prof. Daniela Villari

This research is an integral part of a study that conceived to further awareness of the long history of cultural relations between Italy and the Italian culture and Egypt to create new spaces of comparison and bolster shared interests so as to enhance the already-existing climate of collaboration and mutual understanding.

The research problem is that most of European residential buildings that shapes the city center of most Egyptian cities suffer from the lack of protection because many of them are private and they are not considered till now as monuments by the Egyptian laws and also there is no maintenance or restoration programs to this kind of building.

The research aims to highlight the importance of the nineteenth and early twentieth century residential buildings made by Italians in Alexandria. Determine the deterioration in these buildings and what is the basic maintenance procedures that can done to protect them. And to make some documentation of these building to make it easy for a future rehabilitation.

The study concentrate on the residential buildings at Alexandria, Egypt designed or built Italian architects and engineers from the nineteenth and early twentieth century till now. The research consists of three parts and one appendix.

The first part contains the historical study and include three chapters; the first illustrates the history of the city of Alexandria from the city's founding by Alexander the great in 331 BC till the beginning of the twenty-one century to identify the influence of Alexandrian history on it’s built environment, the second chapter studies the Italian architects at Egypt and their contributions to the Egyptian architecture and modern heritage, And the third chapter concentrates on the residential building made by Italian in Alexandria to illustrate its importance in the Alexandrian heritage.

The second part of the research contains the theoretical study about damage diagnosis on stone buildings and includes two chapters; the first one illustrates the in-site investigation and laboratory studies and the comprehensive documentation important in the field of stone monument preservation. And at the end of the study there is one appendix about weathering forms on stone buildings with photos about each form. And the second chapter studies the structural types of failure and interventions in stone building in the critical parts that may suffer from structural problems.

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Alexandrian built environment and some examples of rehabilitation of building in Alexandria city center, and the second chapter is a case study of El Manshieh or “Mohamed Ali Square” which is one of the main commercial districts at Alexandria city center and was redesigned by Italian architect, also the square contains now five Italian buildings three of them are private residence. The study of the Italian buildings in the square illustrate the current situation of the buildings and the problems that they suffer from.

The research concluded that the Alexandrian built heritage as all suffer from neglecting and are threaten with elimination and destruction due to mainly economical condition that leads to lack of maintenance and that are more presented at the private residential building because there isn’t clear vision to mange and protect those building, And if their isn’t immediate movement to protect and conserve that heritage it will disappear soon.

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viii

Table of contents

Contents Page No. preface. viii Introduction. viii

Research problem. viii

Aim of the research. viii

Hypotheses. viii

Geographic limitation and scope of study. viii

Research organization. viii

1- Historical study.

1

1-1- History of Alexandria. 3

1-1-1- Hellenistic Alexandria (332 BC-30 BC). 3

1-1-2- Ptolemaic Dynasty (305 BC-30 BC). 4

1-1-3- Roman Annexation and the Byzantine Period (30 BC-641). 7

1-1-4- Early Islamic Period (639-1250). 9

1-1-5-Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt (1250-1517). 12

1-1-6-The Ottomans and Muhammad 'Ali Pasha (1517-1882). 12

1-1-7-British Occupation and Contemporary Alexandria (1882-2009). 14

1-2-Italian Architects and Engineers in Egypt. 18

1-2-1- The first Italian architects and engineers in Egypt. 18

1-2-2- The pursuit of modern architecture for Egypt. 22

1-3- Italian contributions in Alexandrian built environment: 29

1-3-1- Italian architects and private residential buildings. 29

1-3-2- Italian contributions in modern Alexandria. 39

2- Theoretical study: Damage diagnosis on stone buildings.

42

2-1- In site investigation and laboratory studies. 43

2-1-1- Documentation within the scope of anamnesis. 43

2-1-2- Documentation within the scope of diagnosis. 44

2-1-3- Mapping of weathering forms. 46

2-1-4- Therapeutical steps. 48 2-1-4-1- Preconsolidation. 48 2-1-4-2- cleaning. 48 2-1-4-3- sealing – plastering. 50 2-1-4-4- consolidation. 51 2-1-4-5- protection. 51

2-2- Structural failure and interventions in stone building. 52

2-2-1- Mechanism of break down in stone building. 52 2-2-1-1- Mode (I): Failure due to the collapse of the façade. 52

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2-2-1-2- Mode (II): Failure due to the wall bending. 52 2-2-1-3- Mode (III): Failure due to the wall cut. 53

2-2-1-4- Collapse on the isolated walls. 54

2-2-2- Structural improvement integrations in stone building. 55 2-2-2-1- Reinforcement of the structure with steel. 55

2-2-2-2- Interventions on the wooden beams. 56

2-2-2-3- Interventions on the wooden roofs. 58

2-2-2-4- Recovery of arches and vaults. 59

3- Applied study on Alexandrian heritage.

62

3-1- Future of Alexandrian built environment. 63

3-1-1- Mutations in Alexandria built environment. 63

3-1-2- Selected examples of recent architectural restoration and

renovation projects in Alexandria. 67

3-1-2-1- Villa Bassili - Alexandria National Museum (re-use). 67 3-1-2-2- Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Mohamed A1i Theater. 68 3-1-2-3- Mohamed A1i Club (renovation and re-use). 69 3-1-2-4- The branches of the National Bank of Egypt. 69 3-1-2-5- Palazzina Aghion (renovation and re-use). 70 3-1-2-6- Cinema Amir - Twentieth Century Fox (transformation). 71

3-1-3- Principle guidelines for architectural conservation 71

3-2- Case study: El Manshieh “Mohamed Ali Square”. 73

3-2-1- History of the square “place d’armes”. 73

3-2-2- Current Situation of “Ahmed Orabi & Manshieh Squares”. 75

3-2-2-1- Okalle Monferato. 75

3-2-2-2- Mixed Tribunals. 78

3-2-2-3- Okalle Menasce. 79

3-2-2-4- Waqf Yacoub Dahan. 81

3-2-2-5- Ismail Monument (unknown soldier). 82

Conclusion

83

References 86

Appendix (A): Weathering forms on stone buildings.

88

Group 1 - Loss of stone material. 88

Group 2 – Discoloration / Deposits. 90

Group 3 – Detachment. 92

Group 4 – Fissures / deformation. 94

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x

List of Tables

Table

No. Description of the Table

Page No.

Table (A-1) Italian Community population statistics. x Table (2-1) Items of documentation within the scope of anamnesis. 44

Table (2-2) Scales of stone deterioration. 44

Table (2-3) Items of documentation within the scope of diagnosis. 45

List of Figures

Figure

No. Description of the figure

Page No.

1- Historical study.

1-1- History of Alexandria.

Fig (1-1) The Palestrina a roman mosaic. 2

Fig (1-2) Map of classical Alexandria by Dr.Tassos Neroutsous. 3 Fig (1-3) Imaginary sketch of the lighthouse of Alexandria. 4 Fig (1-4) Imaginary sketch and prespective of library of Alexandria. 6 Fig (1-5) plans of Serapeum reconstruction Ptolemaic and Roman phase. 7 Fig (1-6) photos of Pompey column, (Amoud al Sawary) at Kom al-Shugafa. 7

Fig (1-7) Site plan of Kom el Dikka. 8

Fig (1-8) photos Roman Theatre Restoration at Kom Al-Dikka. 9 Fig (1-9) Plans, site plan and Elevations of the mosque of 1000Columns. 10

Fig (1-10) Map of Alexandria by J. Helffrich 1566. 11

Fig (1-11) Map of Alexandria in the late Roman period by A. Adriani. 11

Fig (1-12) Photos of Fort Qaitbey. 12

Fig (1-13) Daguerreotype and photo of Ras el Tin palace. 13 Fig (1-14) Map of the Turkish town by the French Expedition in 1798-1801. 14

Fig (1-15) Map of contemporary Alexandria. 15

Fig (1-16) panorama view and photos of corniche of Alexandria. 15

Fig (1-17) Photos of the Montaza Royal palace. 16

Fig (1-18) Photos of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. 16

1-2-Italian Architects and Engineers in Egypt.

Fig (1-19) Old postcards of Place des Consuls in late 19th century. 18 Fig (1-20) Photos of the entrance of Ras el Tin palace and detail of coat of arms. 19 Fig (1-21) Old postcards (1883) of “Stock exchange- Borsa”. 19 Fig (1-22) Plan and photo of the Bourse of Minet el Bassal. 20

Fig (1-23) Photo of the Zizinia theatre. 20

Fig (1-24) Drawings of the proposal for the competition of a theatre in Alexandria. 21

Fig (1-25) Photo of sabil-Kuttab Al-Walda. 22

Fig (1-26) Photo of the Tossiza palace. 22

Fig (1-27) Photos of Al-Rifaiy Mosque (the tombs of Royal family). 22

Fig (1-28) photos of Haramlek- Montazah palace. 23

Fig (1-29) photo of castle Mackenzie, Genoa and Montazah palace, Alexandria. 23 Fig (1-30) Photos of Misr Bank in Mohammad Farid street in Cairo. 24

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Fig (1-31) Elevations and photo of Al-Mursi abu Al-Abbas Mosque. 24

Fig (1-32) Plan of Al-Mursi abu Al-Abbas Mosque. 25

Fig (1-33) photos of Qaid Ibrahim Mosque. 26

Fig (1-34) Photo and plan of El sayed Mohamed Korayem Mosque. 26

1-3- Italian contributions in Alexandrian built environment:

Fig (1-35) Photo of The palace of Count Zizinia. 29

Fig (1-36) Photos of place d' Armes before and after the bombardment of 1882. 30 Fig (1-37) plan of the Place des Consuls in late 19th century. 30 Fig (1-38) Photo and plans of Villa Lutzzatto Pasha. 31

Fig (1-39) Photo and plans of Palazzina Pini Bey. 31

Fig (1-40) Elevations, Photo and plans of “Mixed Tribunals”. 32 Fig (1-41) Photos, Elevations and plans of “okalle Monfrato”. 33

Fig (1-42) Photo of “Primi Building”. 34

Fig (1-43) Photo of “Societe des immeubles d’Egypte”, at Rue Sherif. 34

Fig (1-44) Photo, and plans of “Gallery Menasce”. 34

Fig (1-45) Photo, Elevation and plans of “Palazzina Aghion”. 35

Fig (1-46) Photos of “Villa mazloum Pasha”. 35

Fig (1-47) Photo, Elevation and plans of “Villa laurens”. 36 Fig (1-48) Photos of “Villa H. Lindeman. ” and “villa Baron J.De Menasce”. 36 Fig (1-49) Photos of building on Venice style awarded the Municipality Prize. 37

Fig (1-50) Photo of “ElNokaly apartment building”. 37

Fig (1-51) Photo of “Cecil Hotel”. 37

Fig (1-52) Photo of “M. Saleh building”. 38

Fig (1-53) Photo of “Heikal apartment building”. 38

Fig (1-54) Photo of “Villa Adda”. 38

Fig (1-55) Photo of “Villa Awad and Abani”. 38

Fig (1-56) Photo of “Fumaroli building” on Avenue Fouad I. 38 Fig (1-57) Photo of “fumaroli building” on Rue Sherif. 38

2- Theoretical study: Damage diagnosis on stone buildings.

2-1- In site investigation and laboratory studies.

Fig (2-1) Diagram of the approach to monument preservation. 43 Fig (2-2) Diagram of the three categories of diagnosis. 45 Fig (2-3) drawing of Lithological mapping “monastery of Benedettini, Catania”. 46

Fig (2-4) Classification of weathering forms. 47

Fig (2-5) diagram of definitions of damage categories. 47

Fig (2-6) Map of damage categories. 47

Fig (2-7) photos of Preconsolidation presses. 48

Fig (2-8) photo of vegetable disinfestations. 48

Fig (2-9) photos of cleaning with nebulized and atomized water. 49 Fig (2-10) photos of cleaning with absorbing materials. 49 Fig (2-11) photos of cleaning with mechanic method and micro sand blasting. 49

Fig (2-12) photos of cleaning with laser. 50

Fig (2-13) photos of sealing process with stone mortar. 50 Fig (2-14) photos of integrations of small elements that are broken or lost. 50 Fig (2-15) photos of consolidation of fragile materials and separated parts. 51

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xii

Figure

No. Description of the figure

Page No.

2-2- Structural failure and interventions in stone building.

Fig (2-16) photo and diagram of the Failure due to the collapse of the façade. 52 Fig (2-17) photos of building at “Messina, Sicily” after the earthquake (1908). 52 Fig (2-18) photo the cracks in the connection between the façade and the building. 52 Fig (2-19) photo and diagram of the Failure due to the wall bending. 53 Fig (2-20) photos of buildings at “Messina, Sicily” after the earthquake (1908). 53 Fig (2-21) photo and diagram of the Failure due to the wall cut. 53 Fig (2-22) photos of buildings at “Messina, Sicily” after the earthquake (1908). 54 Fig (2-23) photos of Collapse on the isolated walls. 54 Fig (2-24) photos of cracks on the isolated walls due to over loading. 54 Fig (2-25) photos and sketch of using steel bar in ancient buildings. 55 Fig (2-26) photos of the corrosion of old steel bars that damage the nearby stones. 55 Fig (2-27) Sketches of using steel bar inserted at the corners of the building. 55 Fig (2-28) photos of the steel bars inserted at the top corners of outer walls 56 Fig (2-29) photos of using steel bar in case of deferent thickness in the walls. 56 Fig (2-30) Sketches of using steel bar in case of deferent thickness in the walls. 56 Fig (2-31) photos of damages on old wood beams that support the roofs. 57 Fig (2-32) Sketches of using steel cases to support wooden beams. 57 Fig (2-33) photos of the steel cases that contain the wooden beams. 57 Fig (2-34) photos of upper cover of the steel cases that prevent it from sliding . 58 Fig (2-35) Sketches of wooden truss supported on stone arches. 58 Fig (2-36) Sketches of wooden beam of the truss directly supported on the walls. 58 Fig (2-37) photos of the wooden beams supported only on the walls. 59 Fig (2-38) photo of the intermediate connection of the beams throw steel part. 59 Fig (2-39) photo of covering the roof with thin layer of wood. 59 Fig (2-40) photos of the final finishing layer supported on sheets of isolation. 59 Fig (2-41) photo of crack in the arch and separation between it’s stones. 59 Fig (2-42) photo of supporting the arches during the restoration process. 59 Fig (2-43) Sketches of supporting the arch, and replacement of damaged parts. 60 Fig (2-44) photos of connecting the carrying walls of the arch or vaults with steel. 60 Fig (2-45) Sketches of supporting the loads above the arch during restoration. 61

3- Applied study.

3-1- Future of Alexandrian built environment.

Fig (3-1) Photos of “High and Low conventional style” in Alexandria. 63 Fig (3-2) Photos of badly conceived addition: Faculty of agriculture, Alexandria. 64 Fig (3-3) Photo of “Art studio of Gilda Ambron” in Ruins. 64 Fig (3-4) Photo of “Villa Baron de Menasce” demolished. 64

Fig (3-5) Photo of “Villa Aldo Ambron” in Ruins. 64

Fig (3-6) Plan and Photo of “Graeco-Roman museum” in Alexandria. 65 Fig (3-7) Photo of buildings at city center in Alexandria. 66 Fig (3-8) Photo of details in buildings at city center in Alexandria. 66 Fig (3-9) Photo of buildings at city center in Alexandria. 66 Fig (3-10) Photo of buildings at city center in Alexandria. 67 Fig (3-11) Photo of buildings at city center in Alexandria. 67 Fig (3-12) Photos of “Villa Bassili” before and after renovation. 68

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Fig (3-13) Photos of “Cordahi Complex” before and after renovation. 68 Fig (3-14) Photos of piazza and façade of “Mohamed Ali theatre”. 69 Fig (3-15) Photos of “Mohamed Ali club” before and after renovation. 69 Fig (3-16) Photos of “Banco di Roma” before and after renovation. 70 Fig (3-17) Photos of “bank of Athens” before and after renovation. 70 Fig (3-18) Photos of “palazzina Aghion” before and after renovation. 71

3-2- Case study: El Manshieh “Mohamed Ali Square”.

Fig (3-19) Old postcards of Place des Consuls in late 19th century 73 Fig (3-20) Photos of Place des Consuls in late 19th century 73 Fig (3-21) Panoramic view of Manshieh and Liberation square. 74 Fig (3-22) Panoramic view of Manshieh and Liberation square. 74 Fig (3-23) Photos of “Manshieh square” showing the status of “Mohamed Ali”. 74

Fig (3-24) Part of Alexandria’s Google earth map. 75

Fig (3-25) Photos of ‘Okalle Monferato” at Manshieh square. 75 Fig (3-26) Photos of disfiguring the building façade by the shop windows 76 Fig (3-27) Photos of the structural problems at the top Cornish. 76 Fig (3-28) Photos of the bad conditions of the internal court. 77 Fig (3-29) Photos of the iron dome that cover the main court. 78 Fig (3-30) Photos of the interventions by the users by adding some coverings. 78 Fig (3-31) Photos of “Mixed Tribunals” at Manshieh square. 78 Fig (3-32) Photos of the side facades that suffer from degradation. 79 Fig (3-33) Photos of “Okalle Menasce” at Manshieh square. 79 Fig (3-34) Photos of disfiguring the building Entrance and main façade 80 Fig (3-35) Photos of the deterioration in the internal façade on the main court. 80 Fig (3-36) Photos of damage and degradation of the wooden roof of the staircase. 80 Fig (3-37) Old photo of “Waqf Yacoub Dahan” at Manshieh square. 81 Fig (3-38) Photos of current situation of “Waqf Yacoub Dahan” at Manshieh. 81 Fig (3-39) Photos of disfiguring the building façade by the shop windows. 81 Fig (3-40) Photos of the constructions added on the roof. 82 Fig (3-41) Photos of the original and current state of “Ismail Monument”. 82

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preface.

1- Historical study.

1-1- History of Alexandria.

1-2-Italian Architects and Engineers in Egypt.

1-3- Italian contributions in Alexandrian built environment:

2- Theoretical study: Damage diagnosis on stone buildings.

2-1- In site investigation and laboratory studies.

2-2- Structural failure and interventions in stone building.

3- Applied study on Alexandrian heritage.

3-1- Future of Alexandrian built environment.

3-2- Case study: El Manshieh “Mohamed Ali Square”.

Conclusion

References

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Introduction

This research is an integral part of a study that conceived to further awareness of the long history of cultural relations between Italy and the Italian culture and Egypt to create new spaces of comparison and bolster shared interests so as to enhance the already-existing climate of collaboration and mutual understanding.

Egypt, along with Turkey and Tunisia, is one of the three countries of the eastern and southern shore of the Mediterranean that have recorded the strongest presence of Italian architects and engineers. Italy and other European countries had a numerous contribution to Egyptian architecture and city planning over a period of almost two centuries. It is exceptional in terms of the quantity and quality of projects and realizations: from nineteenth-century plans for the European core of Alexandria to the eclecticism swinging between Venetian neo-gothic, Florentine neo-fifteenth century and Roman neo-sixteenth-century styles of buildings constructed for the Italian community and its representative institutions; from the modernism of the years around the turn of the century to the re-occurring eclecticism of the sumptuous residences of Cairo's young aristocracy as well as royal palaces; from the Art Deco of the 1920s to the rationalism of the second half of the 1930s; from post-World War II urban planning studies and projects for the country's tourist development, the safe guarding of Pharaoh’s monuments and the improvement of museum structures to the substantial Italian participation in international competitions for the Alexandrian Library and the Great Egyptian Museum of Giza1.

Many works that marked significant milestones in Egyptian architecture from the second half of the Nineteenth Century were planned by Italians. Their activity in the public and religious architecture sector over the course of the Twentieth Century was particularly remarkable, numbering several hundred mosques (Mario Rossi alone designed 260 mosques for various Egyptian cities) and their participation expand the private sector not only in the royal palaces but also in designing many apartments and villas for private residence.

The contribution of the Italian architects and Engineers was a result of the political, economical and cultural changes, that leads to start in Egypt the “importation” of European architecture, with regard not only to official buildings but also to residential private buildings, in the city center of Cairo, Alexandria and some neighborhoods in most of the Egyptian cities with a high concentration of foreign and specially Italian inhabitants.

The next table shows the Italian Community population statistics during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, from that we noticed that Alexandria had about (50%) of the Italian migration in Egypt. Also it had a significant and noticeable presence of Italian architect and contractors whom shaped the architecture of modern Alexandria.

Table (A-1)Italian Community population statistics

Year Egypt Cairo Alexandria

1871 13906 3367 7539 1882 14251 4969 11579 1897 24454 8670 11743 1907 34926 13296 16669 1917 40198 15655 17860 1927 52462 18571 24280 1937 47706 16443 22881

Source: (Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria"p.95) & ( Awad, Mohamed F. "Italian Influence on Alexandria's Architecture (1834-1985)." P.77)

1

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The Italian Architecture in Alexandria, Egypt (the conservation of the Italian residential buildings)

Preface ______________________________________________________________________________________ Preface ___________________________________________________________________________

xv

Because of the good organization and efficiency of constructors, and also as a consequence of geographic proximity, there was a special link with Italian architecture in that period. Many Italian architects were involved in the design of these buildings, and some Italian contractors, builders and handicrafts were employed in their construction. Most of these residence buildings still exist and represent a significant part of Alexandrian architectural heritage, but they are threatened with elimination because of neglecting and lack of maintenance.

Research problem:

• At the present the most of European residential buildings that shapes the city center of most Egyptian cities suffer from the lack of protection because many of them are private and they are not considered till now as monuments by the Egyptian laws and also there is no maintenance or restoration programs to this kind of building.

Aim of the research:

• To enlightenment with importance of the nineteenth and early twentieth century residential buildings made by Italians in Alexandria.

• Determine the deterioration in these buildings and what is the basic maintenance

procedures that can done to protect them.

• Make some documentation of these building to make it easy for a future rehabilitation.

Hypotheses:

• Making documentation of these building will keep this kind of architecture from getting lost.

• With continues maintenance to these building we can prevent them from elimination and reduce the cost of restoration.

Geographic limitation and scope of study:

The study will concentrate on the residential buildings at Alexandria, Egypt designed or built Italian architects and engineers from the nineteenth and early twentieth century till now.

Research organization:

The study consists of three parts and one appendix; The first part contains the historical

study and include three chapters; the first illustrates the history of the city of Alexandria, the

second chapter studies the Italian architects at Egypt and the third chapter concentrates on the residential building made by Italian in Alexandria. The second part contains the

theoretical study about damage diagnosis on stone buildings and includes two chapters; the

first one illustrates the in-site investigation and laboratory studies, and the second chapter studies the structural types of failure and interventions in stone building. The third part

includes the applied study on Alexandrian heritage and consists of two chapters; the first

one studies the current situation, the problems and the Future of Alexandrian built environment, and the second chapter is a case study of El Manshieh or “Mohamed Ali Square” to study the Italian buildings in the square and to illustrate its current situation. And at the end of the study there is one appendix about Weathering forms on stone buildings with photos about each form.

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preface.

1- Historical study.

1-1- History of Alexandria.

1-2-Italian Architects and Engineers in Egypt.

1-3- Italian contributions in Alexandrian built environment:

2- Theoretical study: Damage diagnosis on stone buildings.

2-1- In site investigation and laboratory studies.

2-2- Structural failure and interventions in stone building.

3- Applied study on Alexandrian heritage.

3-1- Future of Alexandrian built environment.

3-2- Case study: El Manshieh “Mohamed Ali Square”.

Conclusion

References

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The Italian Architecture in Alexandria, Egypt (the conservation of the Italian residential buildings) Part (1): Historical study

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

1

Part one: Historical study.

This part contains the historical study and include three chapters; the first illustrates the history of the city of Alexandria from the city's founding by Alexander the great in 331 BC till the beginning of the twenty-one century to identify the influence of Alexandrian history on it’s built environment, the second chapter studies the Italian architects at Egypt and their contributions to the Egyptian architecture and modern heritage, And the third chapter concentrates on the residential building made by Italian in Alexandria to illustrate its importance in the Alexandrian heritage.

Introduction:

Alexandria extends about 32 km (20 miles) along the coast of the Mediterranean sea in north-central Egypt. It is home to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (the new Library), and is an important industrial center because of its natural gas and oil pipelines from Suez, another city in Egypt. Alexandria was also an important trading post between Europe and Asia, because it profited from the easy overland connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. In ancient times, Alexandria was one of the most famous cities in the world. It was founded around a small pharaonic town c. 334 BC by Alexander III of Macedon. It remained Egypt's capital for nearly a thousand years, until the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 641 AD when a new capital was founded at Fustat (Fustat was later absorbed into Cairo).

Alexandria was known because its lighthouse (Pharos) – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World –, its library (the largest library in the ancient world) and the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages). Ongoing maritime archaeology in the harbor of Alexandria, which began in 1994, is revealing details of Alexandria both before the arrival of Alexander, when a city named Rhakotis existed there, and during the Ptolemaic dynasty1.

1

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preface.

1- Historical study.

1-1- History of Alexandria.

1-2-Italian Architects and Engineers in Egypt.

1-3- Italian contributions in Alexandrian built environment:

2- Theoretical study: Damage diagnosis on stone buildings.

2-1- In site investigation and laboratory studies.

2-2- Structural failure and interventions in stone building.

3- Applied study on Alexandrian heritage.

3-1- Future of Alexandrian built environment.

3-2- Case study: El Manshieh “Mohamed Ali Square”.

Conclusion

References

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The Italian Architecture in Alexandria, Egypt (the conservation of the Italian residential buildings)

Part (1): Historical study ________________________________________________ Chapter (1): History of Alexandria ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

2

Introduction:

The history of Alexandria dates back to the city's founding by Alexander the great in 331 BC (the exact date is disputed). It was the seat of the Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt, and quickly became one of the greatest cities of the Hellenistic world second only to Rome in size and wealth. It fell to the Arabs in 641 AD, and a new capital of Egypt, Fustat, was founded on the Nile. After Alexandria's status as the country's capital ended, it fell into a long decline, which by the late Ottoman period, had seen it reduced to little more than a small fishing village. The city was revived by Muhammad Ali as a part of his early industrialization program. The current city is Egypt's leading port, a commercial, tourism and transportation center, It is often described as Ad Aegyptum or “near Egypt”, suggesting an alienation from Egyptian influences and its Nilotic civilization. Alexandria implies a long tradition in the diversity of its society and established interaction with other cultures. And for that matter it was the gateway to Egypt and the point of contact with other civilizations, especially those of the Mediterranean1.

Fig (1-1) The Palestrina (fund in a small town Praeneste near Rome) a roman mosaic covering an area of 20 square meters, dating back to the second century BC and attributed to the Alexandrian artist Demetrius the topographer, depicts the Nile delta, the imperial palace of Alexandria, other buildings and temples, sailing ships

and flora along the upper Nile. Source: (Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria" p.8)

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Awad, Mohamed F. “Italy in Alexandria: influences on the built environment”, Alexandria preservation trust, Alexandria, Egypt,2008, p9.

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1-1- History of Alexandria:

Alexandrian urbanism spans the great political empires; its history can be divided into several often-overlapping periods. Alexandria was established as Egypt's capital in the Hellenistic period (332 BC- 30 BC), which encompassed the Ptolemaic Dynasty, giving way to the Romans (30 BC-641), including the Byzantine period. The early Islamic period saw a new capital in Egypt (639-1250); the city's fortunes changed again under the Mamluk Sultanate (1250-1517) and the Ottoman Period (1517-1882), which was ended by the French invasion under Napoleon (1798) and the initial British invasion following their victory at the Battle of Alexandria (1801). Subsequently, the city witnessed the British occupation (1882-1922) and Egyptian independence in June 1956.

Fig (1-2) Map of classical Alexandria by Dr.Tassos Neroutsous, 1888 showing the location of the Roman camp. Source: (Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria" p.16)

1-1-1- Hellenistic Alexandria (332 BC-30 BC):

After Alexander's departure for Asia Minor, infrastructural development for the city of Alexandria began in full force. The greatest of these undertakings was that of an artificial causeway built to connect the nearby island of Pharos to the mainland. This causeway, known as the Heptastadion, was designed and constructed by Dinocrates of Rhodes. The Heptastadion separated the Great Harbor from the Eunostos Harbor and was built at the enormous scale of seven stadia long (1,260 meters).

The foundations of the city were laid with the construction of a city wall measuring 15.8 km. At the time of its erection, this city wall was the third largest known urban enclosure, after those of Athens and Syracuse. (Two successive city walls were built after the Hellenistic wall: the Roman wall and the 9th c. medieval wall built by Sultan Ahmed Ibn Tulun). Archaeological evidence shows that in Alexandria, the urban street grid seems to have been rotated 25 degrees off the cardinal axes, essentially exposing the city to the prevailing winds from the north. Archaeological evidence has further shown that block sizes during Alexandria's Hellenistic period were 10 meters smaller in perimeter than the classic Hellenic stade block.

The city was physically divided by the intersection of two main thoroughfares: the east-west Canopic Way and the Street of the Soma (Sema). The surrounding streets of the ancient city were laid out in a Hippodamian grid. The Canopic Way connected the Canopic Gate and the Necropolis Gate of the city wall. The Street of the Soma ran between the Moon Gate and the

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Sun Gate of the city wall. Archaeologists estimate that both streets measured between 25 and 70 meters, and were lined with marble colonnades and paved with granite blocks.

The original city may have initially covered an area of 840 hectares. There was no consensus among ancient historians, and population estimates for Alexandria during Hellenistic rule vary between 75,000 to 500,000. Upon Alexander's death in 323 BC, the construction of the city was still not complete.

1-1-2- Ptolemaic Dynasty (305 BC-30 BC):

Ptolemaic rule over Egypt, began with Ptolemy I in 305 BC and ended with Cleopatra VII in 30 BC, was the period of greatest infrastructural and cultural development in Alexandria. The Ptolemies' emphasis on urban development and expansion followed the Greek tradition; however, this strategy had to contend with pre-existing Ancient Egyptian codes of urban development. These codes were established during the Old Kingdom of Egypt (2575-2130 BC), where differentiated settlement patterns and orthogonal town planning methods were already in practice .

Ptolemy I major construction projects included the lighthouse of Pharos, a series of fortification walls around the city's perimeter, and new temples for two Alexandrine cults adopted during his reign. The first temple was dedicated to Serapis, the tutelary god of the dynasty, and the second temple constructed in Alexandria was dedicated to Alexander himself, the guardian genius of the city. Of all of these, Ptolemy I's most famous project was the lighthouse of Alexandria at the island of Pharos. Situated on the eastern end of the island where the Qaytbay Fort stands today, the lighthouse was constructed at the entrance of the Great Harbor and is considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Destroyed in a 13th century earthquake, the lighthouse is described in historical texts as rising to over 120 meters high. It was designed with three setbacks, an elevator, a staircase, and a powerful light that projected out to sea for up to 55 kilometers .

Fig (1-3)Imaginary sketch of the lighthouse of Alexandria. Source: http://www.flickr.com

For 300 years the Ptolemies controlled Egypt from Alexandria. During this time, the city's close proximity to the sea had caused much of the original city foundations, including the ancient docks and parts of the Royal Enclosure, to sink. The marble used in the first city, built under Ptolemy I, would later be reused; in one example, this marble would be ground up to make cement as Mohammed 'Ali Pasha rebuilt Alexandria from 1810-1850 under the Ottomans.

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Under Ptolemaic rule, Alexandria became a major center for the arts and sciences: astronomy, medicine, literature, philosophy, and religious studies. Many of the urban undertakings in Alexandria were not completed during Ptolemy I Soter's rule, but rather by his successors. Theaters, zoological gardens, the gymnasium (with porticos more than a stadium long) were constructed under Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The Ptolemies' monopolistic policies saw state and royal funds controlling most of the major industries, not only in Alexandria, but throughout Egypt. Salt, oil, linen textiles and papyrus paper were royal monopolies, while lesser industries such as woolen textiles, glass, wine, perfumes were marginally state controlled, but lay mostly in private hands. Another important characteristic of Alexandria was its function as a polis (city-state). However, a contradiction in power existed under Ptolemaic rule; Alexandria had its own citizenship and constitution, yet its autonomy and its city government were restricted in scope.

The land use program for the city under the Ptolemaic dynasty was primarily residential. This street grid was divided into insulae (blocks), each averaging 36.5 by 182.5 meters, or 100 by 500 Ptolemaic feet. In Alexandria, a quarter accommodated six insulae intersected by two minor roads. Housing plots measured 22 by 22 meters, and each insula could hold as many as 20 houses.

As a polis, Ptolemaic Alexandria had a very cosmopolitan population, drawn from Alexander's Macedonian forces, older Greek Naukratis and Memphis, and Egyptian towns such as the former Rhakotis and nearby Canopus. In lesser numbers, immigrants would later arrive from Syria, Asia Minor, Italy, Syracuse, Libya, Carthagenia, and Massillia (contemporary Marseilles) in the western Mediterranean. Alexandria's Egyptians formed the largest ethnic community in Alexandria, and lived mainly in the southern district around the precinct of the Serapeum, the original location of the village of Rhakotis. However, the cosmopolitan nature of the populace did not greatly impact the architecture and spatial planning of Hellenistic Alexandria.

Early Alexandria was divided into five districts, or quarters, named after the first five letters of the Greek alphabet (A-E). The Jewish Quarter was known as 'Delta.' Dating almost from the founding of the city, Jewish scholars began translating the Old Testament from its original Hebrew into Greek. This group of scholars would later produce the standard orthodox version known as the Septuagint. Under Ptolemaic rule, the Jewish community was allowed to form an association (politeuma) to freely practice their faith and manage their affairs according to Jewish law. The south-west quarter of Rhakotis (Rhacotis) took its full name from the former fishing village that predated Alexandria's founding, and was occupied almost entirely by native Egyptians. Brucheum (the Brucheion), also known as 'Beta,' was the royal or Greek quarter, and it comprised nearly a third of the city. Beta was situated in the northeast, and its Royal Palace complex also contained its own administrative buildings and a harbor, as well as the Musaeum (Mouseion), the Temple of the Muses that was commissioned by Ptolemy I Soter. Similar to a modern university or research institute with colleges, laboratories and observatories, the Musaeum attracted many mathematicians, scientists, poets and dramatists. These included Euclid, Archimedes, Strato and Zenodotus; consequently, the Musaeum was comparable in scholarly fame to top institutions in Athens.

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Fig (1-4)Imaginary sketch and prespective of library of Alexandria, housed a museum and held about 500,000 papyrus scrolls. Source: http://www.utexas.edu/courses/introtogreece/cc301/alexlibext.jpg

Of particular importance in the planning of the Musaeum was the Library of Alexandria (constructed 288-280 BC), planned by Ptolemy I's chief advisor, Demetrius El Phalerum. Historical texts indicate that although the library was conceived of during Ptolemy I Soter's regime, it was completed under his son Ptolemy II. This library reportedly encompassed multiple buildings in the Musaeum. Books were housed in several depositories, and although a definitive number was never recorded, some scholars believe that its full collection comprised circa 500,000 scrolls. According to some sources, the "Mother Library" at the Musaeum included the collections and research institutes, while the "Daughter Library", situated at the Serapeum, (a colonnade which enclosed the original Temple of Serapis, in addition to the shrines of Isis and Harpocrates) housed the overstock of books from the Musaeum and Cleopatra VII Philopator's two hundred thousand volumes from the library of Pergamum, a wedding gift from Mark Anthony. However, the story of this wedding gift is itself disputed. The construction of the Serapeum itself is attributed to Ptolemy III, and is supported by the discovery of inscription plaques at the site.

The exact fate of the Library of Alexandria is unknown, and general consensus holds that its collections were lost in a fire. Contemporary Egyptologists continue to debate the fire, and the loss of the Alexandrine texts; one ancient story holds that Julius Caesar accidentally set the fire during a 48 BC visit to Alexandria, and this is corroborated by some ancient texts. Another ambitious late Ptolemaic project is the Caesareum. A temple commissioned by Cleopatra VII Philopator in honor of Mark Anthony, was later completed by Octavian, who dedicated it to himself. Ptolemaic rule in Egypt ended with the suicide of the celebrated Cleopatra VII in 30 BC. Roman rule in Egypt began under Octavian, and would continue until Constantine I (618).

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Fig (1-5)plans of Serapeum reconstruction Ptolemaic and Roman phase by Alan Rowe& Judith Mckenzie. Source: (Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria" p.24)

Fig (1-6)photos of Pompey column, (Amoud al Sawary) at Kom al-Shugafa (30-48 B.C.). Source: http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=9170

1-1-3- Roman Annexation and the Byzantine Period (30 BC-641):

Power over Egypt was ceded to Octavian (Augustus Caesar) following his 30 BC defeat of the Ptolemaic forces at Actium. Roman dominium over Egypt would last for the next 670 years. Throughout this period, Alexandria remained the capital of the province of Egypt under Roman rule. The city's ports were kept busy with exports of grain, particularly to Roman territories, and Alexandria functioned as Rome's breadbasket. According to an

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account from Strabo's time, Alexandrian architectural landmarks included the Royal Palaces, the grand Theater (on modern Hospital Hill, near the Ramleh station), Poseidon's temple (located close to the Theatre), the Emporium (Exchange), the Navalia (the docks), the aforementioned Caesareum, the Gymnasium and the Palaestra, the Temple of Saturn, the Mausoleum of Alexander at Soma built by Ptolemy I, the Musaeum, and the Serapeum .

fig(1-7) Site plan of Kom el Dikka, The plan reveals a complex including an amphitheatre, roman baths, cisterns, house district ,shops and classrooms of the philosophical schools. Source:

(Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria" p.28 &p.30)

While residences dominated ancient Alexandrian land use patterns, 2300 sanctuaries could be counted by the end of the Roman period. The Canopic Way and the Street of the Soma served as the main thoroughfares, and civic buildings lined them both. In total, the city was served by 18 main streets, with 7 running east-west and 11 running north-south. The agora (marketplace) was at the center of the city, which extended for 16 kilometers. Outside of these areas, Alexandria was predominantly residential. Archaeological findings estimate that the average residential footprint under Roman rule was 200 square meters.

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Fig (1-8)photos of Roman Theatre Restoration at Kom Al-Dikka (2nd c., restored 1980s). Source: http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=776

1-1-4- Early Islamic Period (639-1250):

In 616 Alexandria fell to the Sassanid Persians until 628. By 639 Roman Byzantine rulers had ceded power to the Arab army commanded by 'Amr ibn al-As. Under al-Als, Alexandria saw a wave of rebuilding, but the city subsequently lost influence as al-Fustat became the economic and political capital of the country. Thereafter, geomorphological changes compounded the political neglect of Alexandria: several branches of the Nile silted up, the coastal fringe sank, and earthquake tremors caused significant damage to the island of Pharos. The city's four gates (the West Gate, East Gate, Rashid Gate, and the Green Gate) were closed at night to prevent Bedouin raids.

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fig(1-9)Plans, site plan and Elevations of the mosque of 1000Columns, Originally the Church of St. Theonas, and retransformed into a Franciscan convent and the church of st. Rita.

Source: (Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria" p.62&p.63)

Major urban changes during this period included the fortification of the coast and the new city walls under Ibn Tulun, who also completed renovations on the lighthouse in 797. Following the establishment of Islamic law, many Roman citizens left the city, and the city's economy continued its decline. The new city wall built described a shrinking Alexandria, one that occupied just under half the city's urban footprint under the Romans. In 912, the Temple of Serapis was demolished. Although nothing remains of the temple today, two obelisks, known as "Cleopatra's needles," were retained. Formerly located at the seaward end of the Street of Soma, one was presented to the British and erected along the Thames Embarkment (1878) and the other was offered to the USA, and stands in New York's Central Park (1881).

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fig(1-10) Map of Alexandria by J. Helffrich 1566. (A)Cairo gate, (B)Pepper gate, (C)Sea door, (D)The canal, (E)The Fort, (F)A mosque used by Turks, (G)Small fort, (G)new port, (G)old port.

Source: (Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria" p.67)

fig(1-11) Map of Alexandria in the late Roman period by A. Adriani. Source: (Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria" p.64)

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Generally speaking, little of Alexandria's urban fabric was changed through the end of the Fatimid dynasty (1171). Under the Ayyubids (1171-1260), Salah al-Din fortified the city walls (1181) and converted Alexandria into a military base. He ordered ruined columns to be thrown into the harbor to prevent enemy ships from approaching, and he also began to improve the city's standard of living, which had been so drastically affected during the transition from Roman rule. New "suburban" districts were created to the west and south of the city, and their development followed urban patterns in the Islamic world, with narrow streets and covered markets. Although Alexandria continued to be Egypt's principal port, and experienced a brief revival in the twelfth century, the city itself would continue to shrink until Ottoman times.

1-1-5-Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt (1250-1517):

Under the Mamluks, the lighthouse at Pharos was destroyed during an earthquake, and Sultan Qaytbey built a fort to defend the harbor in its place. Architecturally, Alexandria expanded under the Mamluk mosque building programs; 88 mosques could be counted in the late 18th century. In 1517, the Mamluks gave way to the Ottomans, who ushered in a policy of isolationism. This isolationism was founded in the idea of trade as leading to Western colonization, and this policy continued until Napoleon Bonaparte invaded in 1798. With Napoleon came French ambitions to use Alexandria to open up a trade route to the East. At the time of his arrival, the city approximated a village of 4,000. The 1798 invasion disrupted Alexandria's limited industry and commerce, which at that time sustained the small Egyptian port. Subsequent invasions of Egyptian territories came as a result of the instability of power in Napoleonic Europe and Ottoman attempts to re-establish control over Egypt.

fig(1-12)Photos of Fort Qaitbey. Source: http://archnet.org

1-1-6-The Ottomans and Muhammad 'Ali Pasha (1517-1882):

In (1805) Mohammad Ali Pasha recognized Alexandria's proximity to Constantinople and consequent economic potential. He made the city his summer capital and subsequently initiated a rebuilding and restoration program for the city, beginning with a canal (the Mahmudiyya canal, named for the Ottoman sultan, Mahmud II) to allow access to the Nile. This canal marked a renewal of Alexandria's social and cultural development: during this period, the city's population grew from 60,000 (1821-40) to 270,000 (1874).

Mohammad Ali reconstructed the harbor, built a palace and a famously beautiful lighthouse on the Ras al-Tin peninsula, and, with the help of French engineers, erected a series of commercial and industrial buildings. He also supervised the construction of a new shipyard

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facility, which would become one of Egypt's greatest military and naval establishments. He established a committee for traffic control, to promote cleanliness and public health initiatives, and to improve urban conditions overall. Mohammad 'Ali Pasha's planning strategies focused on infrastructure (railways, roads) to facilitate economic development. However, this did not extend to preventing unplanned thoroughfares and other spontaneous development, which played a role in destroying some of the city's historic urban fabric.

As governor, Mohammed Ali's grandson (1848-1854) built a railway from Alexandria to Suez that continued as far as Kafr al-Zayat. Alexandria grew rapidly thereafter: 1850 saw high numbers of Europeans taking up residence in the city and becoming influential citizens. The next governor, Mohammed Said Pasha (1854-1863) extended the railway line to Cairo and connected Alexandria and Cairo with modern telegraph lines. Construction on the city's tramway system was completed in 1860; today, this system is the oldest of all such networks in Africa. It was under the government of Ismail Pasha (1863-1879), also known as Ismail the Magnificent, that the Europeanization of Alexandria began. Ismail built new roads and laid out new districts, improved trade relationships, and granted many plots of land in the new Raml suburb, where numerous lavish palaces were built. Alexandria was one of the first Egyptian cities to have an underground sanitary sewerage system; during Ismail's reign, purified water from the Mahmudiyyah canal was piped throughout the city from a filtering station. As Alexandria expanded, its Arab walls were torn down.

fig(1-13) Daguerreotype and photo of Ras el Tin palace. Source: (Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria" p.81)

By 1870, Alexandria was the fourth leading Mediterranean port after Istanbul, Marseilles, and Genoa. The city's expansion in trade and infrastructure followed the assimilation of Egypt into the European world economy, and the city witnessed the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century. Although agricultural exports had always played a major role in its economy, during the nineteenth century Egyptian trade with Europe flourished. From 1860-70, over two-thirds of Egypt's export earnings came from cotton trading, while the trade of other agricultural products increased dramatically. Under Mohammad 'Ali Pasha, the Ministry of Commerce offices moved to Alexandria. By the late nineteenth century, Alexandria was successfully disengaging itself from the Ottoman commonwealth, and was moving into the orbit of Europe. It is of equal importance to note that it was not until the turn of the nineteenth century that contemporary Alexandria exceeded the size of Greek Alexandria.

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fig(1-14) Map of the Turkish town as documented by the French Expedition in 1798-1801. Source: (Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria" p.72)

1-1-7-British Occupation, Egyptian Independence, and Contemporary

Alexandria (1882-2009):

In the 1880s a nationalist trend rose in Egypt, and 'Urabi Pasha, a military officer, gathered enough energy within the army ranks to resist the Turkish establishment. Large numbers of Europeans died in the ensuing violent chaos, bringing British troops, and then British occupation, to Egypt. Under the British, Alexandria experienced a new wave of urban growth: Alexandria was developed into a major British Royal Naval base, with the strategic Suez Canal (1869) to the east of the city. Between 1922 and 1956, the national independence movement saw the British Declaration (1922), the Treaty of Alliance between Egypt and Britain (1936), and the 1952 July 23 revolution.

Throughout the struggles for independence, urban development in Alexandria continued at a rapid rate. In 1925, Lake al-Hadara was drained, and the suburb of Smouha founded. The city's Corniche, a twenty-kilometer-long seacoast promenade, was built in 1934, influencing Alexandria's summer tourism industry. The Corniche houses a series of informal beach huts, bathing clubs and cafes, facing high-end holiday resorts and apartments across the street. Other major building projects of the period included the Al Muntazah Palace, the small Salamlek Palace, and the impressive Palestine Hotel. Two of the royal palaces, the Ras al-Tin Palace on Pharos Island and the Al-Muntazah Palace at the eastern end of Al-Jaysh Avenue, were restored and are today open to the public. The modern plan of Alexandria follows the ancient grid, and below these streets run subterranean canals, originally dug in the pre-modern city to service waste. These canals, together with a vast, active network of cellars, tunnels, and catacombs form a great part of the city's infrastructure. The commercial center of the city was located at Liberation Square (Midan at-Tahrir), between the Cotton Exchange and the Bourse (Stock Exchange). The center has since moved to Saad Zaghlul Square.

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fig(1-15)Map of contemporary Alexandria. Source: (Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria" p.410)

fig(1-16)panorama view and photos of corniche of Alexandria. Source: http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=9173

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Alexandria's post-independence urban expansion (following the 1936 British withdrawal) was unprecedented in the city's history. The city now occupies a 70-kilometer strip along the Mediterranean coast line in the northwest Nile Delta, covering approximately 2,679 square kilometers. Its urban form is that of a T-shaped peninsula, the urban center (including the old city and its newer suburbs) occupying about 100 square kilometers. The remaining area is 40 percent croplands, 35 percent desert, and 25 percent water from Lake Maryut. Some segments of the lake shore are used for saltworks and fisheries. The presence of the lake directed the expansion of the city along a relatively linear pattern. The two main streets of ancient Alexandria, the east-west Canopic Way (now Hurriya Street or Al-Hurriya Avenue), and the Street of the Soma (now Nabi Daniel Street or An-Nabi Danyal Street), continue to be the principal streets of the city. Alexandria's main public spaces in the early twenty-first century fall along the waterfront and the squares adjacent to the harbor; the western port of the city is primarily industrial.

fig(1-17)Photos of the Montaza Royal palace.

Source: http://archnet.org & (Awad, Mohamed F. "Italy in Alexandria" p.346)

fig(1-18)Photos of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Source: http://archnet.org

Residential building typologies in contemporary Alexandria fall into formal categories: researchers count the linear (El Hokma and Ahalee housing type), the square (Rabaa housing type), the rectangular (Ashia housing type), the L-shaped, the walk-up flats (El Dekhila), and the Aimaras Rabba housing types. Existing ancient architectural monuments include the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, a late second-century burial site carved out of solid rock and located as deep as three levels below ground. These tombs are sited adjacent to the ancient Temple of Serapis (Serapeum). Modern building projects in the city include the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Snohetta, 2002), designed as a tilting disc rising from the ground. Housing a library and reading spaces, the Bibliotheca was the winner of a competition run by the library

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sponsors, UNESCO, and the Egyptian government. It is sited on the site of the former Great Library.

Alexandria's major civic spaces include Ahmed Orabi Square and Saad Zaghlul Square (both located in the downtown area), Mansheya Square (in Mansheya), Tahrir Square (formerly Mohammed Ali Square at the Places des Consuls) and Ahmed Zewail Square (near Wabour El Mayah). The city also hosts the Graeco-Roman Museum, with one of the finest collections of Graeco-Roman artifacts in the world. The Montaza Royal Gardens are an important urban green space; the palace garden complex is surrounded by walls on the east, west and south sides of the complex, and its north side faces the waterfront. Major mosques include Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque (in Somouha), Bilal Mosque, El-Gamee el-Bahari (in Mandara), Hatem Mosque (also in Somouha), Hoda el-Islam Mosque (in Sidi Bishr), Abu el-Abbas el-Mursi Mosque (in Anfoushi), El-Mowasah Mosque (in Hadara). The ancient Roman amphitheatre and Pompey's Pillar still stand.

Its urban infrastructure also includes the main airport (Al Nozha airport), located 7 kilometers southeast of the city center, and five major highways. Its port has the longest history of all its urban infrastructure: dating to 1900 BCE, it has seen many restorations under multiple regimes. Today the port is divided into the eastern harbor and the western harbor, which are separated by a T-shaped peninsula .

The history of Alexandria showcases a broad cast of colonial powers, which each in turn added to the city's fabric. Today, GraeRoman ruins and modern high-rise buildings co-exist within Alexandria. Elements of the ancient city, such as its main streets and millenia-old port, combine with geomorphological changes to define and direct its urban growth today. The city mirrors the issues faced by most developing cities, and stark contrasts in civic infrastructure and architecture can be seen today between all six of Alexandria's districts: Montaza, eastern Alexandria, the downtown, Amreya, Western Alexandria and Gumro .

Notes:

www.archnet.org the main recourses are:

1. McKenzie, Judith, et al. "Alexandra." In Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online", http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T001722. (Accessed March 16, 2009 . )

2. Alexandria: Hellenistic Age." Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2004. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online". http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-26550/Hellenistic-Age. (Accessed May 19, 2008).

3. El-Abbadi, Mostafa. "Alexandria: Thousand-Year Capital of Egypt." Alexandria: The Site and the History. New York: NYU Press .1993.

4. El-Din, Morsi Saad,"Alexandria: The Site and the History. New York: NYU Press .1993. 5. Haag, Michael. Alexandria. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press .2004.

6. Jobbins, Jenny. 2006. "Alexandria and the Egyptian Mediterranean: a traveler's guide". Cairo: American University in Cairo Press .

7. Mueller, Katja. Settlements of the Ptolemies: city foundations and new settlement in the Hellenistic world. Dudley, MA: Peeters .2006.

8. Ramadan, Abdel Azim. C. "Alexandria: French Expedition to the Modern Age." Alexandria: The Site and the History. New York: NYU Press,1993 .

9. Reimer, Michael J. Colonial Bridgehead: Government and Society in Alexandria, 1807-1882. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press .1997.

10. Reimer, Michael J. "Property disputes in 19th century Alexandria". Arizona: Middle East Studies Association of North America .1989.

11. Harris, W. V. and Giovanni Ruffin. "Ancient Alexandria between Egypt and Greece". Boston: Brill Academic Publishers, 2004.

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preface.

1- Historical study.

1-1- History of Alexandria.

1-2-Italian Architects and

Engineers in Egypt.

1-3- Italian contributions in Alexandrian built environment:

2- Theoretical study: Damage diagnosis on stone buildings.

2-1- In site investigation and laboratory studies.

2-2- Structural failure and interventions in stone building.

3- Applied study on Alexandrian heritage.

3-1- Future of Alexandrian built environment.

3-2- Case study: El Manshieh “Mohamed Ali Square”.

Conclusion

References

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1-2-Italian Architects and Engineers in Egypt:

The first Italian exile architects and engineers in Egypt starts from the Restoration of the Ottoman Empire, and in particular the Egypt of (Muhammad Ali), offered asylum to Italian political emigrants, including a considerable number of engineers, architects, building contractors and specialized workers.

1-2-1- The first Italian architects and engineers in Egypt:

The first exiles were engineers involved with the governments of the Napoleonic Republics and the first Kingdom of Italy, among them was the author of the plan for the Bonaparte Forum in Milan, (Giovanni Antonio Antolini), a victim in 1815 along with his friend (Pietro Giordani) of the purge carried out by the papal government at the Fine Arts Academy of Bologna (which marked for him the start of a long period of financial difficulties), who seems to have cultivated the proposition of seeking his fortune in more hospitable lands. This is confirmed by the existence of a plan for a "large spinning mill in Cairo, Egypt" (1815) as well as drawings for an embassy in Constantinople.

Also part of the first migratory wave were Livorno native Lorenzo Masi, who made an important contribution to the introduction of the cadastre in Egypt, restored the canal linking the Nile and the port of Alexandria to full efficiency with the collaboration of Girolamo Segato, and left early studies on the excavation or the Suez Canal, and the Papal subject Francesco Mancini who settled in Egypt and stayed until 1865. From 1837 to 1847 he served as head engineer of the Alexandria “Commissione d`Ornato”, and in during that coordinated the development of the town plan, which was in use until the start of the Twentieth Century. Also he designed the organization of the European city heart, and the "Quartier Franc" centered around the (Place d' Armes) completed around 1855 and surrounded by buildings -some of which were also designed by him- destroyed by British cannon fire in 1882.

Fig (1-19) Old postcards of Place des Consuls in late 19th cantury also known as Place d' Armes, place Mohamed Ali, Manshieh and Liberation square. Source: (www.flicr.com )

The presence of Italian architects in Egypt less considerable in quantitative terms than that recorded by their rise to important public posts, which put them in contact with top government (the pasha and later the khedive, the king and members of the royal family). The first fact can be interpreted as an indirect consequence of Bonaparte's campaign in Egypt; many artists and intellectuals who had accompanied the Napoleonic armada settled in the country to participate in the modernization pursued by Muhammad Ali, and they were joined, during the Restoration, by other technicians and French military men called upon by the pasha. The presence of this French colony was thus a guarantee of welcome for Italians forced to leave their own homeland because they had been openly involved with Napoleonic

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