Al Azhar Park

In 1984 , His Highness the Aga Khan announced his decision to create a park for the Cairene to commemorate the foundations of Cairo by his ancestors , the Fatimids , in 969 . The selected location was the derelict Darassa site , 30 hectare mound of rubble between the eastern edge of the 12th century City Walls and the “ City of the Dead ”. The Al-Azhar Park opened to the public in 2005 .

Architecture

The Park’s designers and architects insisted on implementing the traditional Islamic landscape method in both their design and choice of greenery .The park includes a wide variety of the Islamic architectural styles from different periods and regions which is seen in the bustan-like orchard spaces, the shaded sitting areas and the Fatimid archways used in the construction of the Park buildings, among other elements. Persian and Timrod elements are also reflected in the water channels and fountains. The gardens in the park are also reminiscent of historical Islamic gardens, with a twist of modern and traditional elements. The central terraced gardens have a Mamluk multicolored stonework, sunken gardens, intersecting waterways and bold Islamic geometry are all integrated into the site’s design.

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people are checking in Al Azhar Park

from the first moments of the place’s exploration a treasure was uncovered under mounds of garbage. The east Ayyubid wall was found measuring 1500 meter long and 15 meters depth. And from that moment everyone working on the project knew it was going to be historical. The wall was long forgotten and buried through centuries ; it reflected different forms of deterioration such as flaking and disaggregation until it was restored, strengthened, cleaned up and added with infrastructure during the time of building the park to a couple of years after it’s opening.

Antiquities discovered in Al Azhar Park
Location:Cairo, Egypt
Coordinates:30.040523°N 31.264631°E
Built:Est. 1998 AD to 2005 AD
Governing body:Cairo Governorate
Architectural Type:Public garden
Architectural style:Islamic

The Eastern Ayyubid Wall

The Eastern City Wall of Cairo wall was built in three different periods. - In the first period, it was built using mud bricks by the founder Gawhar Al Siqili, an army leader during the Fatimid Period in 358AH – 969AD. This part was completely demolished and the only remains are now seen in the Archeological Triangle area and at Bab-Al Tawfiq. - The second building campaign was by Badr Al Din Al Gamali, the minister of Fatimid Khalif Al Mostansir Bellah between (480-485 AH) (1087- 1092 AD). Remaining from this wall can only seen in Bab Al-Tawfiq with a foundation text dated to 480 AH. - In the third period, the City Wall was expanded during the reign of Salah-Al-Din Al-Ayyub, who developed his project to extend the Walls from the Citadel to Al-Fustat to surround the whole capital, between (569- 589 AH)(1171 – 1193 AD).