Al-Azhar Park
File:Egypt - Cairo - Overview.PNG Al-Azhar Park
Location	Cairo, Egypt
Coordinates	30°02′26″N 31°15′53″E / 30.040523°N 31.264631°E / 30.040523; 31.264631
Size	30 hectares
Opened	May 2005
Website	www.alAzharPark.com

Among several honors, this park is listed as one of the world's sixty great public spaces by Project for Public Spaces (PPS).^[1] The Park was created by the Historic Cities Support Programme (HCSP) of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), an entity of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The park, developed at a cost in excess of USD $30 million, was a gift to Cairo from His Highness the Aga Khan. It is interesting to note that the city of Cairo was founded in the year 969 by the Fatimid Imam-Caliphs who were ancestors of the Aga Khan.

The park project was not only the development of the park, but also included aspects of archeology (12th century Ayyubid wall), historic building rehabilitation (14th Century Umm Sultan Shaban Mosque, the 13th century Khayrbek complex, and the Darb Shoughlan School) and several quality of life improvement initiatives. Those initiatives included skills training, area rehabilitation, microfinance, and support in the areas of health and education among others.

Contents 1 Urban Plaza and Museum of Historic Cairo 2 Awards and recognition 3 References 4 Sources 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Urban Plaza and Museum of Historic Cairo

At the Northern end of the park, an "Urban Plaza" project is under development which will house the Museum of Historic Cairo. The Urban Plaza will be a mixed-use centre with underground car parking, shops and cultural facilities. It is being built by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt.^[2]

The Museum will describe the evolution of Egypt's capital city Cairo^[3], and house some of the great wealth of art and artefacts of the city's Islamic heritage that are not currently on display. With 4,000 square metres of exhibition space spread over two floors, the museum is expected to have 1,000 pieces on display from different historical periods. It will provide visitors insight into the urban, cultural and architectural history of the heart of Cairo.^[2]

To conserve and restore all the artefacts and artworks which will be shown in the museum, the Trust has set up a major conservation laboratory, which is training young technicians in this field. It is also being used to restore important art and architectural elements for the Cairo Museum of Islamic Art.^[2]

[edit] Awards and recognition

• Al-Azhar Park is listed among the 60 of the World's Great Places by Project for Public Spaces^[1]
• 2005 Travel +Leisure magazine Global Vision Innovation Award^[4]

[edit] References

[edit] Sources

• "Article: Rescuing Cairo's Lost Heritage - Islamica Magazine, Issue 15, 2006". http://www.islamicamagazine.com/issue-15/rescuing-cairos-lost-heritage.html. Retrieved 2006-12-06. 
• "Aga Khan and Madame Mubarak Inaugurate Cairo's Al-Azhar Park - AKDN, March 25, 2005". http://www.akdn.org/news/2005March25.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-06. 

[edit] See also

• Historic Cities Support Programme
• Aga Khan Trust for Culture
• Aga Khan Development Network

[edit] External links

• Historic Cities Support Programme
• Project Page - AKTC Historic Cities Support Programme — Cairo / Al-Azhar Park
• The Aga Khan Trust for Culture
• The Aga Khan Development Network
• The Al-Azhar Park
• Listing in 60 of the World's Great Places