SEA   1917 (SOCIETY OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTS)

CAIRO: A CITY OF MULTI- SOUL
PREPAREDBY: prof. Dr . sahar   Attia & prof. Dr . Sherine   wahba
Professors of architecture, Architectural Engineering Department, Faculty of
Engineering, Cairo University
Soul and cities are two terms that reflect the tangible and intangible; on one hand, soul
is spiritual, while cities are entities\ existence. Both are products. The city is a product
of interrelated elements and components. While the soul of a city is the product of an
experience; it evolves beyond one’s thoughts. Is it a sensation? Or an interpretation and
accumulation of historic layers along time? Or just the sense of place ?
Yet, the contemporary paradigm recognizes that city soul is a product; it is the
manifestation of all systems and practices
Along history in the city. The presentation\ debate discusses the three main aspects of:
Cairo soul, city memory, and the blend of civilizations, cultures, architectures and
urban typologies .
These elements constitute layers creating a diversity of experiences, that are neither
recognized nor perceived similarly by all citizens, users and hence visitors. The flavors,
complexity, crowds, and social divisions release variable characters and identities,
creating waves of soul across the city aggressive growth; a city of multi- soul .