Press information
 |
Zeyad El Sayad, Dina S. Taha (eds) |
New from DOM publishers:
Zeyad El Sayad, Dina S. Taha (eds)
Architectural Guide Alexandria
Founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE, Alexandria was once one of the largest cities of the ancient world. It has had an eventful past, was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, occupied by various foreign powers, and has long been a significant Mediterranean port. Nowadays Egypt’s second largest city is also a popular holiday destination.
The Architectural Guide Alexandria is the first comprehensive guide to the city’s architecture. It traces how the ebbs and flows of history and a diverse range of cultures have left their marks: from classical ruins and Ottoman fortifications to a Venetian-style Gothic hotel and Snøhetta’s modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina. For the most part the buildings that are introduced in the book were built in the first half of the 20th century, one of the city's most recent golden ages. But it also highlights edifices off the beaten path, such as the Cotton Palace Tower, a skyscraper intended for use as the headquarters of the country’s cotton industry but inexplicably abandoned before completion.
Changes in Alexandria's streetscapes over the past century are exemplified in the portraits of five streets. The appearance of this once cosmopolitan city was defined like none other in Egypt by the cultural and religious diversity of its population. It especially found its expression in the generous and sophisticated architecture, often following French or Italian styles. This architectural ensemble is currently being rapidly changed by substantial urban redevelopment schemes.
The publication serves as a user-friendly guide for anyone interested in exploring the city’s wealth of buildings. Its knowledgeable authors, from the Architecture departments at Alexandria University, provide readers with enlightening informa¬ion from multiple perspectives, building up a clear picture of a multi-layered city. The book is the result of an exhibition that was held by the Goethe Institut Alexandria in collaboration with the Munich Architecture Museum in 2016. Questions that were raised on concepts of architecture and urban planning in regard to sustainability, social and location-specific circumstances led to the idea of setting out on a search for the origins and history of the city and its built environment, and to thereby record the radical socio-cultural changes.
|
|
|
The Architectural Guides by DOM publishers are handy travel companions for readers interested in architecture and culture. Projects are carefully selected and researched to make each individual book a ready work of reference, while background information and attractive design inspire armchair travellers to imaginary journeys. In 2014, the series was awarded with the „Iconic Award“ by the German Design Council, and in 2016 with the „German Design Award Special“. Further information: www.dom-publishers.com
Downloads and links: