about

Cairobserver is the start of a conversation about Cairo’s architecture and building, urban fabric and city life.

Cairo is one of the greatest cities in the world with a rich history and a fascinating contemporary condition that makes it an ideal site for urban and architectural investigation. Cairobserver is dedicated to presenting visitors and residents with lucid analysis, commentary and information while confronting stereotypical views of this city and enriching the ways in which professionals, students and residents understand the policies that shape the city, explore its history and sites, its urban and architectural merits and problems and connecting with the activism that attempts to engage with Cairo’s urban reality.

Cairobserver is open for contributions. It is an online space, a platform, for architects, journalists, historians, artists, and residents to find and share content that offers ways for understanding, representing, and improving the city.

Content is not restricted to a theme or an approach or a style of writing or a discipline. It can be about heritage, about an old postcard, bad restoration, interesting appropriations of space, or street art. The goal is to start a conversation about the city that includes as diverse views and experiences as possible.

The site will bring together personal accounts, historical anecdotes, current news, relevant links, and useful lessons from elsewhere that may help us rethink Cairo.

Contact: If you wish to contribute to the site send a 300-600 word contribution (English or Arabic) to Cairobserver [at] gmail [dot] com and include your name and relevant pictures. Photography and video contributions are encouraged.

Cairobserver was founded in April 2011 and is edited by Mohamed Elshahed.

Mohamed Elshahed is a doctoral candidate in the Middle East Studies Department at New York University. His research focuses on architecture and urban planning in Egypt from the 19th century to the present. Mohamed’s dissertation examines the role of the built environment during Egypt’s political transition from monarchy to republic from 1936 to 1967 with an emphasis on the Nasser years. Mohamed has a Bachelor of Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a Master in Architecture Studies from MIT.

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