Reusing Heritage | Cairo and Beyond

ARCHiNOS Architecture is hosting a presentation and a discussion about the concept of adaptive reuse of historic buildings on Sunday, 17 September at 5:30 PM at the MASQ. We are honoured to host Paul Morel, project leader at Stadsherstel organisation, and the researcher and critic René Boer, both from Amsterdam. The experts will give presentations about adaptive reuse examples from Amsterdam and beyond. The presentations will be preceded by a short walk/site visit to the spaces adaptively re-used by ARCHiNOS in the Qaitbey area and will be followed by a public discussion.

The presentations: Agnieszka Dobrowolska- ARCHiNOS Architecture Agnieszka will guide a short walking tour in the vicinity of Comlex of Sultan Qaitbey to introduce the adaptive re-use programme implemented by ARCHiNOS Architecture of the listed monuments and non-listed heritage buildings. Since 2014, ARCHiNOS has been working on a multifaceted, multidisciplinary project in Cairo’s “City of the Dead” with the overarching objective of reintegration of heritage into the life of the local community. The project comprises the conservation and preservation of historic monuments, urban uplift, promotion of intangible heritage –particularly of traditional crafts—and of cultural tourism, as well as extensive programmes for social development and contemporary art and culture.

René Boer – Let’s Recycle the Past In his talk René Boer, a researcher and critic who focuses on spatial justice, urban imaginations and heritage, will give an introduction to the many ways in which historic buildings have been reused for the future. Based on the research of the transnational platform Failed Architecture, he will provide a broad scan of social, economic, and political developments leading to the abandonment and subsequent reuse of historic buildings. This will be followed by presentation of methods and strategies that can be deployed to reuse old buildings for new functions, allowing current generations to use the remains of the past to shape their built environment

Paul Morel – Stadsherstel Amsterdam In this talk Paul Morel will give an introduction to the work of (meaning “urban recovery” in Dutch). The heritage conservation organisation was founded in 1956 in response to the dilapidation of Amsterdam. Today, it still takes the same energetic and enterprising approach. They see themselves as ardent heritage saviours who dare to take on challenges, with the objective to restore, open to the public, and enjoy heritage buildings. Stadsherstel maintains their heritage buildings with knowledge and expertise. They’ve already saved more than 750 monuments, both in Amsterdam and in the surrounding 45 kilometers, and they have expanded their work to other countries.

We will meet on Sunday 17 September at 5:30 PM in front of the MASQ to have a short tour of the historic buildings adapted by ARCHiNOS. Then, René Boer and Paul Morel will give their presentations at the MASQ at 6:00 PM. A discussion moderated by ARCHiNOS’ director Agnieszka Dobrowolska will follow, addressing the issues of adaptive re-use of historic spaces, both registered and unlisted, tangible and intangible heritage, investment potential, and the role and benefits for the local communities. Please join us and enjoy the afternoon!