|
Rebirth of the City of the Sun
A new book on the history of Heliopolis
The Delegation of the European Commission in Egypt, the
American University in Cairo Press, the Embassy of
Belgium in Cairo, and the Netherlands-Flemish Institute
in Cairo will celebrate the publication of a new book on
Heliopolis on 23rd February, entitled: Heliopolis:
Rebirth of the City of the Sun, by Agnieszka Dobrowolska
and Jaroslaw Dobrowolski. The result of a project
supported by the Delegation of the European Commission
in Egypt, this stunningly illustrated book presents this
City of the Sun as a multicultural place where Egypt and
Europe have met in many fruitful ways for the past 100
years. It was initiated as an activity of the
Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo and directed by
Agnieszka Dobrowolska, freelance conservation architect.
Many books have been written about this distinctive
Cairo suburb, but Heliopolis: Rebirth of the City of the
Sun is unique because it tells the history of the
district through its architecture and inhabitants, past
and present, where the captivating atmosphere of Egypt’s
Belle Époque is still tangible.
Heliopolis: Rebirth of the City of the Sun leads the
reader through the district’s history from the ancient
Heliopolis, through the enterprise of the Belgian
industrialist, Baron Empain, to create a satellite city,
to its urban planning concept and the execution of its
architecture in the context of contemporary trends in
Europe. Personal recollections of long-time residents
round off the account. The book is lavishly illustrated
with specially commissioned colour photographs, historic
pictures, and material from the Heliopolis Company’s
archive published for the first time.
The celebration of the book’s publication follows the
2005 centennial celebrations, in which the Belgian
Embassy participated intensely. The event was a living
theatre, with European music and actors wearing costumes
from the time the district was conceived by Baron Empain,
in order to recreate the ambiance of 1905.
“I want to build a city here. It will be called
Heliopolis, city of the sun…”
Baron Empain
Heliopolis: Rebirth of the City of the Sun
Agnieszka Dobrowolska and Jaroslaw Dobrowolski
Published by the American University in Cairo Press
ENDS
Fore more information, please contact:
Ellen Jacobs
Ellen.Jacobs@nvic.net.eg
738 25 20 |
