See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/332292393

The Viability of Adaptive Reuse of Historic Buildings as Schools in Egypt

Research · July 2018

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19407.12967

CITATIONS READS

2 2,279

2 authors:

Nermin Mokhtar Farrag Mariam Abouhadid

National Research Center, Egypt National Research Center, Egypt
25 PUBLICATIONS   45 CITATIONS    9 PUBLICATIONS   14 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Building with waste plastic bottles View project

Design of Sports Facilities View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Mariam Abouhadid on 09 April 2019.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Current Science International Volume : 07 | Issue : 03| July- Sept. | 2018
ISSN: 2077-4435 Pages: 337-343

The Viability of Adaptive Reuse of Historic Buildings as Schools in Egypt

Nermin M. Farrag
Architecture, Civil & Architectural Engineering Department, Engineering Research Division, National
Research Centre, 33 El Behouth St., (Former El Tahrir St.) 12622 Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
E-mail: nerminfarrag@yahoo.com

Mariam A. Abouhadid
Architecture, Civil & Architectural Engineering Department, Engineering Research Division, National
Research Centre, 33 El Behouth St., (Former El Tahrir St.) 12622 Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
E-mail: m.abouhadid@gmail.com
Received: 04 June 2018 / Accepted: 10 July 2018 / Publication date: 30 July 2018

ABSTRACT

In Egypt, There are many historic buildings that are unique in their history, architecture,
and built environment. Some of those fanciest palaces were reused as museums, hotels and
even public schools after the 1952 Revolution. The paper aims at investigating the viability of
adaptive reuse of historic palaces and the impact it has on the buildings and the contextual
environment in Egypt; by studying several examples of reused palaces.The research studies the
basics of urban, structural, architectural, social, technical and environmental rehabilitation of
historic palaces that were reused as museums, hotels or schools. The comparisons showed that
the palaces that were reused as schools were subject to neglect and were deteriorated and partly
demolished and lost most of its aesthetic value. Unlike the ones reused as museums that kept
most of their beauty intact. The hotels were mostly preserved and renovated.

Keywords: Historic Buildings; Adaptive Reuse; Schools; Egyptian Heritage

Introduction

In Egypt, we have a real estate wealth of historic buildings that belong to the khedivial
period, the buildings are worth a fortune, and they all require tourist investment. The historic
palaces was divided into two groups, the first one was the palaces that were taken by the 1952
revolution and was given to governmental entities like the general authority for educational
building and some ministers like: the ministry of education. Most of those palaces were reused
as schools and most of them were misused and damaged. The other group was the palaces that
belonged to Muhammad Aly Pasha’s family, and they were taken as presidential palaces.
Reuse is considered one of the most important methods for preservation of historic
buildings. It helps the historic building to stay out of deterioration cycle.
The concepts of Reuse are divided into two categories:
The first is the functional category, it has three methods: Original Reuse, Adaptive Reuse,
and Integrated Reuse.
The original reuse keeps the original function of the building as it is without modification.
Adaptive Reuse depends on modifying some of the buildings’ aspects to fit to a new function
in a harmonious way (Practice Guidebook, 2016).
Original Reuse as a method of preservation is not the same as Adaptive Reuse that means
to adapt and modify the building for a new function other than its historic use (Langston et al.,
2008).The buildings that are subject to adaptive Reuse might have lost their original function
while maintaining its structure, so adaptive reuse restore its physical aspects and might add
other aspects that are needed for the new function and guarantees its preservation (Abdeen N.,
Corresponding Author: Mariam A. Abouhadid, Architecture, Civil & Architectural Engineering Department,
Engineering Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.33 El Bohooth
St., Dokki, Egypt. Email: m.abouhadid@gmail.com
337
Curr. Sci. Int., 7(3): 337-343, 2018
ISSN: 2077-4435

2009). Integration Reuse method gathers the two other methods, it keeps the original function
of the old building, but it also adds new functions to the original one and adapts the building
to its new life.
In Egypt, Law 117 of year 1983 has not stated a function for historic buildings, but it
should require an approval from the permanent committee of antiquities for any monument
related project (Abdul-Aziz, 2013). A group of regulations and conditions that should be
present in the proposed reuse were presented in (Akram and Broström, 2015).
There are many Problems that face reuse of historic buildings (Stein, 2009), and there
are different categories for appropriate functions. Cultural activities: reusing the building as a
public library, museum, Community center or an exhibition center (Seargeldin, 2002). Arts and
crafts activities: Reusing the building as a center for education of traditional arts and crafts.
Traditional Commercial activities: Selling traditional arts and crafts products. Administrative
activities and other activities: That includes educational and religious activities. Any necessary
changes (Internal or external) changes must be in accordance with reuse laws and regulations
in order to preserve the building’s authenticity (Nabil, 2013).
Reuse of a historic building requires some modification or alteration in order to adapt to
the new function, the institute of historic building conservation (The institute of historic
building conservation, 2008), shows the factors that affect the size of alteration done to a
historic building. Whether the modification is internal or external, it must be in harmony with
the original design and architectural concept. The approach of modification depends on the
historical importance and value of the building. The Guidelines for preserving historic
buildings (Guidelines for preserving historic buildings, 2016) showed the different kinds of
treatments, Development Planning Services, Department of Planning and City Development in
(1996) stated the directions of alterations and Bullen and Love (2011) presented the factors
affecting the design of the extension to a historic building.

Materials and Methods

The historic building has requirements that can prepare it for the new phase of life which
is the new reuse function. The Guidelines for preserving historic buildings (2016) presents
those requirements.
The current research conducts a study of some examples of historic places in Egypt
(Table 1), that were subject to reuse as hotels (Fig. 1a&1b), museums (Fig. 1c&1d) and schools
(Fig. 1e,1f, 1g & 1h). Each function group is followed by an analytical study of viability of the
chosen cases. Chosen cases of buildings were categorized by the type of reuse. They were
analyzed as follows:
1- The degree of efficiency in Reuse Requirements (The Guidelines for preserving historic
buildings, 2016).
Each reuse requirement used a scoring system from 1 to 5 (1=Very Bad, 2=Bad, 3= Good,
4=Very good, 5=Excellent
Then the study compares structural treatment in different parts of the building.
Using a scoring system from 1 to 5 (1=Very Bad, 2=Bad, 3= Good, 4=Very good,
5=Excellent)

338
Curr. Sci. Int., 7(3): 337-343, 2018
ISSN: 2077-4435

Table 1: The chosen cases of the study (The Researchers)

Chosen Cases
Palaces that were reused as Palaces that were reused as Palaces that were reused as
Hotels museums Schools

Figure Ismail Pasha Palace Figure Prince Amr Ibrahim Said Pasha Halim Palace
(Cairo Marriott Hotel), Fig.(1a) Palace in Zamalek (Museum (Shampelion Palace)
of Islamic Ceramics),Fig.(1c) Nasserian school
Fig.(1e)

Prince Tousson Palace (Shobra

School)
Fig.(1f)

Figure Mena House Figure Museum of Mohamed Kazdoghly Palace

Hotel,Fig.(1b) Mahmoud Kahlil in (Ali AbdelLAtif Elementary
Dokki,Fig(1d) school for girls)
Fig.(1g)

Palace of Khedive Tawfiq

(Helwan School)
Fig.(1h)

339
Curr. Sci. Int., 7(3): 337-343, 2018
ISSN: 2077-4435

Results

The Three chosen groups of cases were compared according to the reuse requirements
viability check stated by the Guidelines for preserving historic buildings (The Guidelines for
preserving historic buildings, 2016). Each reuse requirement used a scoring system from 1 to
5 (1=Very Bad, 2=Bad, 3= Good, 4=Very good, 5=Excellent). After that, the results were
presented in the below chart. (Fig.2).

Fig. 2: Comparison of Reuse viability check in three groups of buildings (Source: The
researchers)

Using the same way of scoring, but on structural elements this time, the study compares
structural treatment in different parts of the building.
Using a scoring system from 1 to 5 (1=Very Bad, 2=Bad, 3= Good, 4=Very good,
5=Excellent). It is presented in (Fig.3).

Fig. 3: Comparison of Structural Treatment in different parts of the building.

The three categories of palaces: The ones that were reused as museums, the ones that
were reused as hotels and the ones that were reused as schools were compared according to
reuse requirements to check to which extent they met the needed requirements. The structural

340
Curr. Sci. Int., 7(3): 337-343, 2018
ISSN: 2077-4435

elements comparison compared the status of the building before and after reuse. The two types
of comparisons helped in taking a full picture of the type of reuse viability and success. (Fig.4
and Table 2).

Fig. 4: Reuse requirements check and scores in three groups of function of old palaces.

Discussion

As stated in literature, some precautions must be made in order to make the reuse
operation successful and sustainable. The current research agrees with the following rules and
recommends them to all restoration related entities.
In case it was necessary to perform changes to historic buildings for reuse, added
materials should be light and different than original ones (To be distinguished easily). Primary
plans and rooms should stay unmodified, while other secondary spaces and movable things can
be modified like furniture, lighting fixtures….etc. Dividing existing spaces should be avoided,
especially spaces that represent a significant historic personality or events. It is crucial to
remove any additions done to the building in eras after it was built, especially those who give
it a negative space experience and restore the original space dimensions and proportions. It is
recommended to fix the deteriorated historic architectural elements instead of replacing them
with new ones. It is not recommended to open parts of the ceilings or different floors, because
this might change the space proportions and adding atriums or inner courts is only possible in
very few cases. It is crucial to preserve all architectural elements, details and finishing
materials, since they give the building its unique personality. It is recommended not to change
the staircase original location in the historic building. Should the building need any additional
stair cases, they might be added as external annexes near the secondary spaces in the building.
It is not preferred to remove the original wall paint or wall paper in a historic building even if
it was to show the wood color. In case there were any old mechanical systems in the building,
it is recommended to preserve them to keep the building’s personality intact.

341
Curr. Sci. Int., 7(3): 337-343, 2018
ISSN: 2077-4435

Table 2: Reuse requirements check and scores in three groups of function of old palaces.

342
 Curr. Sci. Int., 7(3): 337-343, 2018
ISSN: 2077-4435

Conclusion

The ultimate reuse for those palaces is to get them back to their original glamour and
retrieve their belongings, then transform them into an open museum that can be added to
Egypt’s tourist map and promote historic palaces’ tourism like the United Kingdom. This
requires that the National organization for urban harmony NOUH or the general organization
for physical planning GOPP takes the responsibility of restoring them.

References

Buildings Department Hong Kong, 2016. Practice Guidebook on Compliance with Building
Safety and Health Requirements under the Buildings Ordinance for Adaptive Re-use of
and Alteration and Addition Works to Heritage Buildings.
Langston, C., Francis K.W. Wong, Eddie C.M. Huiand Li-YinShen, 2008. Strategic assessment
of building adaptive reuse opportunities in Hong Kong. Building and Environment.
43(10): 1709-1718.
Abdeen, N. and Ahmed S., 2009. Reusing historical buildings as a reference to conservation.
MSc thesis, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, 2009.
Abdul-Aziz A., 2013. Forgotten Heritage: Modern Historical Palaces of Cairo, Heliopolis
Palaces as a Case Study, HU-BTU First International Conference on Heritage
Conservation and Site Management "Heritage Tourism: Prospects and Challenges" Luxor,
Egypt.
Akram I. and T. Broström, 2015. The Sustainable Viability of Adaptive Reuse of Historic
Buildings: the experiences of Two World Heritage Old Cities; Bethlehem in Palestine and
Visby in Sweden. International Invention Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 2(4):52-66.
Stein A., 2009. Greening Historic DC: Challenges and Opportunities to Incorporate Historic
Preservation into the District's Drive for Sustainable Development. Georgetown
University Law Center. http://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/hpps_papers
Serageldin I., 2002. Very special places: The architecture and economics of intervening in
historic cities, Bibliotheca Alexandria with the World Bank.
Nabil, A. 2013. Egypt: Heritage in Law. Paper submitted in Master Course, Unpublished, UFE
& Pantheon Sorbonne, Cairo, Egypt.
The institute of historic building conservation, membership standards, criteria & guidelines,
IHBC Council approved version 2, 2008.
Guidelines for preserving historic buildings, 2016. Alterations to Landmark Structures and
Contributing Structures in Historic Districts”, Colorado, United States of America.
Development Planning Services, 1996. Department of Planning and City Development,
Supplementary Planning Guidance - repairs and alterations to listed buildings.
Bullen P.A. and P.E.D. Love, 2011. Factors influencing the adaptive re-use of buildings.
Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 9(1):32-46.

343

View publication stats