Cairo Breathing Sanctuary - A living Pedestrian Bridge over the Nile
The objective is to maximize pedestrian exposure to the Nile by stitching together the urban fabric of its two banks. The bridge functions as an urban park with two concealed lower levels above the Nile, incorporating recreational, commercial, cultural, administrative, and social spaces. The structure maximizes visual connectivity between indoor and outdoor areas, as well as natural ventilation and lighting. The project serves as a breathing sanctuary for people, embracing pedestrian-friendly spaces.
The proposed design site is located in the center of Cairo, over the Nile River, connecting its two banks. Due to the ongoing development of Egypt's new administrative capital to the east of Cairo, there is significant potential for regeneration at the selected project site. The idea is to design a living pedestrian bridge over the Nile, connecting Al-Tahrir Square to Al-Zamalek, and to reimagine the public space on the east bank of the Nile.
The design stitches the urban fabric of the two banks together, resulting in a massive form that first establishes an unobstructed linear path between the Egyptian Museum and Cairo Tower, and second, a semi-elliptical path housing the Cultural Nile Plaza and the Elevated Garden—acting as a socio-economic hub.
The project also includes the creation of a tunnel system for vehicular traffic and the relocation of the exit of the 6th October Bridge. The concept provides space for an urban park that blends into the landscape on both sides of the Nile, with two concealed levels above the river. This vision reimagines and reflects Egypt’s historical landscapes while promoting a sustainable future and greener cities.
We are honored to announce that our team—Ali Khaled Elewa, Mostafa Ahmed Zakaria, Sherif Khaled Abdelkhaleq, Hoda Essam Abdelmawla, and Ebtisam Elgizawy—has been awarded First Place and the People’s Choice Award in the Rifat Chadirji Prize 2020, organized by the Tamayouz Excellence Award. Selected from 177 submissions across 42 countries, our project was recognized for its response to a local challenge through thoughtful and impactful design.
The Rifat Chadirji Prize is an esteemed international competition named after the prolific Iraqi architect and academic Dr. Rifat Chadirji. As part of Tamayouz’s mission to champion and celebrate architecture in the Near East and North Africa, the prize invites architects, designers, and planners to propose innovative solutions to pressing social issues. We are proud to contribute to this open-source platform of ideas and are deeply grateful to be part of a legacy that includes architectural icons such as Dame Zaha Hadid, who served as a jury member in the 2012 cycle of the award.
Jury Comments on the project: This design appears to be hugging its own piece of the river and fostering life within its boundaries. The starting plaza of the bridge at the eastern side is larger and more spacious to assure the relative importance of this side (the location of the former National Democratic Party), while on the western bank, the plaza is small and conforms to the realistic properties of this area. The bridge design is clear, dynamic, and successful, and the structural system complies with the requirements of river navigation.
“This project has a very successful composition and is quite elegant in its composition.”
