Garden City, Cairo
{{short description|Residential-administrative district in Central Cairo}}
File:Picture of a street in Garden City.jpg
Garden City ({{langx|ar|جاردن سيتي}}, {{langx|arz|جاردن سيتى}}) is an early-20th-century real estate development loosely based on the English garden city movement, and is today a mixed residential and administrative quarter in qism Qasr al-Nil in the West District of Cairo, Egypt.{{Cite web |title=West District |url=http://www.cairo.gov.eg/en/Maps/Pages/Hay_Map.aspx?ID=41 |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=www.cairo.gov.eg}} It spans the east side of the Nile just south of Wust al-Balad (downtown) and the famous Midan Tahrir (Tahrir Square), and north of Old Cairo. Two main streets, Qasr al-Ayni Street on the east and the Nile Corniche on the west, delineate its eastern and western borders. Garden City is known for its quiet, upscale, and secure atmosphere. The United States, British, Italian and more Embassies are located there.Haag, Michael. Egypt. Cairo: American University in Cairo, 2010. Print.
Administrative status and population
Strictly speaking, the original Garden City development is a quarter (shiakha) in qism Qasr al-Nil, though its name also encompasses the Qasr al-Dubara shiakha between it and the Ismailia shiakha to their north that holds the famous Tahrir (former Ismailia) Square.
File:Cairo - West District (Hayy Gharb) Map.jpg
In 2017 Garden City had 5217 residents, making it the most populous shiakha in qism Qasr al-Nil.{{Cite web |last=Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) |date=2017 |title=2017 Census for Population and Housing Conditions |url=https://www.cedejcapmas.org/adws/app/4d5b52dc-669d-11e9-b6a6-975656a88994/index.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=CEDEJ-CAPMAS}}The interactive census site is the only available source with data at the shiakha level and must be queried as follows: Statistics and analysis > Population > 2017 Data > Gender >Statistical Tables >Total population and population by sex by shiyâkha/qarya > Choose location.
class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Shiakha ! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Code 2017 ! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Population |
Gârdin Sitî (Garden City)
|011702 |5217 |
Ismâ`îliyya, al- (Ismaïlia)
|011701 |1026 |
Ma`rûf
|011704 |3727 |
Qaṣr al-Dûbâra
|011703 |593 |
History
As the Nile's course shifted west away from medieval Cairo, the areas it left behind became swampy plains. During Mohammed Ali's reign in the first half of the 19th century, the area was reclaimed with the swamps filled in and the sandy mounds of Tal al-Akareb (Scorpions Hill) were transformed into orchards and bean fields.{{Cite web |last=Rafaat |first=Samir |date=August 6, 1998 |title=GARDEN CITY: A Retrospective PART I |url=http://egy.com/gardencity/ |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=egy.com}} Within decades they became royal domain land where a number of palaces were built overlooking the Nile: Kasr al-Dubara for Mohamed Ali's son Ibrahim Pasha, and Kasr al-Aaly (High Palace) for Khedive Ismail's mother.
Description
Garden City, in addition to Zamalek, Maadi, Mohandessin, and Heliopolis, is one of the wealthy residential districts in Greater Cairo. Garden City was developed differently from most of the other neighborhoods and districts in Cairo.Jayyusi, Salma Khadra., Renata Holod, Attilio Petruccioli, and André Raymond. The City in the Islamic World. Leiden: Brill, 2008. Print. It was planned by private investors as opposed to the natural development of cities characterized by the disorganized migration of people. Its landscape, street layout, architecture, and general atmosphere can be explained by both the nature of its founders and Khedive Ismail's attempts to Europeanize Cairo. Garden City was a city strictly planned by private investors wishing to escape the period of national construction that took place until 1952. Its quiet, tree-lined streets, beautiful gardens, and elegant, ornamental palaces coupled with the proximity to the American and British embassies make it an attractive place for affluent Cairenes and tourists. Furthermore, the geography and landscape more closely resemble a lofty, European village. In line with the European feel of the district, Italian architect Beyerly designed the palace.Serageldin, Samia. "The Real Cairo House." The Real Cairo House. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. Garden City was modeled after an English garden suburb meant to radiate tranquility and security.Maxwell, Virginia. Egypt. Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet, 2006. Print Its winding, leafy streets often intersect with each other multiple times and graceful palaces and lofty mansions line the streets next to modern banks and other professional buildings.Raymond, André, and Willard Wood. "The Dream of Westernization, The Nightmares of Growth." Cairo: City of History. Cairo, Egypt: American University in Cairo, 2001. N. pag. Print. From the 1880s to the early 1900s, Egyptians from the older neighborhoods flocked to the trendier, up-and-coming parts of the city including Garden City and Behery, Shaimaa. "Security Turns Into Far-Fetched Dream for Egyptians." http://news.xinhuanet.com. Xinhua News, 15 Mar. 2013. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.
Role in the Egyptian Revolution
For the most part, the low-key atmosphere of Garden City and collection of wealthy residents meant that Garden City was not politically active during the Egyptian Revolution so-called Arabic Spring. In fact, throughout the majority of political and technological upheaval throughout Cairo, Garden City managed to maintain its chic first class appearance. On September 11, 2012, Egyptian protesters, in retaliation of the video ridiculing Muhammad, stormed the US embassy and staged revolts.Birnbaum, Michael. "Protesters Attack U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Consulate in Libya." WashingtonPost.com. The Washington Post, 11 Sept. 2012. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. However, in anticipation of the anniversary of 9/11, most employees had already gone home and so very few were actually inside the building at the time. This security breach highlights the lack of immediately responsive military forces in Garden City, an area known for its peace and quiet. Furthermore, despite the relative low-key atmosphere, there were reports of thug violence in March 2013 which did not last long after. Garden City residents reported that bullies set up blockades on certain streets at night, stopping cars and demanding money. If the car's inhabitants did not pay the 500 Egyptian pounds, the bullies would damage the cars. This also is a huge downfall in the tranquil reputation of Garden City and its paradise-esque rows of breezy, tree-lined streets. Later through the years, the tranquility and peace through the country returned making Garden City and neighborhoods alike safe again and even more tranquil.
Landmarks
- Nile Corniche
- Qasr al-Ayni Street
- Belmont Building
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{wikivoyage inline|Cairo/Garden City|Garden City, Cairo}}
{{districts of Cairo|cairo}}
{{Coord|30|02|07|N|31|13|52|E|display=title|region:EG_type:city}}