AUC TAHRIR CULTURAL FEST (17-22 April)
URBAN THINKERS CAMPUS
URBAN PANELS at The American University in Cairo

Urban Panel: Downtown on the Move: Mobilizing Active Transport and the X-minute city
Date: Friday, 19 April
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am
Location: Oriental Hall, AUC Downtown Tahrir Campus

Link here: https://tahrirculturefest.aucegypt.edu/event/downtown-on-the-move-mobilizing-active-transport-and-the-x-minute-city
 

Description
With urban mobility specialists from UN-Habitat, members of the civil society and grassroots organizations, this panel aims to advocate and discern urban design concepts about bike infrastructure, active mobility, x-minute city and sustainable urbanization in a heritage context such as Downtown Cairo.
Moderator: Momen El-Husseiny
Organizer: Momen El-Husseiny
Speakers: Abeer El-Shater (Ain Shams/AUC/Ministry of Higher Education), Ahmed Dorghamy (UN-Habitat), Khalil Shaat (Governor Advisor/Contract Administrator/Senior Policy Advisor at GIZ), Rafik Yanni (ITDP, Africa), Sarah Gamal (Project Manager, Baddel & Cairo Bike), Shehab AbuZeid (Programme Manager, Nada Foundation for Safer Egyptian Roads), Yousra El-Nemr (Tabdeel)

Urban Panel: Cairo: Growing Metropolis
Date: Saturday, April 20
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Location: Oriental Hall, AUC Downtown Tahrir Campus
Link here: https://tahrirculturefest.aucegypt.edu/event/cairo-growing-metropolis

Description
This panel explores the massive urbanization taking place over 40 years of desert development and how they relate to the current transformations recurring at the urban core. From spatial growth at the city extensions to urban regeneration at the heritage quarters, there is a seeming return to the city that requires us to elucidate an integrated urban planning approach that encompasses the desert extensions and Downtown altogether. From social housing to gated communities to the New Administrative Capital and urban renewal projects, the resources, potentials and approaches to placemaking, financialization, city-belonging and urban governance are still unconfigured across the metropolis. The question becomes how to mediate the growing polarization in means and modes of inhabitation between the urbanizing edge and the urban core towards social, spatial and environmental justice. Accordingly, the panel brings in urban planners, scholars, and design thinkers to pose how we can approach the city’s fragmented mosaics to cater for the urban-citizen towards achieving a viable sustainable future. How can we move forward from within the in-betweenness of things? What are the remaining possibilities to inhabit the metropolis without compromising its heritage (Downtown, etc.), deal with informality (the vast majority), and open-up to the future (new capital, new developments)? In other words, how can we think of the metropolis as a wholesome ecosystem?
Moderator: Momen El-Husseiny
Organizer: Momen El-Husseiny
Speakers: Abeer El-Shater (Ain Shams/AUC/Ministry of Higher Education), Ahmed Zaazaa (Nile University, Arab Academy for Science and Maritime Transport, Researcher and Urban Designer, 10Tooba), Ayman Abdo (Dar Al-Handasah, Architectural Design Firm, Shair and Partners), Dalia Wahdan (AUC, Bureau Gladys for Urban Studies), Deena Khalil (AUC, MENA Urban Housing Hub, Habitat for Humanity International)

Urban Panel: Evolution of Cairo, Downtown Reimagined
Date: Saturday, April 20
Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: Ewart Memorial Hall, AUC Downtown Tahrir Campus

Link here: https://tahrirculturefest.aucegypt.edu/event/evolution-of-cairo-downtown-reimagined
 

Description
A new vibe of urban rejuvenation is striking Downtown that has been in the making for more than a decade. From new boutique hotels, Airbnb, coworking spaces, and experimental designs in passageways and urban pockets, today Downtown has more landmarks on the map. The splendor of heritage is coupled with a spirit of creative innovation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. As eclectic as it may seem, it is gradually evolving with at least two modalities of spatial transformation. First, there is "space-by-space appropriation" from in-between spaces, workshops, and apartment units, and secondly, there is "building-by-building adaptation", where new functions are introduced with new stakeholders, jobs and inhabitants instantiating more utilities and new infrastructure for the newly added creative community. As such, this panel delves into the future of Downtown as it is currently reimagined by city officials, real-estate developers, educational institutions and cultural hubs with the aim of discussing a collective portrayal for re-imagining Downtown Cairo.
Moderator: Magda Mostafa
Organizer: Momen El-Husseiny
Speakers: Karim Shafei (Co-founder and CEO, Al-Ismaelia for Real Estate Developments), Mai Al-Ibrashy (MEGAWRA, Adjunct Professor at AUC), Momen El-Husseiny (Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at AUC)


SPORTS EVENT
Cairo Bikers Event - Enjoy the ride in Downtown's Cultural Heritage
Followed by AUC Students' Exhibition for "Downtown Guide for Bicycle Urbanism"
Tour Leaders: Sara Seyam, Lara Shaheen, Momen El-Husseiny
Organizer: Momen El-Husseiny
Sponsored by: The American University in Cairo
Powered by: Bescletta

Link here: https://tahrirculturefest.aucegypt.edu/event/cairo-bike-downtown-cultural-heritage
Meeting Time: 7:30 am
Meeting Spot: AUC, Tahrir Cultural Center, Main Garden
Duration: 7:30 - 9:30 am
 

General description:
On a sportive Friday morning, come join AUC’s bike tour of Downtown to see its beautiful architecture of Khedivial Cairo. The bike tour highlights the historical landmarks of the city with interesting spots and rejuvenated streets guided by AUC faculty and students of urban design and landscape architecture. At the end of the tour, we will convene at the Armenian Hall in Tahrir Cultural Center with urban mobility specialists from UN-Habitat, members of the civil society and grassroots organizations to discern urban design concepts about bike infrastructure, active mobility, x-minute city and sustainable urbanization in the “Downtown on the Move” panel.
Language: Bi-lingual, Arabic and English.
Guidelines: Comfy shoes, bring water, wear a hat or a cap, no bags, bring your cell-phones and make sure it is charged, be ready for taking photos, selfies and enjoy the ride. Bikes will be provided free of charge upon registration.