Reviving Cairo's Hidden Gem: A Smart Way to Preserve History

Deep in the heart of Cairo, a unique project is taking place. A team of skilled restorers is breathing new life into an old, forgotten part of the city. They are not just fixing up buildings; they are taking them apart and putting them back together again. The goal? To create homes that people can actually live in, while keeping the area's historic charm intact. This neighbourhood, called Darb al-Labbana, is right under Cairo's famous citadel. It's been around for centuries, but lately, it's been falling apart. The houses are too small, and they don't have proper plumbing or electricity. The streets, though, have stayed the same for hundreds of years. Even a map drawn by French cartographers during Napoleon's time shows the same layout. The plan is to strengthen the foundations and add modern necessities like sewage, plumbing, and electricity. But the restorers are also careful to keep the original street plans and the fronts of the buildings the same. It's like giving the neighbourhood a makeover while keeping its identity. This project is special because it's showing a new way to handle old, run-down areas. Instead of tearing everything down, they're finding a way to preserve the past while making it useful for the present. One of the experts working on this project has been trying to show that this method can work in other places too. Darb al-Labbana is part of a much older historic site. It was once part of a hospital built way back in 1420 AD. The restorers spent two years carefully documenting every building in the neighbourhood. They found that many were in bad shape, with some completely destroyed. The people who lived there were given choices. They could move to a new apartment, take some money to leave, or take money to rent a place temporarily until the restored apartments were ready. Starting in 2023, the restorers began taking apart the buildings, carefully removing and numbering each stone. They're now putting them back together, often with the original fronts. The project has rebuilt 23 completely destroyed buildings and constructed another 15 on top of those that were only partly destroyed. Out of the 102 families who lived in the area, 52 have decided to return when the project is finished next year. Twenty of them will be moving back to their same address.