Empress Farah Pahlavi visits
Al-Azhar Park created in Cairoby Prince Karim Aga Khan - July 2009
Empress Farah Pahlavi visits
Al-Azhar Park created in Cairo
by Prince Karim Aga Khan - July 2009
Empress Farah Pahlavi surrounded by
children in the Al-Azhar Park
The story of Al-Azhar Park in Cairo, Egypt offers an
interesting case study into how improving quality of life through parks and
green spaces can lead to positive impacts in cultural and community development.
Back in the mid-1990s, the Aga Khan Trust
for Culture started construction on turning a derelict space in the middle
of one of the densest city in the world into a beautiful central public space.
Located in Cairo, Egypt, this park was “Previously a municipal rubbish dump (for
about 500 years), approximately 80,000 truckload of debris had to be removed
before construction started and in the process a 12th century Ayyubid city wall
of Cairo that was built during the reign of Salah el-Din, as well as some
valuable stones with hieroglyphic texts were uncovered!” More
here.
