I wanted to blog about that hidden diamond in the rough I found out unfortunately only by accident during the Simon Bolivar clashes in 2012. Yes that hidden neglected villa caught my eyes when I went to the square after the clashes that took place there between security forces and protesters. I did not know its name then but then I found out that its name is Villa Casdgali and it has got a very interesting tale. I took bunch photos for the villa from outside on two different occasions.
It seems to be beautiful but badly neglected. It looked to me that it was being used then as a shelter for the street kids especially its main fence was broken and anyone can get inside easily.
As I was alone in both times , I could not go around the villa to see if I can get inside it. The Staircase was badly damaged as you can see.
I was planning to write about it but I could not with all the jazz taking place in Egypt since last November 2012. Last Friday the beautiful villa caught fire during the clashes that erupt from time to time for no reason between protesters and security forces. The fire was put off and parts of the villa were damaged but the villa itself was not damaged.
I did not know how the villa looked from inside and it seems that the fire was good opportunity to know more its history and its amazing interior. Thanks to Cairo Observer , we knew how much damage the 19the century villa is suffering and how beautiful it is from inside.
The little chapel is beautiful.
Little history background about Villa Casdgali
It was built late 19th century by Austrian Edward Matasek “who designed many of the 19th and early 20th centuries landmarks in Cairo” for the Levantine family called “Emanuel Casdagli” that lived in Egypt during that time. Needless to say that during then Garden City was the crème de la crème society most exclusive neighborhood with all the embassies and Royal palace there. You can read more about the history of the villa in Egy.com by Samir Rafaat.
The villa turned in to a school after the nationalization like many other villas and palaces and was named after Ali Abdel Latif of Sudan. The idea is good and bad at the same time. You educate generations but at the same you kill some time fantastic architecture landmarks like Villa Casdagli. Despite it is officially recognized as heritage site since 2006 and that United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American Research Centre in Cairo (ARCE), developed a comprehensive restoration project for the building in 2008 , there are no restoration works at all in the sit. As you can in the photos. It is a miracle that it still exists.
It is worth to mention that in 2010 Al Abdel Latif school was relocated so the buildings now are empty.
The villa is looted and partially destroyed as you can see. There is no protection for it at all despite a state owned building officially.
Anyhow I wish and pray that Villa Casdagli turns in to some sort of Cultural center and a library in Downtown Cairo instead of turning it in to some sort of governmental institute.
In the end I will quote the amazing Cairo Observer FB Page when it said : Regarding the now burned/damaged Villa Casdagli: rebuilding is always possible, what is needed is a political will to rebuild.
I think this also applies to everything in this country too besides Villa Casdagli.
By the way You must bookmark : The Cairo Observer blog and Facebook Page. You must follow them if you want to know more about our modern architecture in Cairo and in Egypt.
It seems to be beautiful but badly neglected. It looked to me that it was being used then as a shelter for the street kids especially its main fence was broken and anyone can get inside easily.
As I was alone in both times , I could not go around the villa to see if I can get inside it. The Staircase was badly damaged as you can see.
I was planning to write about it but I could not with all the jazz taking place in Egypt since last November 2012. Last Friday the beautiful villa caught fire during the clashes that erupt from time to time for no reason between protesters and security forces. The fire was put off and parts of the villa were damaged but the villa itself was not damaged.
I did not know how the villa looked from inside and it seems that the fire was good opportunity to know more its history and its amazing interior. Thanks to Cairo Observer , we knew how much damage the 19the century villa is suffering and how beautiful it is from inside.
The little chapel is beautiful.
Little history background about Villa Casdgali
It was built late 19th century by Austrian Edward Matasek “who designed many of the 19th and early 20th centuries landmarks in Cairo” for the Levantine family called “Emanuel Casdagli” that lived in Egypt during that time. Needless to say that during then Garden City was the crème de la crème society most exclusive neighborhood with all the embassies and Royal palace there. You can read more about the history of the villa in Egy.com by Samir Rafaat.
The villa turned in to a school after the nationalization like many other villas and palaces and was named after Ali Abdel Latif of Sudan. The idea is good and bad at the same time. You educate generations but at the same you kill some time fantastic architecture landmarks like Villa Casdagli. Despite it is officially recognized as heritage site since 2006 and that United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American Research Centre in Cairo (ARCE), developed a comprehensive restoration project for the building in 2008 , there are no restoration works at all in the sit. As you can in the photos. It is a miracle that it still exists.
It is worth to mention that in 2010 Al Abdel Latif school was relocated so the buildings now are empty.
The villa is looted and partially destroyed as you can see. There is no protection for it at all despite a state owned building officially.
Anyhow I wish and pray that Villa Casdagli turns in to some sort of Cultural center and a library in Downtown Cairo instead of turning it in to some sort of governmental institute.
In the end I will quote the amazing Cairo Observer FB Page when it said : Regarding the now burned/damaged Villa Casdagli: rebuilding is always possible, what is needed is a political will to rebuild.
I think this also applies to everything in this country too besides Villa Casdagli.
By the way You must bookmark : The Cairo Observer blog and Facebook Page. You must follow them if you want to know more about our modern architecture in Cairo and in Egypt.
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