By Omar Zahran
The recent wave of demolitions targeting heritage buildings in the heart of historic Cairo has exposed an ideology that prioritizes rapid modernization over the preservation of Cairo's rich architectural fabric. This urban fabric carries historical significance, yet many new projects across Cairo are marketed as "contemporary modernization," promising to "respect heritage and antiquities." However, this respect often appears superficial and ambiguous, leaving unclear what is meant by "heritage" or "legacy" in these developments.
demolishing historical dome in the city of the dead, Cairo, representing the loss of historical heritage and urban fabric by Mohamed Abdelmalek
Understanding the essence of preservation begins with clarifying concepts. Unfortunately, official rhetoric about heritage fails to recognize its social and cultural dimensions, overlooking the dynamic relationships between people and buildings—relationships through which local narratives are woven and shared. Films have long served as a vital medium to capture these stories, from the Egyptian neorealist and realist cinematic eras to today’s social media videos. These diverse forms of cinema document major and minor stories, capturing the essence of historic sites and their cultural identities.
Collage by Omar Zahran illustrate relationships between people and buildings—relationships through which local narratives are woven and shared by Egyptian Cinema
Cinema illustrates how heritage grounds us, motivates us, and sustains us as a society, ultimately driving us toward new visions of resilience and self-understanding.
Documenting Cairo streets, alive with the vibrant energy often depicted in Egyptian cinema.- El-Hareef (left), Bein el qasren ( right )
Cinema, Heritage, and Urban Spaces: A Powerful Trio
This trio—heritage, cinema, and urban space—plays a significant role in strengthening communities. Cinema doesn’t just entertain; it preserves stories of resilience, redefines the public’s connection to heritage sites, and raises awareness of social and cultural issues that shape our lives.
Local residents watching a film screening in al-Tahrir square, connecting community members through shared stories April 2014.
I firmly believe that cinema is a vital cultural tool, deeply intertwined with architectural and cultural heritage. It fulfills human needs by providing narratives that connect people and communities across generations.
Architectural heritage meets modern cinema: a contemporary filmmaker capturing scenes in a Cairo, In the Last Days of the City,2016
Globally, the world is now pursuing Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 11.4, which promotes efforts to protect both cultural and natural heritage worldwide. This goal emphasizes that people are the cornerstone of resilience. Cinematic storytelling thus becomes an essential framework, providing a foundation for documentation and awareness, a pathway for heritage revival, and a means of fostering communities for a better future.
Omar Zahran is an architect, urban designer and researcher. He is currently a M.Sc. Candidate at Politecnico di Milano.
Zahran is exploring the intersection between cinema, heritage and urbanism. He is passionate about cinema, arts and their role in documenting and raising awareness of societal and urban issues and finding cultural ways that contribute to the sustainable development of societies. He worked with UNESCO on a project focused on rehabilitation and urban re-generation of al-Fustat historic city, He participated in several academic re-search projects. He published articlesin Austria and Germany about urbanism and place making in historic cities.
Zahran was chosen among Urban Future’s Young Urban Leaders from more than 40 cities all over the globe to work together toward better cities. in Europe’s largest event on sustainable cities. He participated and was invited to attend many conferences and events in Egypt, Germany, and several Arab and European countries, and gave several talks and sessions about facing several challenges in perspective of cinema, heritage and urbanism.
Zahran also is a Human right activist He is volunteering for Hurra Coalition “Hurra Coalition” is intersectional group of active women’s rights organizations in the Middle East and North Africa & “AEFL” and participates in many of its awareness and cultural activities.
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