Westown is the urban centre for Sheikh Zayed City, one of two major urban expansions proposed outside Cairo. Wilkinson Eyre have designed two blocks which form highly visible edges to the development on the Cairo-Alexandria motorway and Dashour Road, which leads to the Pyramids of Giza. As Westown will be experienced at speed from these roads, our concept proposes a bold and unique identity with a dominant roof form which responds to the sinuous River Nile. We have explored the potential of a network of alleys and courtyards to increase the porosity of the site and develop a diversity of environments. The blocks are conceived as Westown’s ‘Energy Edge’ and have solar collection plants at roof level to generate significant amounts of electricity, to be used in the buildings themselves and to be fed back into the site-wide power grid.

Date:

Appointed March 2008

Location:

Cairo, Egypt

Client:

SODIC/Solidere International

Type:

• Masterplanning

Theme:

• Urban Design