EGYPT - May 5 - Decree Banning Demolition Of Palaces Cancelled.In a bid to encourage major investment in new housing estates, Egypt cancels decrees that banned the demolition of historic palaces and villas. The Governors' Council, an administrative body Noun 1. administrative body - a unit with administrative responsibilities administrative unit Inland Revenue, IR - a board of the British government that administers and collects major direct taxes headed by PM Atef Obeid, reverses the decrees - which preserved a building-free view of the Nile River Nile River Arabic Bahr al-Nil River, eastern and northeastern Africa. The longest river in the world, it is about 4,132 mi (6,650 km) long from its remotest headstream (which flows into Lake Victoria) to the Mediterranean Sea. . The decision cancels a 1998 decree that banned the demolition of old villas and palaces and another one passed in 1999 that mandated the preservation of an unspoiled view of the Nile. (Both decrees were passed by the previous government under Kamal El Ganzouri.) Architecture experts fear the decision could spell the beginning of the end for the ambience am·bi·ence n. Variant of ambiance. ambience or ambiance Noun the atmosphere of a place Noun 1. of popular quarters in Cairo and the coastal city of Alexandria, which have a vast number of buildings from the early 1900s. The experts fear those buildings will be the most affected. John Rodenbeck, an expert of environmental and historic Cairo at the American University in Cairo American University in Cairo, at Cairo, Egypt; English language; founded 1919. It has faculties of anthropology, computer science, economics and political science, engineering, English and comparative literature, management, mass communication, psychology, science, , says: "It is horrendous, because in Cairo and Alexandria it could change the entire atmosphere and create an image of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. ", adding: "The early 20th century architecture gives a Parisian appearance, a low urban profile, usually only 6 floors high, which are extremely picturesque and comfortable to live in". Rodenbeck says laws preventing the demolition of buildings and preserving the view of the Nile have never been adhered to. (Already lost to development is the Sabry Palace, former home of Queen Nazli, mother of King Farouk. The 1920s-style building was considered a jewel in the crown of the Nile, but its site was left desolate for several years before contractors moved in and began constructing a tall glass- walled hotel.) Rodenbeck say the lack of planning along the Nile has resulted in a series of high-rise buildings high-rise building Multistory building taller than the maximum height people are willing to walk up, thus requiring vertical mechanical transportation. The introduction of safe passenger elevators made practical the erection of buildings more than four or five stories tall. and many 5-star hotels, none of which sit comfortably next to each other or along the river banks. He says: "These new laws New Laws: see Las Casas, Bartolomé de. can only serve to encourage more of this type of architecture which is very sad because the Nile is treasured here by all". |
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