Whose monument: participatory design project for monument-street buffer zones

The participatory design project is a collaboration between the ministry of antiques, and the Danish Egyptian dialogue Institute.

Program of Inaugural Event

7:15 pm
A word from Mr. Mohsen Sayyed Ali
Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities

7:30 pm
Presentation of the project

7:45 pm
Public debate on the idea of the project

8:35 pm
Isha prayer

9:00 pm
Egyptian Mawlawiyya performance

10:00 pm
Reception and registration for the workshops

About the Project:

A series of workshops, debates and meetings to discuss the relationship between the monument and the surrounding neighbourhood, the entities responsible for it and those with a vested interested in it or even those inconvenienced by it. We discuss who owns it, who protects it and improves it and who puts it at risk. The objective is to provide a environment of communication of the differentview-points of the three main stakeholders: residents, government and civil society.

In participatory design all stakeholders are involved in the decision making process in all its details and stages. This is to narrow the gap between the monument and the community and allow it to assume ownership of the monument and to protect it through use.

This general issue is discussed through a specific case-study; the monument-street buffer zone and in a specific area; al-Khalifa Street between the mosque of Ahmad ibn Tulun and the shrine of al-Sayyida Nafisa.

Project Phases:
Phase I: Seminar inside Ibn Tulun Mosque to present idea and invite stakeholders to participate (June 2012)

Phase III: Three workshops with a mix of stakeholders with different type as majority each time. The aim is to compare between the requirements of the different stakeholders and identify commonalities and differences. (July 2012)

Phase IV: Identification of 20 representative individuals from all the stakeholder groups to work on 5 particular case studies (Sayyida Nafisa; Umm al-Salih and al-Ashraf; Ruqayya; Vegetable Market; Tulun) to propose specific solutions for the monument-street interface. (September 2012)

Phase V: Synthesis and debate of findings through website and in the neighbourhood through a series of public meetings, then presentation of results through a second seminar in Ibn Tulun (October 2012)

Phase VI: Dissemination and discussion of results through a symposium to be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Antiquities. (November 2012)