Students: Thomas Beekhuis, Ben Gitai
Location: Cairo
Date: October, 2010
Type: Research project, student work

The New Towns policy was launched by President Anwar al-Sadat declaring the Government of Egypt’s intentions of building self-sufficient new towns in the desert, and to explicitly attract inhabitants to create an industrial base outside of the Nile Valley. These new cities were to have a solid economic foundation based on manufacturing, with a workers population in the industrial enterprises residing in government-built housing blocks. In 1976, 10th of Ramadan, 15th of May, Sadat City, 6th of October amongst others, belonged to the first generation of new towns.  Presently there are a total of 20 new towns which are existing or under construction and another 24 new cities and communities are on the drawing boards.

The 15th of May community planned with a target population of 100’000 (6th of October still anticipates a population of 500’000 people) lies in the northeastern side of Helwan City and is built on a rocky lowland that belongs to Gebel El-Mokattam, bordering the eastern part of Cairo City. Cement Companies and quarry blasting have been in operation long ago close to Helwan City before the establishment of the 15th of May.

This topic will look at the post socialist ideals of the revolutionary state of Nasser and examine the vast urban development of the new desert towns of the liberal economy of Sadat and its extensive continuation by Mubarak. This investigation will be placed in the context of City Models. This topic will also explore the fundamental shift of the new settlements around Cairo becoming the preferred location for the new middle class and the rich through the creation of gated communities and up-market subdivisions. Do these new towns keep their promise of self-sufficiency in the desert with a solid economic foundation with public services and infrastructure? Does its work force as promised reside in government-built housing blocks or are there already great disparities of affluent gated communities and informal self-built neighborhoods?