Heliopolis Palace: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:03, 30 April 2007

Latest revision as of 17:55, 21 July 2025

(137 intermediate revisions by 83 users not shown)

Line 1:

The{{Short [[Heliopolis Presidential Palace]], ''Kasr al-Ittihadiya'' is onedescription|One of the various Egyptian presidential palaces and houses the executive office for President Mubarak, the 4th Egyptian president.residences}}

{{more footnotes needed|date=May 2018}}

It is located in the upscale [[Cairo]] suburban [[Heliopolis]].

{{Infobox building

At the time when Heliopolis itself was being built, the grandiose Palace Hotel was being built in the middle of the desert where the new suburb would rise in [[1908]]-[[1910]].

| name = Heliopolis Palace

| native_name =

| native_name_lang = arz

| alternate_names = Kasr Al Ittihadia

| image = Heliopolis Palace in Cairo.JPG

| former_names =

| image_caption = Exterior of the Heliopolis Palace

| location_country = Egypt

| coordinates = {{Coord|30|5|18|N|31|19|12|E|display=title}}

| status = Active

| building_type =

| architectural_style =

| ___location = [[Heliopolis, Cairo|Heliopolis]], [[Cairo]], [[Egypt]]

| namesake =

| start_date = {{start date|1908}}

| completion_date =

| inauguration_date = 1910

| renovation_date = 1984

| owner = [[Government of Egypt|Egyptian Government]]

| client = [[Abbas II of Egypt|Abbas II]]

| current_tenants = [[President of Egypt]]

| material = Reinforced [[concrete]]

| floor_count =

| floor_area =

| architect = Ernest Jaspar

| ren_architect =

| url =

}}

The '''Heliopolis Palace''' ({{langx|ar|قصر رئاسة الجمهورية}}, ''{{transliteration|arz|Kasr Riasat Al Gomhouria}}'',<ref>Standardized [[Arabic transliteration]]: {{transliteration|ar|DIN|Qaṣr Riʾāsat al-Ǧumhūriyyah}} / {{transliteration|ar|ALA|-Jumhūrīyah}} / {{transliteration|ar|Wehr|-jumhūriyya}}</ref> "Palace of the Presidency of the Republic" or {{lang|ar|قصر الاتحادية}} ''{{transliteration|ar|Kasr Al Ittihadia}}'',<ref>Standardized Arabic transliteration: {{transliteration|ar|DIN|Qaṣr al-Ittiḥādiyyah}} / {{transliteration|ar|ALA|-Ittiḥādīyah}} / {{transliteration|ar|Wehr|-ittiḥādiyya}}</ref> "Federation Palace") is one of the five Egyptian [[presidential palace]]s and residences, the others being [[Abdeen Palace]], [[Koubbeh Palace]], [[Montaza Palace]] and [[Ras El Tin Palace]], for the executive office of the [[President of Egypt]]. It is located in the suburb of [[Heliopolis (Cairo suburb)|Heliopolis]], northeast of central [[Cairo]] and east of the [[Nile]] in [[Egypt]]. It was originally built as the grand Heliopolis Palace Hotel in 1910. Now it is for the use of the [[President of Egypt]].

== Architecture ==

Inaugurated as a grand hotel on 1 December 1910, the french-administered hotel greeted Egypt's best as they celebrated the official launch of Africa's most luxurious hotel. <BR>

The landmark was designed by Belgian architect [[Ernest Jaspar]], the hotel boasted 400 rooms including 55 private apartments. Its banquet halls were amongst the biggest anywhere. The utilities were the most modern of their day. All had been constructed and put together by the contracting firms Leon Rolin & Co. and Padova, Dentamaro & Ferro, the two biggest civil contractors in Egypt. Messrs. Siemens & Schuepert of Berlin fitted the hotel's web of electric cables and installations. <BR>

<BR>

Beyond the reception offices are two lavishly decorated rooms, in the [[Louis XIV]] and [[Louis XV]] styles respectively and then comes the central hall, which is a dream of beauty and symmetry. Here the architecture, which is responsible for so many wonderful effects in Heliopolis, reaches its artistic zenith. From every nook and cranny hang, suspended like stalactite pendants, Damascus-made Oriental lamps of fantastic loveliness.<BR>

<BR>

The Heliopolis Palace Hotel's main dome that was so awe inspiring to kings and tycoons alike measured 55 metres from floor to ceiling. The 589 square metre hall, designed by [[Alexander Marcel]] of the French Institute and decorated by Georges-Louis Claude, was carpeted with the finest oriental rugs and fitted with large floor-to-ceiling mirrors, draperies and a large marble fireplace. Twenty-two Italian marble columns connect the parquet to the ceiling. To one side of the hall there was the grillroom, which seated 150 guests, and to the other was the billiard hall with two full-sized Thurston tables, as well as a priceless French one. <BR>

<BR>

The mahogany furniture was ordered from Maple's of [[London]]. The upper gallery contained oak-paneled reading and card rooms furnished by Krieger of Paris. The basement and staff area was so large that a narrow gauge railway was installed running the length of the hotel, passing by offices, kitchens, pantries, refrigerators, storerooms and the staff mess.

== A Grand HotelHistory==

===Heliopolis Palace Hotel (1910–1958)===

[[Image:Postcard of the Heliopolis Palace Hotel.jpg|thumb|left|Postcard of the Heliopolis Palace Hotel]]

The palace was originally built as the luxurious ''Heliopolis Palace Hotel'' in the open desert from 1908 to 1910, while development of the new suburb began around it, by the [[Cairo Electric Railways and Heliopolis Oases Company|Heliopolis Oases Company]] was ongoing. The hotel was designed by Ernest Jaspar as part of the larger [[Heliopolis, Cairo|Heliopolis]] project being done by [[Édouard Empain]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shakespeare |first1=Howard |title=Belgian Companies in Egypt |date= August 1998 |work=Journal of the International Bond & Share Society |url=https://www.booneshares.com/BELGIANCOMPANIESINEGYPT.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314030229/http://www.booneshares.com/BELGIANCOMPANIESINEGYPT.htm |archive-date=2007-03-14}}</ref>

Billed as the most luxurious hotel in Africa and the Middle East, the Heliopolis Palace Hotel became, because of its grand architecture, an exclusive destination for guests including foreign royalty and international business tycoons. Guests included [[Milton S. Hershey]] and [[Albert I of Belgium|King Albert I]] and [[Elisabeth, Queen of Belgium|Queen Elisabeth]] of Belgium.

Boasted Africa's most luxurious hotel at the time, and given its grand architecture, it had became a tourist attraction for many foreign royals and rich businessmen.

Visitors of the palace include, [[Milton S. Hershey]], [[John Pierpont Morgan]], [[Albert I]] King of the Belgians and his consort [[Elisabeth, Queen of Belgium | Queen Elizabeth]].

Two wars interrupted the hotel's hospitality activities, and on both occasions the Heliopolis Palace Hotel was transformed into a British military hospital for the British and Dominion soldiers.

[[Image:No.24 General military hospital, Heliopolis.jpg|thumb|left|The hotel serving as a military hospital during WWI]]

== A Palace ==

During the [[First World War]], the Heliopolis Palace Hotel was transformed into a [[military hospital]] for [[Australians|Australian]] troops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/hospital-palace|title = Hospital in a palace &#124; State Library of Queensland|date = 10 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://throughtheselines.com.au/research/1-AGH |title=No. 1 Australian General Hospital |last= |first= |date=2015 |website=Through These Lines |publisher= |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref> The hospital employed students and [[nuns]] from the nearby [[Collège du Sacré-Cœur (Egypt)|Collège du Sacré-Cœur]]. The hospital was one of the largest and grandest in the campaign and was referred to in Australian press as "the Hospital in a palace."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lyons |first1=J.F. |title=HOSPITAL IN A PALACE. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22295859 |access-date=24 October 2021 |work=The Queenslander |agency=Trove |date=10 April 1915}}</ref> It made use of ambulances and had beds and tents lined up for miles along the road, making it able to treat thousands of Commonwealth troops at a time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hospital in a palace |url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/hospital-palace |website=State Library of Queensland |publisher=John Oxley Library |access-date=24 October 2021 |date=10 April 2015}}</ref>

===Interim (1958–1980)===

In the 1960s, the abandoned hotel was home to various government departments.<BR>

In 1958, the hotel was purchased by the Egyptian government and closed.<ref name="clsoed">{{cite web |url=http://www.egy.com/landmarks/98-03-19.php |title=The Heliopolis Palace Hotel |last=Raafat |first=Samir |date=19 March 1998 |access-date=25 January 2018}}</ref> It was used to house government offices. In January 1972, the palacebuilding became the headquarters of the [[Federation of Arab Republics]] -, the short-lived political union between [[Egypt]], [[Libya]] and [[Syria]], hencewhich gave it the current Arabic name of {{lang|ar|قصر الاتحادية}} ''{{transliteration|ar|Kasr al-IttihadiyaAl Ittihadia}}'' (Unity"Federation Palace"). <BR>

<BR>

In the 1980s, after being thorough restoration efforts, it was declared the headquarters of the new presidential administration for the new [[Mubarak]] administration.

Today, it's perhaps one of the most restricted of all presidential palaces. While few other than national leaders and journalists can visit it these days, there are still some around who remember having frequented it as the Heliopolis Palace Hotel.

===Presidential palace===

== External Links==

[[File:Russian-Egyptian talks 04.jpg|thumb|[[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]] and [[Vladimir Putin]] at the palace.]]

*[http://www.egy.com/landmarks/98-03-19.shtml The Heliopolis Palace Hotel]

In the 1980s, after extensive renovation and restoration efforts, the building became an Egyptian presidential palace and the headquarters of the administration of the new president, [[Hosni Mubarak]]. Today it is perhaps one of the more restricted presidential palaces regarding access. It is surrounded by simple gardens.

On December 4 2012, protesters opposed to [[Mohamed Morsi|Morsi’s]] 2012 constitutional declaration [[2012 Heliopolis Palace incident|clashed with Morsi supporters]] (mainly [[Muslim Brotherhood]] members) the following day after getting attacked by them. The clashes led to at least 10 deaths to both sides, hundreds of injuries and the intervention of security forces, particularly the [[Republican Guard (Egypt)|Republican Guard]] and [[Central Security Forces]]. Order was restored by the 6th of December.

[[Category:1911 architecture]]

[[Category:Egyptian Presidential Palaces]]

==Architecture==

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Cairo]]

{{no sources|section|date=July 2025}}

[[Category:Official residences in Egypt]]

The landmark hotel was designed by Belgian architect Ernest Jaspar. He introduced the local [[Heliopolis style]] of architecture, a synthesis of [[Iranian architecture|Persian]], [[Moorish Revival architecture|Moorish Revival]], [[Islamic architecture|Islamic]], and European [[Neoclassical architecture]]. It was built by the contracting firms Leon Rolin & Co. and Padova, Dentamaro & Ferro, the two largest civil contractors in Egypt then. Siemens & Schuepert of Berlin fitted the hotel's web of electric cables and installations. The utilities were to the most modern standards of their day. The hotel operations were under French administered management.

[[Category:Palaces in Egypt]]

[[Category:Royal residences in Egypt]]

The Heliopolis architectural style, responsible for many wonderful original buildings in Heliopolis, was exceptionally expressed in the Heliopolis Palace Hotel's exterior and interior design. The hotel had 400 rooms, including 55 private apartments. Beyond the Moorish Revival reception hall two public rooms were lavishly decorated in the [[Louis XIV style|Louis XIV]] and the [[Louis XV style|Louis XV]] styles. Beyond those was the Central Hall, the primary public dining space with a classic symmetrical and elegant beauty.

[[Category:Visitor attractions in Cairo]]

The Central Hall's dome, awe inspiring to guests, measured {{convert|55|m|ft}} from floor to ceiling. The {{convert|589|m2|ft2}} hall's architectural interior was designed by [[Alexander Marcel]] of the French Institute, and decorated by Georges-Louis Claude. Twenty-two Italian marble [[column]]s circled the parquet floor up to the elaborate ceilings. The hall was carpeted with fine [[Persian carpet]]s and had large mirrored wall panels and a substantial marble fireplace. To one side of the Central Hal was the Grillroom seating 150 guests, and to the other was the billiards hall, with two full-sized British Thurston [[billiard table]]s and a 'priceless' French one. The private banquet halls were quite large and elaborate.

The mahogany furniture was ordered from Maple's of [[London]]. [[Damascus]]-made 'East Orient style' lamps, lanterns, and chandeliers hung throughout, suspended like [[stalactite]] pendants. The upper gallery contained oak-paneled reading and card rooms furnished by Krieger of Paris. The basement and staff areas were so large that a narrow gauge railway was installed running the length of the hotel, passing by offices, kitchens, pantries, refrigerators, storerooms and the staff mess.

==See also==

*[[Heliopolis (Ancient Egypt)|Ancient Heliopolis]]

*[[Heliopolis (Cairo suburb)|Modern Heliopolis]]

*[[New Heliopolis City]]

*[[Koubbeh Palace]]

*[[Cairo Electric Railways and Heliopolis Oases Company]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==

* {{cite book|last=Dobrowolska |first=Agnieszka |title=Heliopolis: Rebirth of the City of the Sun |year=2006 |type=Paperback |edition=First |publisher=American University in Cairo Press |isbn=977-416-008-8| pages=176}}

* {{cite book|last=E.Godoli, M.Giacomelli |title=Architetti e ingegneri italiani dal Levante al Magrèb 1848-1945. Repertorio biografico, bibliografico e archivistico (Archivi dell'architett. ital. d'oltremare) |year=2005 |publisher=Maschietto Editore |language=it |isbn=88-88967-47-8| pages=400}}

* {{cite book|last=Ilbert |first=Robert |title=Héliopolis, le Caire 1905-1922 : genèse d'une ville |year=1981 |publisher=Centre national de la recherche scientifique |___location=Marseille,Paris |language=fr |isbn=978-2-222-02954-0| pages=153}}

* {{cite book|last=Volait |first=Mercedes (dir.) |title=Le Caire - Alexandrie Architecture Europeennes 1850-1950 |year=2001 |type=Paperback |publisher=Archeolog, IFAO/CEDEJ |___location=Le Caire |language=fr |isbn=2-7247-0290-5| pages=252}}

* {{cite book|last=M.C.Bruwier, A.Van Loo |title=Héliopolis |year=2010 |type=Hardcover |publisher=Fonds Mercator |___location=Brussels |language=fr |isbn=978-90-6153-930-8| pages=229}}

==External links==

*[https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=heliopolis+palace+hotel&w=all&s=int&referer_searched=1 Flickr results: Heliopolis Palace Hotel in vintage photographs]

[[Category:History of Cairo]]

[[Category:Palaces in Cairo]]

[[Category:Defunct hotels]]

[[Category:Presidential palaces in Egypt]]

[[Category:Hotel buildings completed in 1910]]

[[Category:Architecture in Egypt]]

[[Category:Moorish Revival architecture]]

[[Category:Neoclassical architecture in Egypt]]

[[Category:1910 establishments in Egypt]]

[[Category:Hotels established in 1910]]

[[Category:Hotels disestablished in 1958]]

[[Category:1958 disestablishments in Egypt]]