Downtown Cairo is an area rich in history. Every neighborhood carries a memory or two, every building has a story to tell. In the hustle and bustle of Downtown Cairo, one building stands out: the ever-imposing Immobilia building – Egypt’s first skyscraper. Situated on the corner that connects Sherif Street and Qasr El Nil Street, Immobilia is a building complex that housed some of 20th century Egypt’s most influential figures. To welcome the oncoming modernization of Downtown Cairo, Immobilia was designed by French and Italian architects Max Adrei and Gaston Rossis at the behest of the Egyptian government. The colossal complex was intended to break away from traditional building designs, divorcing from the Haussman-heavy architectural influences in order to usher in a new era. Immobilia featured two U-shaped towers, comprising 13 floors each, for a total of 370 apartments at a height of 70 meters. Post-construction, it became the tallest building in Egypt at the time. Its amenities were intended to match the innovation of the design, for the complex offered luxury housing, and high-end facilities, such as Cairo’s first-ever underground garage at a capacity of 100 cars. The project’s…
