Rifat Chadirji prize 2020 entry 

Rank : Shortlisted

Topic :1-Design a living pedestrian bridge over the Nile connecting Midan Al-Tahrir Area (East Bank) to Al Zamalek area (West Bank) .

2-Re-imagine the public space on the east bank of the Nile where the NDP building once stood, in and of itself but also in relation to Tahrir Square and the other important focal points on both the east and west banks.

The city of Cairo was always known the city of thousand minaret, this is not just a slogan, minarets were always filling city’s sky line for different eras. from this principle the minaret peak form was chosen as the main bridge element carrying most of the bridge components. enhancing Cairo’s downtown and Nile shore with a remarkable visual  landmark.

Guided with Abraham Maslow’s law of hierarchy of needs the bridge zones where designed in order to fulfill them respectively as Maslow’s stated. Starting with the physiological needs which are fulfilled through the street market located at the starting point of the bridge then starting the journey with an enclosed perforated Pavilion which enhances the feeling of security and shelter with gentle light rays penetrating the digitally morphed rotating panels.   Moving on to the third stage where the need of love and belongings starts to show up which is fulfilled by providing users with semi private chambers overviewing the Nile giving a romantic status for couples or families where they can feel the love privately without any disturbance. And then moving to fulfill Human esteem need which is provided by a straight non obstructed bridge passage freely over viewing the Nile from all angles to reach the amphitheatre where individuals or groups can perform their arts and shows and present themselves to audience and feel the strength and recognition. The last stage in this journey is the self-actualization which is achieved through the moving bubble tram which moves upward fulfilling the need of self-actualization in order to overlook the city of Cairo up from the sky and from here the project is named Cairo’s eye.