May 27, 2018

Ministers of Antiquities and Social Solidarity and Cairo Governor Attended the Ceremony of Handing Over the Palace of Princess Khadija in Helwan to Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Minister of Antiquities and the Minister of Social Solidarity attended the ceremony of handing over the Palace of Princess Khadija in Helwan as a civil cultural center and a museum of religions; according to the international standards for the museums. In his speech, Cairo Governor thanked the Arab Contractors Company for their exhorted efforts  in the restoration and development for the palace to restore its former status after its deterioration, he pointed out that it will a cultural center for enlighten including a library, a museum for religions and cultural events, artistic shows and seminars will be hold on it. On the other hand, Eng. Tarek Yehia – the Projects Manager in the Monuments Restoration Department, Eng. Mahmoud Fakhry – the General Coordinator for the Projects and Eng. Ismail El Shyaty – the Project Manager declared that Princess Khadija Palace is located on the Eastern Side from Helwan and its an independent building with a 4 facades. Its Northern fa?ade overlook the garden of the palace; and the Eastern fa?ade is linked with one of the suites. The First Floor is consisting of the main hall linking many rooms with a ladder in its center. The Second floor has a small hall with many rooms from the Eastern, Northern and Western Side. The Eastern Suite of the palace is including 2 floors: the ground floor and the First floor; it is covered with red marble tiles. This suite is dedicated to the kitchen, stables and servants. The ceiling of the palace is a wooden roof of Baghdadi style. The restoration of the palace is divided into 2 phases; the First phase' scope of work was the structural consolidation included reducing the level of water from basements and injections and strengthens the walls of stone bearing the palace body and address the deteriorating elements in the construction system due to the surrounding factors over the years. The Second phase is the finishing works while preserving the architectural character of the palace and included the restoration of gypsum and wooden formations of the facades. Besides; the provisional works of air conditioning systems, telephone and internet networks, fire protection and the latest lighting systems, as well as water and drainage systems, floors finishing and walls at the highest level. It is noteworthy that Princess Khadija is the daughter of Khedive Mohammed Pasha Tawfiq bin Khedive Ismail bin Ibrahim Pasha bin Mohammed Ali Pasha Grand founder of the e Muhammad Ali Dynasty whom prepared this palace for Princess Khadija to stay in it after her wedding with Prince Abbas Pasha bin Mohammed Abdul Halim bin Mohammed Ali Pasha the great and stayed since it was built in 1895 until 1902 AD, then donated it to the Ministry of Health to be a clinic for chest diseases and in 1943 AD became a hospital for orthopedic surgery and it consists of two floors and a basement with a roof in a classical architectural style influenced by Renaissance buildings in Europe.