Seen Alexandria's 'Red Building' before? Learn about its story

CAIRO - 4 May 2024: If you are a fan of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, you might have seen the iconic red building of the Alexandria University in the Shatby area. 

 

With its distinctive appealing red color and unique artchitectural shape, the administrative building of the Alexandria University is often called the "Red Building," for its bright color that it maintains until now. 

 

 

Although it has been standing for many years, many people do not know the story behind this red building, located on the Alexandria Corniche. 

 

Dr. Mohamed Abdel Razek, professor of history, says that the red building of Alexandria University is the most famous on the governorate’s Corniche due to its distinguished style of architecture. It was founded by the architect Alessandro Loria, who founded many other buildings in Alexandria and Cairo and was able to plan many places.

 

Loria, was an Italian nationality, who lived in Egypt for many years and had a great imprint that is evident in architecture in Egypt.

 

Professor Abdel Razek added that the building was initially the Italian Naval Hospital and its rooms were designed in this way so that each room was designated for patients, where it overlooked directly the Corniche to help patients recover.

 

He explained that the Italian designer Alessandro Loria lived for many years in Alexandria, died in Alexandria Governorate, and was buried there in the Jewish community cemetery in Alexandria.

 

Alexandria University contains a map in the Alexandria University Collections Museum. It is a rare map of the establishment of Alexandria University, which was under the name Farouk I University, and another map of its founding, in addition to the old map of Alexandria and a map from Abu Qir to Burullus, which was used for navigation in the past.

 

 

Alexandria University was established under the name Farouk I University by Royal Decree Law No. 32 of 1942. It was changed to the name of Alexandria University by Decree Law No. 200 of 1952, which was issued in Abdeen Palace on September 17, 1952 by order of the Temporary Guardianship Authority and Prime Minister, Major General Muhammad Naguib at that time and with the knowledge of the Minister of Public Education, Ismail Mahmoud Al-Qabbani.

 

These rare collectibles are located within the Collections Museum at the University of Alexandria, which was developed and restored. These documents are under the patronage of Dr. Abdel Aziz Qansouh, President of the University of Alexandria. They are part of a collection of rare documents from the University of Alexandria and include the decree law establishing the university and a set of maps related to the establishment of the university.

 

The documents also include the Egyptian Gazette No. 122 of 1952, which contains Decree Law No. 200 of 1952 changing the name of Farouk I University to Alexandria University.