The Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the El-Chatby Hospital
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Much talk has lately been circulating about the El-Chatby Hospital, but unfortunately most of it is untrue. We at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina would like to put matters right, particularly on those points relating to the Library of Alexandria.
The claim, heard in some quarters, that the Library of Alexandria “is fed up with patients seeking treatment at the adjacent Hospital” is totally unfair. The Library is not cut off from the surrounding society, as it receives some 800,000 visitors annually of whom 600,000 are Egyptians representing all classes of society. The Library is very much interested in what can be done for the poor and the marginalized, and it has continuously advocated reform and development in all sectors, particularly in education and health.
It is true that the Library of Alexandria is considering building a five-star hotel near the Library to serve the needs of the Conference Centre.
The ideal place for such a hotel would be the “Kouta Land”, which is very near the Conference Centre.
Building such a hotel on land belonging to the Hospital would not be convenient, since this land is located at the far end of the Library and is further away from the Conference Centre.
It is also true that the Library has plans to expand.
The next project after the building of the hotel on the “Kouta Land” is a project to preserve the Antoniades Palace, which is currently closed and derelict.
The question is: What is the connection between the Library of Alexandria and the El-Chatby Hospital?
This question can only be answered against the background of discussions aiming at developing Alexandria and turning the city into a truly international one. As part of these plans the Library of Alexandria was called upon to put forward a visionary plan for the city, so that Alexandria could regain its status as the “bride of the Mediterranean”.
Alexandria is not just a summer resort; it is one of the greatest and oldest cities in the world. Until very recently, Alexandria was a cornerstone of intellectual activity in Egypt and a centre of diversity.
To achieve such a visionary plan for Alexandria, the three following endeavors must be integrated:
- Investment activities launched recently in Alexandria, thanks to the efforts of its present governor, Mohamed Abd El-Salam El-Mahgoub;
- Underwater archaeology,as recent archaeological discoveries made in the waters off Alexandria have fascinated the world and reminded large sectors of the population of the city"s long and distinguished history;
- Cultural activities, especially recent activities such as the inauguration of the Library of Alexandria itself, the opening of the Alexandria National Museum, the Alexandria Creativity Centre and the Alexandria Opera House at the Sayyed Darwish Theatre.
Preservation work undertaken at the Qait Bey Fortress and the Graeco-Roman Museum, among other places, has also enhanced Alexandria"s cultural life.
It is also vital to think of the architectural designs that have been put forward for Alexandria and the ways these will contribute to the development of the city.
Indeed, we expect that the tourism map of Egypt will change in the near future as a result, Alexandria appearing to international tourism as a “fourth corner” of Egypt complementing Cairo, Luxor/Aswan, and the Red Sea, and as a city that has its own distinctive past and bright future.
With this in mind, it is important that ways of developing the Eastern Harbour area be identified, starting at Qait Bey Fortress and extending to El-Silsilah and beyond. A development plan for these areas should set goals to be achieved over the next 20 years, in order that the city be given a complete and consistent context.
This is what other cities of comparable standing elsewhere in the world have done, cities such as Paris or San Francisco that have long fascinated the world with their charm.
It is against this background that we also need to think about the development of the area surrounding the Library of Alexandria, which has now become a tourist attraction in this part of the city. We need to identify the best ways of investing in this tourist attraction.
Numerous suggestions have been made, including underwater museums, floating hotels and the reconstruction of the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria. These suggestions have also included changing the area totally, including redeveloping many of the streets surrounding the Library, as well as the El-Chatby Hospital, the “Kouta Land”, and the Current Conference Centre. There have also been other suggestions, many of them far-fetched or economically unrealistic. Nevertheless, when taken as a whole these suggestions evidence a positive attitude to the city"s development and allow ideas of the Alexandria of the future to take shape.
Our suggestions in this regard include the following:
To open discussion on the future shape of the city.
Such discussion should include the contributions of young research students at the faculties of architecture and planning. The Library of Alexandria might also hold a competition for young talents to come up with constructive ideas.
These ideas will need to include all the relevant health and education issues in a positive way, and they will need to be based on increasing and upgrading the educational and health services available, especially for the poor.
To adopt plans to achieve a vision of the city"s future that is agreed upon under the leadership of the governorate of Alexandria and with the participation of the citizens of Alexandria. This vision should express the desires and the wishes of the people of Alexandria for their city.
The Library of Alexandria calls upon all writers, creative people and intellectuals from Egypt and from the rest of the world to participate with the people of Alexandria in bringing these ideas for the city"s future to fruition. We sincerely hope that a constructive, open dialogue for their achievement can be held in an atmosphere of mutual respect and for the benefit of the public as a whole.