Proceedings, International IAPS-CSBE & HOUSING Network 2009 1 Pedestrian Street Life in Historic Cairo Authenticity and Counterfeit Aleya Abdel-Hadi (1), Eman El-Nachar (2) and Heba Safieldin (3) (1) Emeritus Prof. of Interior Architecture, Fine Arts Cairo, Helwan University, Egypt. (2) Associate Professor of Architecture, Fine Arts Cairo, Helwan University, Egypt. (3) Assistant Professor of Architecture, Misr International University, Cairo, Egypt. Abstract This study argues the authenticity and the counterfeit of the experienced street life when converted for pedestrians taking into account users’ needs and requirements. Its main aim was to assess the potential for revitalisation of pedestrian street life in two areas in Cairo, on the basis of an evaluation of the mismatch between the physical characteristics of these areas and the local demands for usability, cultural identity and the use of street space for income-generating activities. The end purpose was to develop a checklist of the design key-factors and the intermediary variables that help in the revitalisation of pedestrian street life in Cairo. Data was analysed in an integrative process using quantitative and qualitative measures to fulfil the aims of the research. Results proved that although there were differences in physical features in the two streets, similarities were witnessed in the socio-cultural aspects of users' behaviour and activities. Introduction Pedestrian street life is an aspect that helps revitalising denied urban activities defeated by modern pragmatic requirements. In Cairo, like all oriental cities, the outdoor spaces of markets, bazaar, street cafés, and residential outdoor 'extensions' are plateaux for various activities for the inhabitants. They carry out their various occupations and advocations on the 'platforms' as much as possible. This is why street life in Cairo as a socio-cultural context is one of the significant features of the Cairene identity that has disappeared in some areas and threatens to vanish from others over time. In this respect, revitalising aspects of pedestrian street life became one of the urgent social and economic demands in Egypt’s Developmental Plan. Accordingly, since the last quarter of the 20 th century many urban renewal activists have pushed for the creation of auto-free zones in some sectors of the metropolitan area. A few streets were chosen to be converted for pedestrians only, either on temporal or on permanent terms. This included narrow routes in old medieval Cairo, originally designed for pedestrian life, and the more recent car streets located in Khedivian downtown Cairo known as westelbalad. Although the chosen auto-free zones reduced crowdedness, tension and pollution affecting health and environmental sustainability, the experienced street life is subject to investigations considering that revitalising any district is a socio- cultural function directed to residential structure and economic features. This study attempts at evaluating two of Cairo pedestrian life revitalisation cases, what could be regarded as "authentic" and what could be considered as "counterfeit”. Authenticity has been defined philosophically and psychologically along history where it has been discussed for its duality (the self and the other). Writers (Ferrara, A. 1998; Taylor, C. 1992; Trilling, L.1974 and Fromm, E. 1942), tend to agree that authenticity is something to be pursued as a goal intrinsic to “the good life”. Counterfeit originally defined as forgery is also viewed as the antonym of authenticity. Therefore in this paper, “authenticity” is referred to as the permanence of street vitality in retaining its socio- cultural characteristics: residents' uses in their daily activities and in their ritual Keywords: Pedestrian street life, authenticity and counterfeit, historic Cairo, potential for revitalisation, checklist. Aleya Abdel- Hadi El Rabwa Compound- Medinet El Sheikh Zayed- Villa 99A (C)- Giza 12593- Greater Cairo, Egypt Telephone: +202 38500518; telefax: +202 38500480; mobile: +2012 2425474 aleyah2000@h otmail.com