In this episode, we’ll be visiting the Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King.
The Baron Empain Palace better known as “The Hindu Palace” is a distinctive and historic Hindu temple inspired mansion in Heliopolis, a suburb north-east of central Cairo, Egypt. It was founded by Edward Empain, a Belgian businessman who was awarded the title of “Baron” by the King of Belgium. The palace was designed by an architect named Alexandre Marcel inspired mostly by the Hindu temples of South India and was built between 1907 and 1911, in reinforced concrete.
Heliopolis style is an early 20th-century architectural style developed in the new suburb of Heliopolis.
Édouard Empain arrived in Egypt in January 1904, intending to rescue one of the projects of his company. In 1906, Empain bought a very large stretch of desert (25 square kilometres) to the northeast of Cairo at a low price from the Egyptian government. Commencing in 1906 his company proceeded with the building of the new town of Heliopolis.
The Belgian Cairo Electric Railways and Heliopolis Oases Company, responsible for planning and developing the new suburb, created the new style to implement an exclusive distinctiveness to the design of its buildings.
By Anthony King (c)