Naoum Shebib

Cairo Tower by Naoum Shebib

Naoum Shebib (1915-1985) or Naoum Chebib,نعوم شبيب is considered one of the leading Egyptian architects and the precursor of modern architecture in Egypt. This innovation eg with thin reinforced concrete vaults. Remarkably, he was also a structural engineer and entrepreneur. His most famous work is undoubtedly the Cairo Tower, which is the tallest building in Egypt with 185 meters .

Born in Cairo on 28 November 1915, Naoum Shebib was one of the leading Egyptian architects of his time. He graduated in 1937 with honors from Cairo University. He also obtained from the same university a post graduate diploma in Soil Mechanics & Engineering (1954) and another in Structural Engineering (1956). Between 1941 and 1970, Shebib conducted his practice as an architect, structural engineer and contractor. His integrity and expertise were highly valued in both his profession and among the community. He employed fourteen people whereas the number of workers on construction sites reached several thousands. In 1971, Naoum Shebib relocated in Canada with his family, where he lived until his death in 1985.

His most remarkable realizations have been the following:

Cairo Tower (b. 1961)

Al-Ahram Bldg (b. 1960s)

Sabet-Sabet Bldg (b. 1958) in Garden City

Radio Tower (b. 1954), Rouchdi Street, 22 floors.

Immeuble Charles Kuentz (1955), No. 5 Boulos Hanna Street, Dokki

Cairo Tower

The Cairo tower on Gezira Island, was the highest concrete structure in the world when it was completed, standing 187 meters tall. Shebib was the project's architect in chief, structural engineer and its global contractor. In 1961 the tower's official inauguration took place. The design of the tower is of Pharaonic influence appearing in the shape of a tall lotus flower made up of 8 million small mosaic lozenges. As the lozenges ascend towards the top of the tower, they are stretched on a vertical axis creating an impression of an upward movement enhancing the figure of the lotus flower. With a diameter of fourteen meters, the tower rests on a steel-reinforced concrete slab, the dimension of which is quite impressive. At the time of its construction, more than five hundred workers were required.

The Cairo Tower is also characterized by purity of lines and by the truthfulness of primal material. The absence of any superfluous decorations and the utilization of the naked concrete bring the viewer's eyes and attention to yet another symbol of eternal Egypt. At the top of the tower, one finds a revolving restaurant, a cafeteria and a belvedere from which numerous tourists can admire the Cairo panorama.

al-Ahram Bldg (b. 1960s)

Al-Ahram Bldg is home to the leading Arab newspaper. Here also Shebib was the project's architect in chief, structural and site engineer. The surface of this Bldg is 30,000 square meters which includes space occupied by the editorial, printing and administration services, as well as the public areas.

The two first skyscraper apartments of Cairo

Sabet-Sabet Bldg -- 31 floors a.k.a. Belmont Bldg (b. 1958) on Corniche-al-Nil, Garden City.

Concrete dome roofs for several Bldgs, such as cinemas or factories

In 1946, Shebib built the concrete dome roof of the 800 sq.m. Ali Baba Cinema, in the Boulak district using a technology that he subsequently patented. It consisted of a unique method whereby the concrete roof of a Bldg is poured onto a mould on the ground and, once the concrete has set, is slowly raised into position to a height of 12 meters with the use of jacks. A similar dome roof, supported by only eight pillars, was used in the construction of De Sotos' Sales & Service Bldg for account of the Cairo Motor Company.

OTHER PROJECTS

Shebib realized in various districts of Cairo several construction projects including apartment Bldgs, schools, churches, factories, commercial Bldgs, cinemas, individual residences and villas. His projects made good use of structural elements of various types, such as mushroom structural supports, and thin concrete shell vaults. The latter became his expertise as of 1946. Although various types of foundations were used, he developed a special type of concrete ground slab foundations that made good use of thin vaults in the shape of hyperbolic paraboloids. Shebib also developed a pyramidal type of foundation. Besides the scientific aspect of his work, one should note his management qualities that enabled him to successfully supervise projects worth up to US $5,000,000 value of 1960's).

references

• (English) Tall Buildings of Europe, Middle East & Africa

  , Georges Binder, p.20

  • Naoum Shebib
  • [File:http://egy.com/people/98-10-01.php#naoum Cairo's belle époque architects 1900 - 1950 ]