Azbakeya Book Market Redesign Commemorates Egypt's Literary Heritage

For over a century, the Azbakeya Book Market has been a cultural landmark, a maze of stalls where Cairo’s readers hunted for everything from rare manuscripts to pocket-sized novels, where timeless works, rare finds and old editions passed from hand to hand, sustaining the city’s insatiable love for words. But as time wore on, the site’s historic charm was overshadowed by makeshift structures, cramped circulation and a lack of basic amenities. Now, the market is reopening with a sensitive redesign that honours its heritage while adapting to contemporary needs.
The project, carried out by Bit-Design Architekturbüro, was rooted in the idea of balance: respecting heritage while accommodating today’s needs. “We were inspired by the garden’s rich heritage - particularly its historic pavilions - and used them as a visual reference for designing the kiosks and their distribution,” Professor Dr. Ashraf Elmokadem, Principal Architect of Bit-Design Architekturbüro, tells SceneHome. This vision took shape as a series of lightweight wooden kiosks, echoing the language of Azbakeya Garden’s pavilions while meeting structural, safety and amenity needs.
The project came with its fair share of architectural challenges. With the metro line running beneath the site, the kiosks needed to be lightweight yet robust, so the team turned to steel framing that reduced structural load while still ensuring resilience. To keep the structures safe, insulated and long-lasting, they incorporated fire-resistant materials and protective timber finishes, while pitched tile roofs and pine trusses added both strength and character. On top of that, the pressure of time demanded a fast-track design and construction process. “It was a challenge to include the same number of shops from the old market into the new allocated space while also adding food and beverage kiosks, gift shops and restrooms,” Elmokadem explains. Through careful planning, the new market now accommodates 142 shops, expanding beyond the old 132 vendors, while widening corridors for easier circulation and accessibility.
Beyond the architecture, the project also weaves in symbolic gestures that celebrate Egypt’s literary legacy. Corridors are named after iconic writers - Taha Hussein, Naguib Mahfouz, Aisha Abdelrahman and more - transforming wayfinding into a cultural journey. “Wayfinding became a quiet tribute to Egypt’s literary heritage, allowing every step through the market to echo the voices of its cultural icons,” Elmokadem reflects. This also made navigation more intuitive and engaging, creating an organised and culturally meaningful system for visitors.
This commitment to safeguarding heritage has long guided the design studio’s work, from restoring Khedivial Cairo’s landmark streets and squares to reviving sites such as the Historic Fencing Club in Azbakeya Garden. Today, their pride lies in what the project represents for Cairo’s cultural life. “We are proud to have enhanced the old market’s civilised appearance by creating dignified and comfortable spaces for book vendors to showcase their collections, all within a modern design enriched with heritage flair,” Elmokadem says.