Charles Habib Ayrout (Arabic: شارل حبيب عيروط-) (1905 Cairo, Egypt - 1965 Cairo, Egypt) was an architect practising in Cairo and is considered one of that city's 'pioneer' generation, as well as a Belle Epoque/Art Déco (1920–1940) architect for his landmark buildings and villas,.[1] and was one of the most active builders in its Heliopolis district.[2] He summarised his approach in 1932 as to “bring to Heliopolis the principles of modern architecture, but not of avantgarde architecture."[2]
Charles Habi
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| Born | Charles Habib Ayrout |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Buildings |
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His father, Habib Ayrout, was an Egyptian architect and contractor, born into a family originally from Aleppo, Syria.[3] After being educated in Paris as an engineer-architect, Habib Ayrout participated in the planning and construction of Heliopolis.[4]
Charles Ayrout had two brothers, the Jesuit priest Henry Habib Ayrout and Max Ayrout, who was also an architect practicing in Cairo.[4]
Ayrout was part of a movement of French educated Syrian-Lebanese Egyptian architects, who were strongly influenced by the French 'modern classicism' of Michel Poux-Spitz and Pol Abraham. This movement also included Antonine Selim Nahas and Raymond Antonious.[5] However, he stressed on learning the principles of Modrnist architecture, and reapplying them in Egypt as opposed to copying them.[2]
Works in Cairo include
Studies where Ayrout's work is discussed:
On the Belle Époque architecture in Cairo: