Ali Labib Gabr

Ali Labib Gabr (February 14, 1898, Cairo, Egypt — January 19, 1966) was an Egyptian architect who practiced during the second quarter of the 20th century. He was the first Egyptian Dean of the School of Architecture at Cairo University (1946-1955),^[1] and is noted for being a leading 'pioneer architect' in designing both workers housing and luxury villas,^[2] in particular that of Arab diva Om Kalthoum in the Cairo neighbourhood of Zamalek.^[3]

Early life and education

He studied architecture in England at a time when Frank Lloyd Wright was influential and Le Corbusier and Hausmann were still evoked in Paris. Committed to bringing back part of what he had seen, together with Garo Balyan and Max Edrei (designers of the Union Vie Building on Gabalaya Street); and Antoine Selim Nahas (author of Lebon), he was bent on making a difference in Cairo.^[4]

He worked between 1920 and 1950.

Buildings

• Ali Labib Gabr Bldg, Ibn Zanki Street, Zamalek
• Villa Erfan-Liscovitch, Road 85 Maadi
• Ali Hussein Bey Ayoub (1940), No. 25 Abu El Feda Street, Zamalek,
• Lebanese Embassy in Zamalek (1939) Mansour Mohamed Street,
• Yehya Bldg (circa 1951) in Zamalek where composer Abdel Wahab lived
• Villa Dr. Mohammed Bey Rida (1932) (as of 1949 Indian Embassy residence), Mohammed Mazhar Street, Zamalek.
• remodelled Villa Murro Pasha on Ibn Zanki Street, Zamalek
• Possibly the Giza governorate HQ, Pyramids Road.
• Indian Embassy residence on Zamalek's Mohammed Mazhar Street. (art-deco style)

One of his iconic buildings on Tahrir Square has been damaged by fire during the 2011 revolution.^[5]