The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Creating art where tragedy and trauma once lay, Shelter Art Space uses a World War II bunker to create a space for artists to showcase their creations and hold music events and art workshops. After closing for a while in 1982, Shelter nearly became an abandoned basement until it was discovered by the team which later founded the Art Space. It was then renovated and became one of Alexandria’s most recognised Art Spaces, hosting over 40 cultural events and collaborating with some of the most renowned creative organisations, such as Sony.

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Having been built as an underground bunker where residents could hide from airstrikes, the founders of Shelter Art Space, Mohamed Abdel Majeed, CEO of Sigma Properties (a management company based in Alexandria), and Karim Mahmoud, head of Sigma’s development sector, were instantly stunned by the abandoned basement which would later become Shelter Art Space. The basement was part of a building initially bought by Sigma Properties. Developed with a contemporary design, Abdel Majeed and Mahmoud breathed life into the basement after its renovation in 2019 when the Art Space saw the light while keeping the wartime theme intact to maintain its historical significance.

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Located in one of Alexandria’s oldest streets, Fouad St, in a building built by Greek architect Peter Gripari, Shelter Art Space includes a 285 sqm gallery area, which was originally a multicellular hideout. The gallery has witnessed multiple projects between Shelter Popup, Shelter Talks, and Shelter Connects – all in favour of the creative scene in Egypt, specifically Alexandria’s residents who previously had to travel to Cairo to showcase their art or attend creative workshops.

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It’s important to remember that in WWII, Alexandria, like the rest of Egypt, was under British rule. This meant that many bunkers were scattered around the city. Some were discovered, and others have yet to be uncovered and hopefully renovated. Other bunkers that were turned into sites also include Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s World War II Bunker, named after the German General Field Marshal, and can be found located 80 Miles west of El Alamein.