BUILDING HISTORY
Located at 24 Talaat Harb Street, Radio Cinema complex was named after the famed Radio City Music Hall. The building was designed by Max Edrei in collaboration with Armenian architects Garo Balian and Victor Salama, whose office was housed in the cinema’s annex.
Opened in 1932 with a single grand auditorium—the largest screen in Cairo at the time—the venue was divided in the 1970s into two halls: a cinema and a theatre.
On 6 December 1951, the Radio Theatre hosted a historic moment when Umm Kulthum performed “Ila Arafat Allah” for the first time. The frontage and internal passage also housed well-known shops, including actress Samira Ahmed’s “Gelgela” store and Bisco Misr.
The façade and architectural identity were crafted by architect Hassan Abu Sa’da.
Restoration Process: Adaptive Reuse Model
The second phase in 2017 include comprehensive renewal of the administrative building, the installation of a new panoramic elevator, and a rear fire staircase to enhance safety.
Today