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The story of a Belgian entrepreneur and his Hindu mansion in Caïro

The story of a Belgian entrepreneur and his Hindu mansion in Cairo Talk Carpet (2)

As we already learned on our Cairo voyage, the city has so many ambiguous secrets. One of the hidden enigmas is the mystical Baron Empain Palace, which has been there for more than 100 years. Also known as the Hindu Palace, this architectural masterpiece is located in the elite Heliopolis.

The urban legends behind Baron Empain Palace

Proudly standing between the other building in Cairo’s Heliopolis district, the palace has had a notorious reputation for years. The deteriorated arches rich with Hindi details have been bearing urban legends for years. Once a source of paranormal mysteries and creepy stories has now been turned into a museum, open for visitors who wish to seize the gorgeous architecture.

baron empain palace, The story of a Belgian entrepreneur and his Hindu mansion in Caïro

The Baron’s luxurious retreat

The astonishing palace is named after the owner, a reputable Belgian businessman with a “baron” title. As a well-known industrialist and entrepreneur, one of the significant projects in his professional life was the construction of the Paris metro.

baron empain palace, The story of a Belgian entrepreneur and his Hindu mansion in Caïro

Both the interior and exterior of the Baron Empain Palace reflect the family’s high status but also mark an important milestone in Heliopolis history. The palace was built in 1911, marking the beginnings of a new high-end Cairo neighborhood. Thanks to Baron’s efforts, what used to be a desert area has become an elite Cairo district.

Inspiration source

Although the Hindy style isn’t typical for this area, it has become a significant landmark for Cairo. The Baron was a reputable entrepreneur, so he traveled a lot during his life. His journeys allowed him to witness exotic architectural styles and get the inspiration for building a distinctive mansion. The Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Hindu temples of Orissa in India were abundant sources of inspiration. The final solution was put to paper by a reputable architect known for his unique style.

The remarkable Indian-style building is a masterpiece carefully designed by the architect Alexandre Marcel, born in Belgium. Famous for his signature architectural style, he incorporates Belle Époque into exotic styles. Georges-Louis Claude decorated the rich and ornate exterior, drawing inspiration from Hindu temples.

baron empain palace, The story of a Belgian entrepreneur and his Hindu mansion in Caïro

Unique architectural features

The magnificent two-story palace was constructed from reinforced concrete while grabbing inspiration from Hindu temples. Moreover, this is one of the first projects that use this material in such a creative way. Surprisingly, the structure has a rotating base to receive plenty of sunlight during any time of the day. The tall tower is next to an open roof, a perfect place for hosting elite gatherings.

baron empain palace, The story of a Belgian entrepreneur and his Hindu mansion in Caïro

Impressive adorned exterior

As we admired the ornate exterior, we noticed remarkable statues of Buddhist and Hindu legends. As every single detail fascinated our eyes, we couldn’t miss seeing the abundance of elephant details. The exterior is repainted in a rich rusty orange tone that blends with the Egyptian landscape, as stated in this mansion’s original documentation.

baron empain palace, The story of a Belgian entrepreneur and his Hindu mansion in Caïro

Restoration of the Baron Empain Palace

The family sold the Baron Empain Palace in an auction. The unfortunate circumstances left the palace neglected for years, which resulted in awful deterioration. This imposed the need for an extensive restoration project, which totals $11 million. After serving as background for horror movie sets and a few social events, the Baron Empain Palace finally saw the light of the day in 2017 when the restoration process began. The superstitions and paranormal stories finally stopped as the Baron Empain Palace opened its doors to the public in 2020.

baron empain palace, The story of a Belgian entrepreneur and his Hindu mansion in Caïro

The lengthy preparation process included exterior repainting and renewing the luxurious gardens to bring back their old shine. On the inside, they did a significant interior restoration, such as repairing the crumbled walls and the deteriorated ceiling slabs.

This landmark found its way back to the tourist maps and is an exotic spot to stop by. Whether you want to explore the interior, admire the ornate details, or learn more about the history, the Baron Empain Palace offers a unique experience for architecture lovers.

baron empain palace, The story of a Belgian entrepreneur and his Hindu mansion in Caïro

 

It is no secret that Paris has been the capital of fashion since the seventeenth century. The city has been the playground for prestigious designers and couture brands like Chanel, Dior, and Saint Laurent. Today the Parisian style is not only an aesthetic choice but a philosophy. It embraces elegance, timelessness, and slow responsible fashion. The focus is on the cut and the quality of the materials. No fluff or excessiveness with a less is more approach. And what better way to understand Parisian fashion than to visit a museum dedicated to it.

For more than 70 years, the house has been crafting magical couture pieces in their atelier at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris. Christian Dior has made this location a legendary address since the first collection in 1947. Behind its new flagship, the House of Dior inaugurates a permanent exhibition in an extraordinary gallery, independently of its boutique. Mr. Dior wanted to be an architect; the building and the museum pay him a beautiful tribute today.

The staging is astonishing. A circular staircase at the entrance showcases 452 dresses and 1,422 accessories, all 3D printed. Bags, shoes, perfumes, and small objects: so many testimonies of the Dior style materialized to elaborate this Diorama.