The globally renowned and multiple award winning Iraqi architect, Zaha Hadid, passed away in 2016, leaving behind an immortalised legacy of architectural masterpieces in over 44 cities covering every corner in the world, and Cairo is no different

Eight years before passing away in 2016, Hadid had designed what is set to be Africa's tallest building in the heart of Cairo, dubbed the Nile Tower. Political and social turmoil following the January 25th Revolution pushed the project into the back drawers for almost a decade now, but with the current government making headway on its revamping efforts of the central Maspiro Triangle, in which the tower is to be located, it's been announced that work on the grand project is to commence soon, according to Al Masry Al Youm, who spoke to Living Interiors, the construction & lifestyle company behind the project. With 70 floors, 35,000 square-meter luxury hotel, and a residential complex on 60,000 square-meters, the Nile Tower is set to be the fanciest address in Africa and on-par with Mid East's most iconic buildings. In addition to giving Cairo's skyline a much-needed facelift, the $600 million project is to set an example for smart and sustainable architecture, with each floor facing a slightly different angle, providing spectacular panoramic views of Cairo in all directions. Hadid also designed the elevator slots to be incorporated within the glass exteriors of the building, simply meaning passengers will also have panoramic Nile views as they move up and down the tower. The project comes as part of the government's plan to renovate central Cairo and turn it into a cultural, financial, and leisure hub. Back in March, the government evacuated the area of Maspiro Triangle and went forward with its long-postponed revamping plan of the central area which lies between Downtown and Zamalek. The massive project dates back to the Mubarak era, however strong backlash from the area's residents back then forced the government to hold off from going forward with it until now.

Photos: Living Interiors