Garo Balian designed the Saint Theresa Armenian Catholic Church, Amr Ibrahim Villa in Zamalek (in 1922), the Egyptian Museum of Ceramics (in 1925) as well as the Armenian Orthodox Church in Zagazig. Thus, as Nairy Hampikian states, “Balian left an undeniable mark on the building heritage of Cairo.”
Balian should also be remembered for designing the Yaqubian building, one of the prestigious and opulent buildings in downtown Cairo built in the 1930s, and around which Ala al-Aswany wrote a best-selling novel called ‘Imārat Ya‘qubian in Arabic in 2002.
In addition, he also served his people in the Ottoman provinces by designing the AGBU‟s Teachers‟ College in Van and its Kelegian Orphanage in Dörtyol (Alexandretta).
Bedros Puzant Torosian
Taken from: Mano Chil
