Maspero Television Building

The Maspero building, located on the banks of the Nile in Cairo, serves as the headquarters for the Egyptian Radio and Television Union, the state broadcaster of Egypt. Commissioned by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1959, it opened its doors with the first television broadcast on July 21, 1960, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1952 Egyptian Revolution. Named after French archaeologist Gaston Maspero, the structure spans 12,000 square meters and was built with a budget of E£108,000. The site is not only significant for its architectural and historical value but also for its role in contemporary Egyptian history, having been the focal point of protests in 2011 that resulted in tragic violence.