ALEXANDRIA, Egypt — An old underground bunker-turned-art space lies in Alexandria on Fouad Street, one of the oldest streets in the world dating back to 331 B.C. The street is characterized by many historical buildings with unique Greek and Italian architectural styles that allow visitors to travel back in time.

In one of the buildings on the street built by Greek architect P. Gripari in 1928, a staircase leads underground to Shelter Art Space, which was inaugurated in January last year as a space for artists to showcase their creations, hold music events or art workshops.

Shaima Ramzi, CEO of Shelter Art Space, told Al-Monitor that the space was originally built as a multiple-room cellar where residents would hide from the airstrikes that would hit the city during World War II. 

Ramzi said the founders of Shelter Art Space, Mohamed Abdel Majeed, CEO of Sigma property management company, and Karim Mahmoud, head of Sigma's development sector, sought to breathe new life into a dilapidated basement found in the same building that is owned by their company.