Beit al-Harawi

A tranquil small plaza, Beit al Harrawi is actually a wonderful 18th-century estate, however too sparse within to warrant the admission cost. Frequently it’s used as being a concert venue as well as houses the Arabic Oud House; you could possibly hear rehearsals. 

Beit al-Harawi, in the area towards the south of the mosque of Al-Azhar, was constructed in 1731 and occupied till 1920. During the 90′s the home was re-designed by the helpof joint French-Egyptian initiatives.

Quite a few houses from Egypt’s Mamluk Phase can still be found at this time all the way through Islamic Cairo. Along with Beit El Suheimi and also Beit Zeinab El Khatoun, Beit El Harrawi is a dwelling frequently visited by those curious about Eighteenth century Cairene architectural mastery!

Cultural importance of Beit al-Harawi

Beit El Harrawi is a well known location for its use as a live performance venue. It is recognized more notoriously for its popular music than its architecture. Actually, signs for that Arab Oud House are more apparent compared to Beit El Harrawi. The oud troupe is often heard rehearsing, and concerts of classic music are frequently held there. Ramadan is an particularly chaotic season for Beit El Harrawi; as a number of concert events are shown every week throughout the Muslim holy month.

Architecture in Beit al-Harawi

Due to the fact Beit El Harrawi is essentially utilised at this time of those musical concerts, the reconstruction projects of the framework were much more about renovating the house than repairing it; few rooms are already left in their original design. While getting into the premise, tourists locate a courtyard in which a stage has been constructed for live shows. A lot of the structure’s structural features in addition to wooden mashrabeya displays can be adored from the courtyard, although the metal rods hanging above the stage are undoubtedly distracting.

On the left, the reception hall is big wooden roofs, ornately carved as well as decorated. The area attributes delicate cupboards along with marble floors having a central well. At the rear of the stage in the courtyard is yet another room which has been maintained with relative ethics regardless of the add-on of many metal chairs. On the other hand, the rest of Beit El Harrawi pretties less striking. Structurally, it’s just like the other Cairene homes of its design, yet Beit El Harrawi is lacking in the credibility of its contemporaries: it is kind of a poster child for how not to continue people enthusiastic about these types of historical sites.

Where there is commonly a vaulted roof with shaded glass in the restroom following a darkish passageway, Beit El Harrawi has a second-floor modern restroom. Yellow paint addresses the walls of various rooms as well as hallways. Even though several rooms are filled up with desks and also chairs, the end of one hallway is totally incomplete. Although the other unfinished parts of these residences tend to be closed off, this instead unsafe nook of Beit El Harrawi is an wide open and failing edge; making a abyss a few metres wide amongst the hallway plus an adjacent stairwell.