Al-Harrawi House
History
and Description:
Al-Harrawi house was built in 1731 by Ahmed Ben Yousef El –Serafi in
what was then the heart of the city. It is named after its last owner, Abdel
Rahman El-Harrawi, who was the Hakim (Doctor) of Qasr El-Aini Medical School.
Common to the architectural design of the period, the first section of the
house is an open-air courtyard. The stone courtyard sits at the bottom of three
floors decorated with hand.
The courtyard leads
to the other sections of the house, including the large mandarah, or sitting
room. The mandarrah is a lavish room with carved wooden ceilings and a mosaic
inlaid octagonal fountain. The middle section of the mandarah consists of a
slightly raised area so that the master of the house could sit elevated in a
position of honor above his guests.
This house is one of
a few that remained in good shape over the years because it was restored
several times by the Committee for the Conservation of the Monuments of Arab
Art between 1920 and 1950.
Al-
Harrawi House Location:
It is located among
a unique collection of Islamic houses in Al-Azhar area as it is adjacent to Al-Sit
Wasilla House and overlooks Zeinab Khatun House on Mohammad Abdo Street.
Al-Harrawi
House, Home to the Arab Oud House
Al-Harrawi House is
not only a tourist destination and an example of the Islamic architecture of
Fatimid Cairo, but also is the home to the famous Arab Oud House, which
presenting diversified artistic shows and concerts.
