Bayt al-Razzaz is a remarkably complete remnant of this form of urban palace, and it is inextricably linked to the history and growth of residential life in one of the world's finest cities.
HISTORY OF BAYT AL-RAZZAZ
Bayt Al-Razzaz was originally build in the 15th century during the Mamluk era and today consists of two residences, two central courtyards, and additional utility facilities such as stables, bathrooms, and storerooms.
Bayt al-Razzaz is a historic residential complex in the Darb al-Ahmar area, where historical preservation has aided regeneration efforts over the previous decade. In the late 18th century, Ahmad Katkhuda al-Razzaz, the heir of a wealthy Ottoman rice trader, joined two nearby mansions to construct the complex.
BAYT AL-RAZZAZ BUILDING
BAYT AL-RAZZAZ address at 5UI6 Bab al-Wazir Street, Cairo. The quantity of structures, along with the structure's grandeur, creates the sense that it is magnificent. The two homes, which have a total of 190 rooms, were linked by a single hallway sometime in the early nineteenth century as a consequence of a marriage contract.
The two buildings were combined to make a sprawling four-story structure with more than 190 rooms. The complex is organized around two courtyards, with a tiny street frontage that betrays the size of what is behind it. Several beautiful interior areas have been preserved, notably Cairo's biggest surviving mandara or reception hall.
The eastern side of Bayt al-Razzaz is widely credited to the Mamluk sultan Qaitbay, whose rule changed Cairo's urban environment in the late 15th century.
The western part is a significantly recent addition, most likely built during the Mamluk or later Ottoman eras.
RESTORATION OF BAYT AL-RAZZAZ
Bayt al-Razzaz was converted into a high-density residential complex in the nineteenth century, but it has remained unoccupied since the 1960s. The Ministry of State for Antiquities has held the property for many decades (previously the Supreme Council of Antiquities). The American Research Center in Egypt spearheaded efforts to rebuild Bayt al-Razzaz in the late 1970s.
They culminated in an award-winning restoration of the complex's eastern side, finished in 2007, which involved many members of the neighboring community. The western half, on the other hand, is in desperate need of protection.
The site was included to the 2014 World Monuments Watch in order to maintain momentum for its repair and usage, which is at risk of being lost in Egypt's political turbulence since early 2011. Apart from immediate repairs, continued conservation activities would serve to showcase the remarkable mandara, renovate the western courtyard, and increase public access to the property.
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