In 969 AD, the Fatimids built a new capital for Egypt and the new city became
Egypt's capital eversince. In 988 AD, El Azhar was erected and gained through
ages importance and effectiveness. Walls and gates that witnessed many important
events throughout history surrounded Cairo then.
El Fustat, first capital built by the Arabs after Amr Ibn Elass conquest in 642, lie north Cairo, and his mosque still standing in the area is an alive evidence of that period when a new history had started for Egypt. New capitals followed El Askar 751AD northeast the previous city and El Katae 870 AD where Ibn Touloun built his famous mosque still lying intact in the area over mount Yaskor. Gawhar El Sequelly built Cairo and surrounded the city with mudbrick walls starting from Bab El Khalk square to the south to join Mokattam hills through Bab Zweila and Bawabet El Metwalli. The western side of the wall starts from Bab El Sheereya Square to Bab El Fettouh and Bab El Nasr. The city was meant to be a residential quarter for El Moez Le Din Allah, the Fatimid Caliph who moved with his family from El Maghreb to Egypt.
Cairo developed, grew and connected with the three previous capitals thus gaining a cultural importance specially after the construction of El Azhar that served not only religious purposes but included social and political domains. Historical Cairo is a long path that started with the Fatimid and through Salah El Din, The Mamelouks and the Ottoman without neglecting Mohamed Aly with his great achievements, reached her modern appearance.Souk, wekala, hamam, khan, hotel, palace, mosque, khankah, college, citadel and fort are flourishing historical Cairo. El Moez Le Din Allah street is an eloquent witness for historical Cairo with the various monuments spread along both sides of the street.
The Ministry of Culture is actually setting a great project for preserving and restoring all monuments of Arab arts dating from various eras.
El Sehaymi House or Bayt El Sehaymi attracted Dr.Asaad Nadim, owner of El Mashrabeya institute in Cairo who undertook the responsibility of documentation, restoration and conservation of Bayt El Sehaymi using a grant offered by The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, three million Dollars US approximately.
The project started with the contribution of the Supreme Council of Antiquities who presented the appropriate documentation to the project Director and closely supervise the work. An integral academic methodology started with a basic principle to preserve authentic and historic elements after the establishment of an archive of the actual state of the house. A step by step record would attest the efforts of a cooperative team of architects and engineers working accurately in order to preserve the house and set this restoration as a first step for more work to be done in the whole street of El Moez Le Din Allah.
Located near Bab El Fetouh and Bab El Nasr, the northern side of the city, in El Darb El Asfar, the most Ancient quarter of Cairo, Bayt El Sehaymi is 350 years old. Sheikh Abdel Wahab El Tablawi erected the house in 1648(1058 H) over substructures dating back to the 10th century when the Fatimid built the city. In 1699, another part of the house was erected that includes the main qaa and more was added in 1730 and 1796. El Sheikh El Sehaymy, professor in El Azhar was the last owner of this important monument whose actual surface is 2000 square meters. The house is actually the responsibility of the SCA.
Arab art
belonging to the 17th and 18th centuries is perfectly represented there where we
can notice the different ornamentation of the ceilings and the floor paved with
mosaics beautifully designed. Mashrabeyas and wooden joined paneled doors are
very expressive as well as the exquisite inscriptions over the screens.
The planning of Bayt El Sehaymi consists of a 200m open-air courtyard surrounded by 115 rooms occupying five stories. A grinding mill and a sakkieh authentic and rare are to be seen in the north east corner of the courtyard. The windows covered by wooden screens or mashrabeya are a distinctive element of Arab art together with the wooden decorated beams of the ceilings and the placards inside the rooms. To approach such a heritage needed precaution and precision.
Restorers started
by establishing a thorough documentation from the SCA archives and a survey of
the place that led to the establishment of architectural drawings stored in
computers. Every single detail relevant was carefully studied as from details of
the ornaments and motifs to the analyze of the materials' components without
neglecting the infrastructure and the foundations. Ground water had to be solved
as a major problem facing the project in order to secure the houses' stability.
Architects, experts, consultants, archaeologists, technicians…many
participated in the meticulous study led for the completion of this project.
Excavations practiced led to the discovery of many tunnels inside Bayt El Sehaymi, one is 13m long. This will activate the fantasy of many. A long and precise work is demonstrated focusing on wall cracks, wooden beams of the ceilings, the mashrabeya windows, El Shokhshekha, the slopes for the roofs, pesticides for the wood, extracting salt from the walls' bricks, avoid deflections, distribution of stress on different wall sections, dismantling of some parts for reparation and replacement sometimes…etc
More than 100 vigilant workers were active around the monument to give the Bayt a proper appearance; but the effort was not only limited to the house. The joined efforts extended to the Hara: El Darb El Asfar where the main entrance was paved, surrounding houses repainted and restorations of some external parts practiced. Two lanterns will be flanked on both sides of the entrance.
Reaching that stage Mrs Asaad Nadim Interfered, Dr.Nawal El Messeiry, specializes in sociology organized a meticulous campaign to spread awareness amongst the inhabitants in order to avoid the misuse of the monuments, as the area is rich in archaeological remains. Their local environment had to be preserved on long-term basis and the sensation of personal belonging to the place would lead them to preserve it in the near future. The working team wanted to be sure that their important work is safeguarded on long term.
The inauguration of the project is expected to be in April by a high ranked official not yet announced. Remains the fact that Egyptians are devoted to their cultural heritage and all the combined efforts are there to preserve restore and maintain its remains.
Thanks to Dr. and Mrs.Asaad Nadim and their vigilant working team. Thanks to the SCA employees who spare no efforts to contribute in such an accomplishment and thanks to the Ministry of Culture for undertaking the mission of restoring and maintaining our important heritage.