House of Egyptian Architecture in Cairo, Egypt
The Ali Labib House, constructed by two brothers in the 1700s, is a rare example of a fully preserved Ottoman-era Cairene mansion, with elements drawn from both Ottoman Turkish and Egyptian Arab architectural traditions. Since 2010 it has housed the House of Egyptian Architecture, a museum and cultural center showcasing the history of building design in Egypt from antiquity through the modern day. The house itself is a time capsule of Islamic decorative arts, full of elaborate tilework, murals of Turkish cityscapes, stained glass, delicate wooden screens, and intricately carved and painted ceiling panels. Like most residential buildings of the era, the house turns its best face inward, with a relatively plain exterior and a much more ornamental interior built around a central courtyard. A collection of shaded open spaces, high ceilings, and elevated windows keep air circulating - wealthy Egyptians' solution to the desert heat in an era long before air conditioning. In addition to the decor, each room displays an array of photographs, diagrams, and dioramas from all periods of Egyptian architectural history, including both famous landmarks and less grand residential projects. While most text is in Arabic, all sections of the museum are very well illustrated. The rooftop offers a sweeping view of the minarets, fortifications, and pigeon coops of historic Cairo, including several landmarks described by the museum's exhibits.
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