Abstract
Cairene domestic architecture comprises a variety of housing types, responding to the needs of different socioeconomic classes of society. Of these types, two are studied in detail herein, namely, palaces and mansions of the grandees and middle-class houses. As suggested by Hanna, the latter were divided into separate unequal living units. The study in hand investigates the existence of similar living units in the palaces and mansions'. This is accomplished through analyzing living units in some middle-class houses to determine their structure, types and organization. These characteristics are used to define similar units in palaces and mansions.
Some relevant documents are then examined in search of indications verifying these findings. Based on this study, it can be concluded that the concept of separate living units used in middle-class houses was also applicable in palaces and mansions. This was an effective way of organizing the living quarters of the house to accommodate various groups of inhabitants, taking into consideration their hierarchy and their relation to each other. These units were not strict divisions; members of the household could generally move around among the units. Yet there were rules, stipulated by Islamic law, that organized their movement, depending on how closely they were related. These units were dynamic entities that changed over time to meet the changing needs of the inhabitants.
School
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Date of Award
3-1-2001
Online Submission Date
12-1-2000
First Advisor
Bernard O'Kane
Committee Member 1
Bernard O'Kane
Committee Member 2
George T. Scanlon
Committee Member 3
Michael Reimer
Document Type
Thesis
Extent
p.206
Rights
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Recommended Citation
APA Citation
Hassaballah, A. M.
(2001).The Living Units in Cairene Houses in the Ottoman Period: Towards a New Understanding of Cairene Domestic Architecture [Thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/retro_etds/2400
MLA Citation
Hassaballah, Ahmed Maher. The Living Units in Cairene Houses in the Ottoman Period: Towards a New Understanding of Cairene Domestic Architecture. 2001. American University in Cairo, Thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/retro_etds/2400
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Call Number
Thesis 2000/80 c.1