“Maktab Anbar” in old Damascus embodies a unique mixture between the East and West architecture

The old Damascene house  is famous for its unique architecture, characteristic  and style. One of the most prominent features of these houses is the central open courtyard with a water fountain in the center along with trees and plants surrounding the space where the family and guests can sit and enjoy the atmosphere of old Shami lifestyle. Some old houses have paintings decorating the walls. You can also find Islamic calligraphy decorating the ceilings. 

 

Maktab Anbar , which is a house in the center of Old Damascus near Ummayyad Mosque,   is considered the second largest house in Damascus, in which unique decorations and inscription spread over a large area . 

 

Maktab Anbar  was not only a beautiful Damascene house, but after its inauguration 150 years ago, it turned into a school from which the most prominent national and cultural figures graduated, including the poet Khalil Mardam Beik , the writer of the Syrian Arab anthem, Badawi al-Jabal, the famous poet Nizar Qabbani, the former President Shukri al-Quwatli,  and others who had important achievements  in the Syrian history.

 

“This building is considered one of the most perfect  Damascene houses in terms of area and architectural design  after Al-Azm Palace” Director of the Old Damascus Directorate, Eng. Mazen Farzali said in a statement to SANA.

 

He  indicated  that it is divided into three parts: the first is  for men, the second is  for women, while  the third is for the servants.

 

Eng. Farzali He pointed out that  Maktab Anbar  was never used as a house, as the Ottoman occupation authorities seized it from its first owner, Youssef Anbar, due to the accumulation of his debts .

 

He  added  It was  called “ Maktab” which means a place for writing, and was adopted as a school for different teaching stages from the last third of the 19th century until the seventies, when work in it as an educational facility stopped  to be called later , with the advent of the eighties, as  “the Culture Palace” , and it was adopted as the headquarters of Old Damascus.

 

“ The area of Maktab Anbar is 4000 square meters ansd it is the large area that is not attributed to a house. Therefore, it is considered the second palace after Al-Azam Palace and there are also such palaces in some neighborhoods of old Damascus” according to Farzali.

 

Farzali referred that it is distinguished by its different kinds of decoration  to embody a bright intermixing  of Arab and European cultures in the construction process.

 

Farzali  made it clear  that  Maktab Anbar is one of the first schools in Damascus and has  several open courtyards  in its initial design which were  used  for students , in addition to containing 40 rooms that were used by the school  , pointing out that some Damascene houses are still used as schools.

 

“Currently , the basic shape of the building has been preserved in terms of spaces, open courtyards   and decoration.  Some sections of  Maktab  Anbar are  employed to be the headquarters of the Old Damascus Directorate to  provide services to citizens” according to Farzali.  

 

Rawaa Ghanam