BAIT AL GHARBI
(Bait Al Sheikh Sultan bin Saqer al Qassimi)

Baith Al Gharbi was built 200 years ago. It was restored and reopened for the public on 3rd of May 1998. The house is located in Al Sheiyoukh area, almost south of Bait Hamad Al Midfa (Islamic Museum) and Al Shamsi House (Poetry house).

There is a courtyard in front of the house and in its north-eastern corner of the house is Al Sheiyoukh mosque. Sharjah Fort, which was once used by the Sharjah Ruler to govern his Emirate and is lying in the centre of the roundabout, is not far away from this house.

There are three entrances to Bait Al Gharbi The first one lies in the northern side, supported with two compacted columns holding a lobed necklace.

The second one, which is in the eastern side, where is a sitting area (Deka), leads to the saloon and the library. The third entrance is in the southern side.

In the first floor there are rooms on both eastern and northern sides. There are two staircases, one at the northern entrance and the other at the end of the eastern hall. The Arab Islamic architecture is well represented by the lobed necklaces found at the entrance with different types of columns in front of the rooms.

Different types of wind towers protrude above the building's main structure. Various lateral bends appear penetrating the outer walls and comprising those wind towers. The architectural distribution of these wind towers is a unique feature of this traditionally designed house. In the centre of the south side there is a well to provide water to the family.


Around the house there is a curtain divided into many parts as support to the house. 'Al Jindal' wood is used for the roof and the doors and windows carry true Islamic designs. Gypsum is also used for decorating the house and grooved gypsum decorations appeared on wind towers (Brajils) as well as on its columns.

 

© Copyright Department of Culture & Information 2004