(Click here for additional views of the
mashrabiya.)
A closer look at the towering Egyptian Mashrabiya reveals the
intricate woodwork, depicted in detail here (photos above and below).
Originally designed to afford privacy for household members, here we have a reversal of
the traditional usage. In a building where arts and crafts offer a visual
illustration of Arab harmony, the Mashrabiya becomes part of the internal
decoration. The majestic nine-story main Mashrabiya and the smaller lattice screens
throughout the building have all been hand-crafted without glue or nails, exactly as in
the Mamluk era.
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