Bayt al-‘Aqqad: The History and Restoration of a House in Old Damascus

Today Bayt al-‘Aqqad is one of 23 buildings in old Damascus which come under the UNESCO World Heritage programme, but when the Danish Institute in Damascus took over the house in 1997 it had been derelict for 50 years and was in a very sorry state indeed. In the following years Danish architects and restorers worked together with Syrian colleagues on an admirable restoration of the house. Step by step new aspects turned up, showing that the building was not only a beautiful house with a long history – the house is founded on the Roman theatre of Herod – but also that it contained fine examples of the most important periods in the architectural history of Damascus.

In this lavishly illustrated book, the story of the house and its “resurrection” is told by architects, restorers, archaeologists and historians and it is a must for anybody who has experienced the joy and fascination of Islamic art and architecture.