JEDDAH: One of the oldest structures in Jeddah's historic Al-Balad district, the 19th century Sharbatly House, has been transformed into a center for hosting cultural events, literature, art, scientific and intellectual.
Abdullah Sharbatly's grandson, entrepreneur Seifalah Sharbatly, carried out the renovation, which sought to modernize the building while preserving its character, foundations and interior, as well as the original brick walls. New materials exported from countries such as Sweden and Egypt follow strict heritage protection standards.
Seifalah Sharbatly shared that the restoration of the Sharbatly House was done before Al-Balad became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (given)
Sharbatly told Arab News that every tile installed in the historic building is a link to his heritage. “You'll see an inscription on the back of the tile, 'Made in Hejjaz,'” he said. It took a long time to find old tiles of the same design, he added.
He put his heart and soul into the details of the project, aiming not only to restore the building but to revitalize it and turn it into a cultural destination.
HIGHlight
• Many historic buildings in the area were abandoned until the Ministry of Culture led a project to revitalize Al-Balad and transform its heritage into a tourist destination.
“The idea to build a cultural house came from my love for art, culture and poetry, and from my desire to preserve the historical house left by our grandfather,” he said. “The idea started in 2013 when I visited our house, it was abandoned and collapsed in some areas, including the ceiling, and full of dust.”
The Ministry of Culture spearheaded the project to revive Al-Balad and transform its heritage into a tourist destination. (given)
Soon after, he approached his father and made a case for a major renovation that would bring the building into the 21st century, which was agreed upon.
The work took a long time, says Sharbatly: “I thought it would take about three years to complete the renovation, but it took seven years.”
The restoration was done before Al-Balad became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The idea to create a cultural house came from my love for art, culture and poetry, and my passion for preserving the historical houses left by our grandfathers.
Seifalah SharbatlySaudi businessman
“We were at the forefront of the heritage preservation program in the region,” said Sharbatly.
The four-story building, located in Al-Bayaa Square, was built by Al-Sharif Abdulilah Mihanna Al-Abdaly in the late 19th century. It was later sold to Abdullah Sharbatly and became the family home.
It was once the center of the Egyptian mission to Saudi Arabia, and for about 30 years it was the hub of Egyptian traders and businessmen doing business in the Kingdom when they arrived at the port. -ship of Jeddah.
“After restoring the house as much as I could, I didn't want it to look like other historic buildings in the area, most of which (became) museums,” Sharbatly said. “So I thought hard to change it by thinking about it and introducing ideas that would restore the luster that it had almost lost over the years.”
Sharbatly said he wanted the building to promote Saudi cultural identity.
“Our vision for the cultural center is (for it) to become a home for all artists – from professionals to amateurs, from established to emerging, and from from traditional to contemporary,” he said.
Many historic buildings in the area were abandoned until the Ministry of Culture spearheaded a project to revitalize Al-Balad and transform its heritage into a tourist destination.
Speaking about these efforts, Sharbatly said: “The ministry's initiative is not only to create a tourist destination, but also to bring our generation and their children back to the heart of Jeddah in the past.
“It was a huge undertaking to revive the district and bring it back to its glory days, restoring its beauty and importance as a cultural destination.”
When the Ministry of Culture took control of the area, Sharbatly sat down with officials to present his vision and long-term plans.
Then he moved on to a new, more ambitious project: “The house became one of the most famous cultural sites,” he added.
The Sharbatly House project has played a major role in promoting the State's cultural heritage among local and international visitors. To continue his passion for promoting culture, the graduate student from the American University in Cairo hopes to expand his dream of creating a huge cultural scene in Al-Balad.
“I hope one day (to make) my house as big as (the) El-Sawy Culture Wheel, which is considered one of the most important cultural sites in Egypt,” said Sharbatly.
He also announced a new mission: “Currently I am negotiating with the Saudi authorities to save my other grandfather's house, which is in Al-Ruwais area.
“Unfortunately, it is planned to demolish the building along with the rest of the buildings. I am trying to convince them not to destroy (it) because it is a historic and valuable building that can be preserved and promoted.
