Residence Zeinab Khatoun
Cairo, Egypt
Best Project, Reform/Restoration
Presented by The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.)
Owner: Development Authority of the Islamic and Fatimid Neighborhoods of Cairo
Main design company: Misr Consult – House of Engineering Experiences
Contractor: The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.)
The restoration of this 15th-century residence in a historic area of Cairo, one of the few remaining examples of Mamluk architecture, focused on preserving its historical, social and architectural significance while allowing for sustainable reuse. The project involved the conservation of historic materials such as stone floors and wooden elements such as doors, ceilings and windows, as well as the reproduction of original plaster finishes to restore deteriorated areas.
The building’s architectural significance lies in its features: a wooden entrance, an open central courtyard for passive ventilation, elaborately carved wooden ceilings, latticed wooden partitions, plaster windows with colored glass and traditional spaces that illustrate social hierarchies and environmental design.
The team stabilized the structure, upgraded the systems and prepared the building for public use. To preserve the architectural integrity of the structure, all mechanical, electrical, HVAC and fire protection systems were installed under original stone floors or within wall cavities, while the patio and roof were left unchanged to maintain the original environmental logic.
“From strengthening the structural integrity of the building without affecting its historical aspect to modernization [its] infrastructure… the project team delivered a structurally sound, historically respectful and technically equipped heritage building,” The Arab Contractors said in its entry.
