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Maktab Anbar at Damascus, Syria
The Maktab Anbar is a classic example of a Damascene house, complete with three courtyards and lush greenery.
Description
The first courtyard is a regal courtyard which served as a formal reception room. Traditionally, the second courtyard would have been for the women of the household. The final courtyard would have been used by household servants. The air of the residence would have been fragrant, filled with flowering trees and jasmine. On its walls would be beautiful geometric designs. The marble of the floor tiles would have been cool to touch and each courtyard would have a fountain.
The Maktab Anbar was constructed in the mid-19th century, meant to be a private home for Yusef Anbar, a wealthy Jewish citizen. However, during its construction, Anbar went bankrupt and, as a result, the Ottoman Government confiscated the house. After its confiscation, the government used it as a private office. After the Ottomans left Syria, the building became a secondary school and then a school for girls. These schools were prestigious and a number of notable members of the Syrian Revolution were alumni. In the 1974, the Syrian government restored the house and now uses it as headquarters for the Old Damascus Directorate, which presides over the affairs of the Old City, and as a museum which can be visited today.
Sources
See the reviews of the museum for a local perspective of the building and its history.
"Maktab Anbar." Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maktab_Anbar.