Al-Azem Palace

Al-Azem Palace is a palace located in the ancient walled  city Damascus,  Syria, it was originally built in 1750 as a residence for the Ottoman governor of Damascus As'ad Pasha al-Azm. The palace now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.

Organization of the Azem palace and the traditional damascene house.

The azem palace was divided into a Haramlik( private family area), a salamlik ( business, public reception area for the male head of the house and his clients or guests) Khadamlik (servents quarters) and the hammam (baths) each with related courtyards, fountains and gardens.

 Within these spaces the palace hosted approximately sixteen great halls, nineteen rooms on the ground floor, nine rooms on the second storey, three Iwans (explain this)

 A basement for storage, a praying wing, stable and carriage parking.

 The traditional damascene house was designed to be environmentally functional given the extremes in the Syrian climate as well as conducive to the secular wellbeing and spiritual sanctity of the family.

 The thick walls, central courtyards, gardens and Persian inspired Iwans cooled the house in the summer and utilized passive solar heat to warm the house in the winter.

 Entering the interior of  the Damascene house symbolized a transformation from the cares  of the exterior world to the quest for spiritual tranquility, security and harmony within the home. The home thus became a symbolic reflection of Islamic concepts of both a heavenly paradise as well as the perceived ability of each Muslim to strive for an earthly paradise through daily prayers, right actions toward others, and the spiritual quest for God. The interior spaces were thus further enhanced with fountains and gardens, as well as fine masonry, mosaics, woodworking, and paintings.

 panoramic photo. 

because the palace is a museum for arts and folk traditions, i got the chance to take a closer look at each and every part of the building. 

i would like to start with the "Bath" area which is a smaller replica of the public bath in the city. with the same sections of the roman ancient bath structures (frigidarium, tepidarium, and caldarium)

link to the bath's video

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3X4Pnct5wtgRklXOVpReEJNVHM/view?usp=sharing

The luxurious nature of the azem palace and the wealth and status of the azem family are demonstrated by the existence of a large private bath within the household. Most other families in ottoman Damascus depended on the public baths within their neighborhoods. Only the wealthiest families could afford a private bath with such grandeur which also hosted an elaborate plumbing system.

 the grand hall of the Salamlik part of the palace.

 the inside of the hall

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3X4Pnct5wtgS3JkdmRGTnhCeG8/view?usp=sharing

 The Salamlik was reserved for male visitors from outside the immediate family. These include male friends of the Pasha as well as his business and political associates. In addition to his political responsibilities as the male head of his family.

 The Salamlik allowed the pasha to entertain his guests while at the same time maintaining the privacy of his family in the Haramlik part of the house by creating entrances with sharp angles. This custom of providing for the visual privacy of the women and children of a house from the presence of strangers predates the Islamic period and can be tracked down to the designs of both Greek and roman homes and villas.

 the rest of the Salamlik part of the palace in this video:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3X4Pnct5wtgTXpUUU5VRXFEeVk/view?usp=sharing

the Iwan and the Yard:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3X4Pnct5wtgaEhFSlJOdTJqdFU/view?usp=sharing

 one of the three main Iwans of the palace.

 all of the information, photos and videos presented in this part are collected and photographed by me