Jeddah: One of the oldest buildings in Jeddah's historic Al Balad district, the 19th-century Sharbatli House has been transformed into a hub for cultural, literary, artistic, scientific and intellectual events.
The renovation was carried out by Seifalah Sharbatli, grandson of businessman Abdullah Sharbatli, who wanted to modernise the building while preserving its original features, foundations and interiors, including the original brick walls. The new materials, which were exported from countries such as Sweden and Egypt, meet strict heritage conservation standards.
Sefalah Sharbatli said the restoration of Sharbatli House took place before Al-Balad was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. (With information)
Sharbatli told Arab News that every tile placed in the historic building is linked to the building's heritage. “You will find an inscription on the back of the tile that says 'Made in Hejjaz,'” he said. The process of finding the same shape of ancient tiles is time-consuming, he added.
He put his heart and soul into every detail of the project, aiming not only to restore the building but also to revive and transform it into a cultural center.
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• Many historical houses in the area were abandoned until the Ministry of Culture launched a project to restore Al Balad and transform the heritage site into a tourist attraction.
“The idea of building a cultural house arose from my passion for art, culture and poetry, and from my eagerness to preserve the historical buildings left by our grandfathers,” he said. “The idea began in 2013 when I visited our house, which was abandoned and partially collapsed, including the ceiling, and covered in dust.”
Ministry of Culture moves forward with the Al Balad restoration project, transforming heritage into a tourist attraction (prepared by)
Soon after, he approached his father and proposed a major renovation to bring the property into the 21st century, which was agreed upon.
“I thought it would take about three years to complete the renovation, but it took seven,” said Sharbatli.
The restoration took place before Al-Balad became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The idea of creating a cultural house arose from my passion for art, culture and poetry, and from my eagerness to preserve the historic buildings left by our grandfathers.
Sefalah SharbatliSaudi Arabian businessman
“We are ahead of the curve on the area’s heritage conservation projects,” Sharbatly added.
The four-storey building located in Al Baya Square was built in the late 19th century by Al-Sharif Abdullah Mihanna Al-Abdali and was later sold to Abdullah Sharbatli and became the family home.
During that time, the building served as the headquarters of the Egyptian mission in Saudi Arabia and for more than 30 years was a key connection point for Egyptian traders and entrepreneurs doing business in the Kingdom when arriving via the port in Jeddah.
“After I had restored the house as best I could, I didn’t want it to be like the other old houses in the area, most of which (have become) museums,” Sharbatli said. “So I really thought about making it different, giving it some attention and ideas to restore the sparkle that it had almost lost over the years.”
Sharbatli said he wanted the house to promote Saudi Arabia's cultural identity.
“Our vision for the House of Culture is to be a home for all artists, from professional to amateur, from established to emerging, and from traditional to contemporary,” he said.
Many of the historic houses in the area were abandoned until the Ministry of Culture launched a project to restore Al Balad and transform the heritage site into a tourist attraction.
Speaking about this effort, Sharbatli said, “The ministry’s initiative is not only to create a tourist destination but also to bring our generation and their descendants back to what used to be the heart of Jeddah.”
“This is a great initiative to revitalize the district and bring it back to its former glory, while reviving its charm and significance as a cultural destination.”
When the Ministry of Culture took control of the area, Sharbatli sat down with officials to present his vision and long-term plans.
He then moved on to a new, more ambitious project: “The house has become one of the most popular cultural spots,” he added.
The Sharbatly House project plays a key role in promoting awareness of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage among both local and international tourists. Continuing his passion for promoting culture, the undergraduate student from the American University in Cairo hopes to further his dream by creating a large cultural space in Al Balad.
“I hope one day to build a house as big as the El-Sawy Culture Wheel, which is one of the most important cultural sites in Egypt,” Sharbatli said.
He also revealed a new mission: “I am currently negotiating with Saudi officials to save the house of my other grandfather, which is located in the Al Ruwais area.”
“It’s a pity that this house will be demolished along with other buildings. I’m trying to convince them not to demolish this house because it’s a house with a long and valuable history that can be preserved and promoted.”
