“since these houses are private properties to residents, many people in old neighbourhoods in Willayat of al Hamra, al Dakhiliyah Governorate, decided to renovate their old houses to partially live there in special occasions,” he explains.
With the urban expansion and the increase in the family members, many families before ten years or so made the choice to move from old houses in the old neighbourhoods to modern blocks. At that time, they made the perfect choice but yearning to their old places now motivated them to restore their old houses.
In “Harat al Gharb”, for example, in al Hamra, many families felt that their old houses that have been left for ages now, are the ideal place for gathering in the special occasion like Eids and the Holy month of Ramadhan.
Many houses are being reconstructed or restored, depending on the condition of the house.
While this change has been positive on many levels (flexibility and mobility in terms of children’s’ education and gave more space to agriculture expansion in villages), it made some other changes to intimacy of the village. Only few families remained in the village and most of the families consist of members who are quite old (above 20 years old). The neighbourhood was left without children and became really quiet.
“The laughs of children disappeared from the neighbourhood,” said Shaikha al Khiyariya, a grandmother. “I used to live with my daughter who got married a year ago and she left with her husband. My children and grandchildren come to visit me in the weekends and sometimes in the night when they are free. They are all engaged with their lives and schools of children.”
From her side, Eida al Oufi says “my daughters rented houses near my house and they regularly come in the weekends and occasions. It feels good that young people still favour living in the old neighbourhoods and I noticed that many old houses around us are being reconstructed.”
Emotions about all of this change are mixed,” says Abdullah al Abri. “each neighbourhood has its unique style. Where we live now, all services are available and close to the house. However, we lost that intimacy that we used to feel in the old house. You don’t feel bored there because when you go outside your doorstep, you will surely meet the next door neighbour sitting by his doorstep. But there you struggle to keep anything secret from them.”
“I am glad that we planned to renovate our old house. Even for one day, I would like to feel the old emotions and it will bring back lost memories of our childhood,” he commented.