HOME TOUR: BAYT YAKAN
- Words Sandy Aziz
- Photos Alixe Lay
Inside the historic Cairo mansion saved from demolition.
( 1 ) Muhammad Ali is considered the founder of modern Egypt. His dynasty ruled from 1805 until 1952 when King Farouk—the final successor—was overthrown in a coup d'état led by army officers Mohamed Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser, the latter of whom served as president of Egypt between 1956 and 1970.
Traffic is a standstill in the heart of historic Cairo. It’s a regular occurrence in the ancient, narrow streets of the Egyptian capital, and the air is thick. Yet, on this early evening in January, stepping through the 20-foot-tall arched gateway of Bayt Yakan, hidden down a discreet alleyway, there is an overwhelming feeling of stillness and space.
( 1 ) Muhammad Ali is considered the founder of modern Egypt. His dynasty ruled from 1805 until 1952 when King Farouk—the final successor—was overthrown in a coup d'état led by army officers Mohamed Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser, the latter of whom served as president of Egypt between 1956 and 1970.