All you need to know about renovating Sakakini Palace

CAIRO - 7 January 2020: Sakakini Palace is 119 years old and was owned by Habib Pasha el-Sakakini, who died in 1923. He gifted the palace to one of his heirs who worked as the palace’s doctor.

In 1961, the Health Education Museum was moved from Abdeen to the Sakakini Palace. The museum was then moved from the palace, for the palace to become eventually under the auspices of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. The council is currently examining the studies submitted by the consultant in preparation for the launch of the palace's comprehensive restoration project.

This was confirmed by Mahmoud Abdel Basset, director of the Historic Cairo Development Project. Abdel Basset said that studies of the advisory office for the restoration of Sakakini Palace will be examined soon. New files are also added regarding the re-usage of the palace according to its construction nature.

The director of the Historic Cairo Development Project further explained that after studying the submitted proposals, the restoration project of the 119-year-old palace will be assigned to a company, under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Head of the Projects Sector at the Ministry of Antiquities Waad Abul Ela revealed that additional restoration works are currently taking place in the palace. The palace is scheduled to open in 2020.

The palace includes a collection of unique artifacts, including "Dorat el-Tag” girl statue, as well as the remains of a statue of a crocodile. The palace is decorated with figures of girls and children and statues made of marble. It contains more than fifty rooms and up to five floors. The palace has more than 400 windows and doors and 300 statues, including a half-statue of Habib Pasha el-Sakakini at the top of the main entrance to the palace.

The palace also contains a basement; its pillars are surrounded by four towers, each with a small dome on top. The basement has three spacious halls, four toilets, two rooms. It is devoid of decorations, and was made for servants and kitchens.