Dictionary of islamic architecture

particular type of sitting room known as the maqad
became popular. This consisted of an arcade on the
upper floor level which overlooked the main public
courtyard of an important residence. From the
sixteenth century onwards important residences
would also incorporate an extra kitchen for the
preparation of coffee.
In addition to private houses there were from a
very early period blocks of houses or apartments
which would have been rented by the occupiers.
These buildings were known as ‘rabc’ and consisted
of rows of two-storey apartments usually built above
shops or khans. One of the earliest examples is the
rabc of Sultan al-Ghuri at Khan al-Khalili.
It is known that many of the larger houses had
private bathrooms although these would not have
included all the facilities available in a public bath
house or hammam. Cairo is known to have had a
large number of hammams although many of these
have recently disappeared. In general the rooms of

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a bath house were fairly plain with the exception
of the maslakh (reception hall) which was often
domed and sometimes was supported with
columns.
Further reading:
D.Berhens-Abouseif, 
Islamic Architecture in Cairo: An
Introduction,
Supplements to Muquarnas vol. 3, Leiden
1989. This is the best modern summary of Islamic
architecture in Cairo.
K.A.C.Creswell, 
The Muslim Architecture of Egypt,
Oxford
1952–60. Contains the most comprehensive discussion
and treatment of buildings from the beginning of the
Fatimid (969) to the end of the Mamluk (1517) periods.
For domestic architecture see:
J.C.Garcin, B.Maury, J.Revault and M.Zakariya, 
Palais et
Maisons du Caire: I. D’Époque Mamelouke
(XIII
e
–XVI
e
siècles), Paris 1982.
B.Maury, A.Raymond, J.Revault and M.Zakariya, 
Palais et
Maisons du Caire: II. Époque Ottomane
(XVI
e
– XVIII
e
siècles) vol. 2, Paris 1983. For modern architecture see:
M.al-Gawhury, 
Ex-Royal Palaces of Egypt,
Cairo 1954.
A.D.C.Hyland, A.G.Tipple and N.Wilkinson, Housing 
in
Egypt,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1984.