About

Beit al Arabi is an Arabic term that, when translated to English, means “house of an Arab.” This site is meant to capture and encapsulate the beauty and history of the Arab homes in Babtouma, Syria. The homes highlighted on this site are centuries old and carry a very heavy history that deserves to be known and recorded. Growing up Syrian, born and raised in Kuwait, I always had a connection to my country. I was fascinated by the beauty it carried; going back to Syria each time felt like entering a time capsule, a country frozen in time. Everything was old, yet it carried a quiet elegance.

This website began as my Major Project for my MA in Web Design and Content Planning at the University of Greenwich, but it quickly became something that mattered to me far beyond the coursework. As I went on with creating this project, it meant more and more to me — especially at a time like now, where Syria is finally opening up and moving forward. I saw it as a chance to highlight the beauty that the country carries.

On this site, you’ll find profiles of individual homes in Babtouma: their history, their architecture, and the stories they carried over the years. There’s also a glossary, so you can learn some of the terms and details that make these homes so unique and timeless. This project is something I started alone with my own photography, illustrations, design and development – with some photographs generously shared by Sarah Dergham. But it isn’t something I want to keep to myself. If you have photographs, stories, or knowledge of these homes to share, I’d love to hear from you. I hope Beit al Arabi keeps growing, one home and one story at a time.