Restaurant owners discussed the difficulties and benefits of repurposing historic homes with Arab News, providing insight into the expanding trend in the Kingdom. RIYADH: Throughout Saudi Arabia, historic homes are undergoing remarkable transformations, becoming cafes and restaurants inviting the public to dine in private residences.
Many family-owned businesses in Madinah have adopted this idea. Tagmera’s business partner, Saleh Shahini, and his mother, Abeer Al-Masri, saw converting their old building into a cafe as a means of conserving decades of history. The Al-Maghadawi family erected the house eight decades ago, using volcanic stone for the first level. Wood and clay were used to create more floors years later, Shahini revealed.
One of their main problems was the brittleness of the higher levels, which raised questions about visitor safety. “We had to preserve the old stone foundation while removing the two extra stories. Although it was a delicate procedure, we wanted to ensure the area stayed faithful to its original design. Because of the small areas and low ceilings, which foster a feeling of cosiness and tranquillity, visitors can easily converse and interact with their surroundings.
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