hosiar_nooraddin

THE CASE OF

AL-FINA'

IN CAIRO

173

1.3.3.1.1. Settings of

al-fina'

Each particular part of the commercial area was specialized

in one type of goods or business branch such as tents, jewels,

cloth, fish, wood, and weapons. They were further divided into

seasonal and permanent

suq,

and same of them were named according

to the nationality of the merchants who used the

suq.

The different types of structures, spaces, and use which

existed along the commercial streets (table 4.3), contributed to

develop different types of settings in

al-fina'. It is essential

to explore the role of these settings to understand the

characteristics of al-fina' in the commercial street and how did

they influence the user with their meanings.

Each setting contributed to the total character of

al-fina'

by its

design, use,

and

judgements

which created the setting's

identity and its relationships with the other settings of the

commercial streets. These settings were created, modified and

developed over time by the common people and the ruling class:

The shop

(hanut, pl. hawanit or dukkan, pl. dakakin)

was the

basic element of the commercial area

. The shops were

assemblea in the streets of the market

(suq),

and the wholesale

(waka'lah or khan).

The markets

(suq)

could be classified into three major

types.

1. Covered

suqs.

The space of the street between the shops was

covered by a wooden roof or mat to shadow the street and reduce

temperature. The roof could be constructed at the same time as

building the shops or added later by the shop owners.

2. Open

suqs.

The street was not covered.

3. The

suq

without constructed shops and the goods simply

placed on the ground.

� 7

Lane, Edward William,

Modern Egyptians.

p. 326-328.

Lane-Pool, Stanley, 1973,

Cairo,

Arno Press, New York. p. 12.