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THE CASE OF
AL-FINA'
IN CAIRO
197
elevations of the clustered houses).
As a consequence,
al-fina'
space had to function as a mediator space between the private
indoor space and the pubic space of the street.
Al-fina'
had also
to protect the sacred indoor family life. These two requirements
supported the dwellers' right to benefit from their
fina'
as
private domain beside its public function as part of the street
space.
The entrances and the windows were the basic design elements
which connected the indoor with the outdoor space. These
architectural elements preserved the private life of the family
while allowing access and ventilation.
The women had also the possibility to sit unveiled at the
upper floor in their room also called
(harim),
behind the
screened windows
(mashrabyyiah)
and watch the street life as the
narrow streets had reduced the distance between the
mashrabiyyahs
along the two sides of the street. This increased the possibility
for social contact from the mashrabiyyah of the houses along the
two sides of the street (figure 4.13).