Bayt Yusuf

Bayt Yusuf

Bayt Yusuf is located on the western edge of Ka’b al-Bilad with its entrance lying south of ‘Uqud Yusuf – the arcaded meeting space that defines the southern end of the civic square, Harat at-Tabil. The main entrance provides access to two interlocking dwellings, independent on the ground floor with separate staircases, but connected on the first floor. However, earlier they will have been independent on the first floor too, when the dwelling on the south side extended along the M1 frontage and occupied the upper floor of ‘Uqud Yusuf, providing a prominent view of Ka’b al-Bilad. The large covered space (loggia) along the frontage – once a terrace – will have acted as the family room, given the lack of such facilities on the ground floor. The continuous wall arrangement suggests that the two dwellings might have begun life as one large house, which was subdivided later and eventually reintegrated. Also, ‘Uqud Yusuf was integral to the dwellings’ development, which might have been an earlier gateway to a much smaller harah.