Bait Shaik Isa Bin,
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Tucked away in the centre of Muharraq town, close to the capital Manama, lies one of two restored houses typical for Bahrain. The Bait Shaik Isa Bin was constructed in simplicity, which I found its attraction. Because looking around the various quarters of the house, I stumbled on intricately carved doors, brightly coloured stained glass windows, white porticos, arches and thick, plastered walls.
In Bahrain, temperatures are not only high - they can also be low. Therefore, an ingenuous system was devised to bring refreshing air from outside and guide it through the house. A wind tower stands on top of the house and captures air currents from outside. Below, the currents can be let in or blocked according to the need of ventilation. A clever way of air conditioning before the invention of air conditioners. And very necessary in a country where high temperatures are really high.
To further increase the ability of the house to facilitate different climates, building materials were used from Bahrain itself, but also from countries like India and East Africa. Walls are more than one metre thick. The guest quarters have both summer and winter rooms. But apart from the built-in intelligence, the house is remarkable mainly for its displays of brilliant Arabic architecture.
