Mashrabiya screen

A vernacular element of Arab architecture, the mashrabiya is a balcony or oriel window enclosed by a lattice of turned wood, fitted to the upper floors of dwellings. It protects privacy by allowing occupants to see the street unseen, filters light and tempers heat. These wrought screens characterise the facades of Cairo and dress the heritage spaces of Eastern hotels, casting patterned shade while preserving cross-ventilation and seclusion.