Konstrukcja otworów okiennych i drzwiowych w zespole architektonicznym Emira Kurkumasa (Emira Wielkiego) na Nekropoli Północnej w Kairze

In 1972 the joint Polish-Egyptian Group for Restoration of Islamic Monuments has been called into being in Cairo. As the first monument to be investigated and restored by the staff composed of the Egyptian and Polish experts has — in agreement with the Egyptian Authorities — been chosen the Ameer Qurqumas burial complex. Within the first stage of works a general survey and architectural investigations of the object have been carried out. ' The constructional solutions applied in the door and window openings seem to deserve particular attention and this was exactly the reason why the author decided to deal with them within the present a rticle. As the date at which the whole complex has been built of the limestone blocks about 1507 T.D. can be assumed; the elements used for adorning of its openings are characteristic of their specific style which widely differs from that to be found within the contemporary European buildings. By the use of the quite specially designed • construction of breastsummers excellent effects were arrived at. Two forms of openings can be found within the complex, namely these rectangular and those arched. In addition, there can also be encountered some circular windows, however, their construction is one similar to that present in the standard ones. Of the openings in question of particular interest are those rectangular. There are two kinds of them. These of the first kind and placed in very thin walls are measuring about 20 cm while those of the second kind found in thick walls even up to 2.40 m. The thin walls are constructed of the carefully processed, cube-shaped stone blocks and the breastsummers have the shape of wedged blocks that were cut with a high grade of precision thus enabling to construct a flat vaulting. These blocks were usually forming a support for the arches made-up of similar stones that perform the function of „protective” structures. Very attractive effects have been achieved by builders owing to application of the differently coloured stone material. All the openings in thick walls are vaulted constructionally in semi-circular shapes which the occurrence may be in some way linked with the so called „opus emplectum” kind of masonry used in execution of these walls. Within the surface of one or two thick walls special niches were left when the masonry works have been carried out. The above niches, having rectangular sections, were later filled with structures of a kind similar to that applied in the thin walls with this only difference that the depth of filling structures is smaller. The thickness of the blocks used for filling amounts to about 10 or 12 cm. The breastsummers executed in this manner are the self-carrying structural elements having no any effect on the construction of wall at all. The space between the breastsummers executed in that manner was usually filled up with mortar or rubbish whereas the „ceiling” in the openings of wood planks. Some of the above-described openings were fitted with two breastsummers on either side of each wall; in those having a single breastsummer are perfectly visible the vaulted constructions of the openings. The small semi-circular openings in the thin walls in most cases are deprived of real wedge-shaped vaulted constructions, however, it seems that they might have been cut directly in the horizontal raws of stones forming the wail construction. Only the keystones were cut very precisely and it is these keystones, who constitute virtually structural elements which in most cases are joined with stone blocks bearing the wall constructions. All the openings under discussion were once fitted with the doors, grates or frames glazed with the coloured glass plates. As there have been found several relics of those glasses the possibilities exist to restore the glazings. The investigations described above should be considered as the first stage of studies on the ancient Arabic building trade. It is hoped, however, that already these preliminary investigations as well as those carried on in the nearest future will make it possible to explain the problem of mutual relations and that of exchange of building experiences that existed in the Middle Ages between Europe and the Islamic world.