Transforming old houses into museums

To Omanis, the old traditional houses that their ancestors exerted efforts to design and build, brick by brick, are extremely valued. Recently, since they moved to new residential blocks, it has become common that each owner of the house restore the old house and turn it into a touristic landmark, open to visitors.

An example of such houses is the "Oud House" in al Khatwa in Wadi Al Haimli in the Wilayat of Rustaq. It is one of the old ancient houses that have been restored recently. The owners of this property that dates back to more than 260 years, transformed the house into an archaeological and historical landmark that tells and embodies different historical periods in Wadi Al Haimli.

Humaid Al Rajhi, one of the owners of the house, said that the Oud House is one of the fortified Omani houses that was built by its owner Rashid bin Khamis Al Rajhi, who died in 1188 AH. The house is a square-shaped building with a total area of 300 square meters and a height of 12 meters. it consists of: Two floors attached to a tower, and the house contains many defensive elements such as projectors and shooting holes, and the most distinctive feature of the house is its door that is made from the locally called “Al elalan tree”.

He added that the house has been restored several times, the last was in 1390 AH, but over the past years some parts of the house have collapsed. In 2018, the house was restored following the old traditional method, in which mud bricks, known locally as “tafal”, plaster, palm trunks are used. It was also prepared and transformed into a heritage exhibition covering different historical periods of Wadi Al Haimli and reflecting the scientific and cultural movement witnessed by the place in the past.

He pointed out that the house was divided into five corners: the first corner for antiques such as currency, weapons and silverware. the second corner for old doors and windows and their decorations, artistic elements and iron materials. the third corner for palm fronds and their uses in daily life, and the fourth corner was devoted to manuscripts and historical documents, the oldest of which dates back to 1196 AH along with models of rock inscriptions and the oldest known rock inscription date back to the year 944 AH. the fifth corner is allocated for the household items of the old Omani house, which are used on a permanent basis, such as pottery and copper utensils such as trays, flasks and cooking tools.