Azm Palace

Azm Palace
قصر العظم
Alternative names Qasr al-Azm
General information
Type Palace, Museum
Architectural style Syrian
Location Damascus, Syria
Address Al-Buzuriyah Souq
Completed 1750
Renovated 1945-1961
Technical details
Floor count 2
Design and construction
Client As'ad Pasha al-'Azm
Renovating team
Awards and prizes Aga Khan Award for Architecture

Azem Palace (Arabic: قصر العظم‎) is a palace in Damascus, Syria which was originally built in 1750 as a residence for the Ottoman governor of Damascus As'ad Pasha al-Azm. The palace now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.

Architecture

The architecture is an excellent example of Damascene traditional houses. The structure itself consists of several buildings and two wings: the harem and the salamlik. The harem is the family wing, which is a private space for the residents (the Azem family originally). This wing includes the kitchen, servant quarters, and the baths, which are a replica of the public baths in the city but on a smaller scale. The salamlik is the guest wing, and it comprises the formal halls, reception areas and large courtyards with traditional cascading fountains.

Used in the building of this palace were several types of stones including limestone, sandstone, basalt, and marble. This provided for a natural decorative appearance of the structure. The ceilings have painted wooden panels that display natural scenes.

In 1925, the Azm palace was heavily damaged by French artillery during the Syrian revolution. It has since been restored and became a museum of arts and folk traditions. It received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1983.

See also