Since 2023, the Friends of the Museum of Islamic Art in the Pergamonmuseum e.V. has been actively supporting reconstruction efforts in Aleppo in response to the devastating earthquake – initially through private donations. Three residential buildings have been stabilized and the 17th-century Khan al-Wazir, which was in danger of collapsing, has been successfully restored. Since 2024, work focused on the house (bait) Wakil, the historic residential building that housed the world-famous Aleppo-Room (1600–1603 AD) – an artistically painted wooden panel that will be on display again at the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin from 2027.
The Wakil House was severely damaged both during the war and by the earthquake in February 2023. In cooperation with the Greek Orthodox Church in Aleppo, the owner of the house, a groundbreaking restoration and training project was launched in 2024. Local stonemasons and bricklayers are receiving practical training as part of an on-the-job training program. The focus is on restoring and supplementing the finely crafted decorative window grilles and reliefs that adorn the courtyard facades. The completion of this work will be celebrated in October 2025. From the archiving of historical photographs to building surveys and documentation to on-site restoration by skilled craftsmen, this pilot project combines the many years of experience of the Syrian Heritage Initiatives with local and international expertise. The aim is to share experience, strengthen skills, and preserve our common cultural heritage.
It is our aim to extend the successful training and restoration format to other historic buildings and additional craft disciplines, such as woodworking, stone mosaics, and historic plastering techniques.
Projectleader: Dima Dayoub
Scientific Assistants: Alaa Haddad, Dr. Anne Mollenhauer
Respnsible body: Freunde des Museums für Islamische Kunst im Pergamonmuseum e.V.
Cooperationpartner: Museum für Islamische Kunst, Griechisch-orthodoxe Kirche in Aleppo
Funded by: Gerda Henkel Stiftung, private donors
Operation period: 2023 to 2025
