Qa'a (room)

The qa'a (Arabic: قاعة, romanized: qāʿa) is a roofed reception room found in the domestic architecture of affluent residences of the Islamic world.

Qa'as are typically found in the homes of wealthy individuals, such as merchants or local political figures.

The durqa'a is the lower central area of the qa'a, where a cooling fountain, or fasqiya, might be installed to provide sound and refreshment.

Wooden panels made of cypress, poplar, or mulberry are common, sometimes layered with gypsum and adorned with metal leaf and paint.

The design and decoration of the qa'a reflect the owner's status and serve to impress guests, making it a significant feature of Islamic domestic architecture.

Qa'as are found in domestic houses of wealthy people, e.g. merchants or local political figures.

The durqa'a is where a cooling fountain (fasqiya) may be installed, a typical feature in Islamic architecture which provides sound into the space.

Recessed shelves are located on the wall on the sides of the tazar, this is where ceramic bowls, ewers, carved metal works, or books were displayed.

[3] The walls may also be decorated with Arabic calligraphy, usually of poetry, a dominant form of art in the Islamic world.

[3] The ceiling of the durqa'a is normally the tallest in the qa'a, often topped with a wooden hexagonal skylight (shukhsheikha) which provides light into the interior or equipped with a lantern.

Many newer domestic houses, e.g. those in Damascus, still have vibrant colors of green, blue, fuchsias and purples.

[4] The qa'a is one of many reception rooms featured in the domestic architecture found in Egyptian Ottoman and other Islamic worlds e.g. Syria.

Depending on how important the guests are, they would be seated toward the central part of the rear wall, where they could admire the glory of the qa'a.