Restoring heritage and shanasheel houses in Basra
We survey, document and restore heritage houses with their own materials and the least intervention: shanasheel, farshi brick and lime mortar. We work on old Basra houses and their shanasheel, from a measured survey of the existing condition to handover. As a contracting company in Basra, the same team carries out the civil and electrical works the house needs.
Ask us on WhatsApp
Survey and documentation first
Work starts with a full measured survey of the existing condition. This record decides what is repaired and what is replaced, and gives a clear bill of quantities before work begins.
- Dimensions and levels for every part of the house
- A photographic record of the existing condition
- What is repaired and what is replaced
- A clear bill of quantities before work starts
Shanasheel and traditional joinery
Shanasheel, the timber oriel windows, are a defining feature of old Basra houses. We restore shanasheel, timber doors and windows and traditional joinery, measure and record each piece before working on it, and keep as much of the original work as we can.
Farshi brick and lime mortar
We repair walls and floors with the materials the house was built with, and treat damp without weakening the old fabric. The treatment for each wall is chosen after its condition is checked.
- Farshi brick in walls and floors
- Lime and gypsum mortars
- Courtyards and floors
- Damp treatment and non-invasive strengthening
A modern fit-out that keeps the character
We fit the house out for living or investment while keeping its character, with electrics, lighting and CCTV run in a way that spares the house. We also rehabilitate the courtyard and floors, since the courtyard is the centre of the old Basra house.
Common questions
How does restoring a heritage house start?
Send us the location of the house and a few photos, and we book an inspection visit. After it we carry out the measured and photographic survey, then prepare the design and bill of quantities before any work; the price is set after that.
Do you keep the original shanasheel or replace them?
We repair what can be kept, with its own materials, and replace only what cannot be repaired. Original pieces are measured and photographed before any work, and each one is decided after the survey.
Can a shanasheel house be fitted out for living or for a business?
Yes. We fit it out for living or investment while keeping its character. How far the changes can go is decided after an inspection and depends on the condition of the house.
Do you handle electrics and CCTV inside a heritage house?
Yes. The same team does it, with cabling that spares the house, and the routes are planned during the survey before work starts.
Message us, and we start with a site visit
Tell us what you need and where. We visit, study the site and send a clear proposal.