Qatara Art and Craft Centre at Al Ain

The Bayt Bin Ati al-Darmaki, a traditional mud-brick tower, and house located on a mound overlooking the date-palm gardens of Qattara Oasis is where the present Qattara Art and Craft Centre has been constructed.

Prior to inserting the new building to house the Art and Craft Centre, the mud fort and its peripheral walls were restored and strengthened by the collaborative effort of ZRS and Sankalan. 

A team of 45 artisans and two supervisors from Sankalan were involved in the following activities.

• Dismantling to create new spaces.
• Recycling the dismantled material for reuse.
• Adobe making.
• Adobe Masonry.
• Mud Plaster on walls, roof, and floors. 

The Centre offers extensive cultural and artistic programs on local artistic traditions and practices. It has studios for music, art, craft, drawing, and painting. An exhibition hall, café, and reception area. The mud fort rooms are used as offices and back offices for services and security.