
HAN EL FARANJ
Han El Faranj, "The French khan" is the oldest khan in the old city of Acre. It is located in the venetian crusader quarter and is also called "the venetian inn". The original khan was built like a full triangle around a courtyard. It was reconstructed during the ottoman period and was added a new wing on its western side. The khan borders the market street and its entrance is through the Julius Caesar ally with a barrel dome. The walls of the khan feature stone embossments with markings of the years the khan was given to the French and the Franciscan monastery. Over the main gate, is a stone embossment with the mark of the city of Venice (the winged lion of Saint Mark with an open book).
Our firm made a full conservation survey of the khan and its surroundings as a preparation to the conservation that was to be made at the site. The conservation included the reconstruction of the big fountain "Sabil" with a watering device for human, horses and camels. The Sabil is shaped like a 7-meter-wide octagon. The Sabil was reconstructed according to historic photos and with local stones in the area.
Type
Locations
Old Acre
Client
The Old Acre Development Company, Acre Municipality.


The conservation and reconstruction of the Sabil was made precisely according to the geometry of the exciting building. The "new" interpretation to Sabil was made by choosing a stone with a grey color and different kind of textures to the different parts of
the Sabil. The illumination for the courtyard was made by a circumferential lighting that emphasize the limestone facades.
The light reflects from the facades into the courtyard. On the khan's south side three California plane (Platanus racemose) trees were planted in order to provide shade on the hot summer days. New benches made of steel and wood were placed in between the trees. Near the entrance of the "Terra Santa" a shading construction made of trapezoid aluminum panels between stain less cables with the shape of a ship's sail, was proposed. The panels have holes shaped like the "Terra Santa" crest.





TAKEN FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY

TAKEN FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY


TAKEN FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY

TAKEN FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY















