“If someone asked me what is the most important piece of art and the the most meaningful place to visit, I would say... an old Omani village, with its old houses, colourful doors, and green shutters. We wanted to preserve that feeling and protect what matters: the trees, the water, the spirit of place-not just to remember, but to let it live again.”

Al Abri House is one of the oldest cliff-side homes in WAJMAH — a place where stone holds memory and every wall whispers stories. For generations, it stood as a symbol of resilience and life rooted in the rhythm of the land.

The family once cultivated abundant terraces: dates, citrus, grapes, figs, peaches, pomegranates — even bees for honey and a daring attempt to grow saffron. Water was everything. Through the ancient falaj system, time was measured in athar — 30-minute cycles flowing from one household to the next, connecting the entire village with fairness and care. But when the falaj dried up over 25 years ago, the terraces faded. The village fell silent. Until one day, we — as a family — made a promise: to bring it back. Not just the house, but the trees. The water. The life. We started small — with love, patience, and muddy hands. A trickle returned. Then a sprout of green. A memory taking root again. A story you can walk through — and truly taste.