Yavuz Sultan Selim Madras - Architecture

Architecture

The madras has a typical “u-plan” with a row of arcades and rooms on three sides surrounding a courtyard. On the fourth side one finds the lecture hall, which is covered by a large dome. When the lecture hall was transformed into a mescid a minaret was added. A wall with two entrances surrounds the madras whereas a domed entrance hall indicates the main entrance. After passing the entrance hall one arrives in a sort of forecourt. The passages to the main court are located on the sides of the lecture hall.The porch of the lecture hall looms into the courtyard and in the center a small fountain completes the ensemble. A small ewan is located in the south west of the “u-structure”. Although the adjacent rooms aren’t bigger than the standard rooms the access via the ewan makes them of a higher importance and indicates a different usage. Interesting to mention is a small passage in the east. It leads to the enclosed garden surrounding the madrasa. A small jutty serves a visual cover which indicates that the toilets where located there. The rooms shown in the plan are new but also serve as toilets now.