Bağdad Köşkü (Baghdad Kiosk), in the north corner of the palace.
Built in 1639. Architect: Hasan Ağa, although Koca Kasim Ağa was royal architect at the time.
The three doors to the porch are located between the sofas. The facade is covered with marble, strips of porphyry and ‘vert antique’. The marble panelling of the portico is executed in Cairene Mamluk style.
It was ordered by Murat IV to celebrate the reconquest of Baghdad, shortly before his powerful personality and physique were destroyed by excesses in food and alcohol. He died from gout at the age of 27 in 1640.
Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Islamic Architecture: Ottoman Turkey’ (Godfrey Goodwin) – London 1977 ; Wikipedia
& ‘Istanbul, Topkapı paleis’ (Atrium cultuurgidsen)