Amina Hanim Elhami (Valide Pasha) Palace at Istanbul City - Historical Architectural study

This study aims to identify one of the most important royal palaces and architectural structures buildings that were built by the kings and princes of the Alawite family in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Amina Hanim Alhami (Valide Pasha) which is currently occupied by the Egyptian Consulate building in Istanbul and owned by the State of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Palace is also considered one of the most important architectural icons built in the European style -Art Nouveau- on the banks of the Bosphorus. Which necessitated highlighting it as one of the most prominent tourist attractions owned by the Arab Republic of Egypt abroad, it represents as well the extension of the architectural and urban contributions of the Alawite family inside and outside Egypt and reflecting their social lifestyle and status of the Alawite family outside Egypt. Study reviews palace’s historical and architectural datum, starts with a detailed biography of Amina Hanim Elhami’s birth, marriage, social and architectural contributions inside and outside Egypt. Then describing the historical study of the palace since 1781 AD until now and describes and analyzes how the ownership of the palace was transferred between several people, including Sultan Abdul Hamid II and Khedive Abbas Helmy II till Amina Hanim Elhami ending with the ownership of the Egyptian government. It also demonstrates a detailed architectural study attached with pictures of the palace from inside and outside with elaborated description of the distinctive architectural elements of the building.