Reinforcement studies and renewal of installations for the contemporary use of the Bursa Inebey (Egne Beg) Madrasah

Abstract

The Inebey Madrasah, used by the Turkish Republic Ministry of Culture’s Illuminated Manuscript Library, was restored in accordance with international scientific standards. Due to the presence of important and valuable holdings in the library, a systematic study was carried out, and all the necessary precautions were taken to prevent the building against bad weather conditions. During the restoration work, the current state of the Madrasah was investigated using mechanical, physical, chemical and non-destructive tests (NDT) in situ and in the laboratory to determine what materials were used in the building’s construction. A structural analysis was conducted to find out the reasons of the cracks in the building, and the appropriate reinforcement techniques were determined according to the results of the structural analysis. Due to the rare books in the library, the security, mechanical and fire protection installations were adapted to the Madrasah. The electrical and plumbing systems were renewed as part of the reinforcement and restoration of the building. During this study, the original floor plan, architectural details, facade, materials and authentic value of the structure were carefully considered; the building’s function was merely seen as a tool of the Madrasah’s restoration. Key words: Restoration, reinforcement, material characterisation, installation.