The Palace of Amir Qawsun was constructed across from the Citadel between 1333-1336 on the orders of al-Nasir Muhammad. Part of a residential architectural trend that developed in Mamlunk Cairo from the late thirteenth century into the mid fourteenth century, the palace's main qa'a, or reception hall has a cross-axial four-iwan plan.
Yashbak min Mahdi, an important amir under Sultan Qaytbay (1468-1496), later made additions to the palace.
Source:
Rabbat, Nasser. 1999. "The Development of Residential Architecture in Bahri Cairo." Website of MIT Course 4.615 on Architecture of Cairo.
http://web.mit.edu/4.615/www/handout12.htm. [Accessed February 14, 2007]
