hammam saffarin

Implementing the Hammamed-project, Oikodrom and their project-partners work on three specific hammams in three different countries.

Subsequently you can find the description of the Hammam Saffarin, which is located in Qurawiyin.

Historic period:
Marinid period - 14th century (according to some research) Neighbourhood:
Qarawiyin
Case study leader:
Naima Lahbil Tagemouati

Hammam Saffarin is located in the Qarawiyin neighbourhood, the most prestigious historic district in the madina of Fez whose first core has been founded in the 9th century during the Idrissid period. Today, the Qarawiyin district represents the heart of the old city of Fez. It provides several urban functions at the whole madina level: a cultural and tourist attraction, industrial and service activities, spiritual and worship functions, and a residential area. Hammam Saffarin opens out onto a triangular square that is famous because of its coppersmith's workshops: the Saffarin square. Several well-known historic monuments - such as the Qarawiyin mosque, the Qarawiyin library and the Saffarin madrasa (residential theological college) - surround the square which has become a much-visited place.

Hammam Saffarin is composed of twin baths that are adjacent but completely independent: a women's bath (the main one) and a men's bath. The spatial organization of the hammam consists of a linear progression of rooms with varying temperatures: The sitting room (al-Galsa), the cold room (al-Barrani), the warm room (al-Wasti) and the hot room (al-Dakhli). The modest entrance of the hammam discreetly overlooks Saffarin square. Together with the furnace entrance, this constitutes the only visible parts of the hammam's facade.

Historically, the original bath was the one that is now provided for use by women. This part reproduces the typical plan of the hammams of Fez. In contrast, and unlike the other hammams of Fez, the men's bath is characterised by its irregular plan and its small spaces. Actually, this part of the hammam was originally a lime kiln, which was then transformed to a baker's oven before being converted into a men's bath.

The sitting room (al-Galsa) in the women's bath is covered with a main dome perforated by glazed rounded windows for light and ventilation purposes and framed by four small domes. On one side of this undressing space, there is a wall water fountain decorated with geometric motifs of Moroccan traditional zallij. On the inner side, the bathing spaces are covered with domed and vaulted structures, following the simple and typical linear layout of the hammams in Fez. The heating furnace is situated at the back of the hammam. The heating system is still operated traditionally and uses wood and wood chips for fuel.

Globally, the building structure of the hammam has not suffered any serious deterioration. However, the main physical damage to the hammam concerns its internal finishing. This may be due to the thickness of its load-bearing structure, including the foundations, walls and ceilings.

Not unlike the majority of hammams inside the madina of Fez, hammam Saffarin is owned by the Ministry of Awqaf (Religious Endowments). Nevertheless, in spite of its historical and architectural value, the hammam is not yet listed in the national list of monuments by the Moroccan heritage authorities.

Hammam Saffarin is one of the rare traditional hammams that has twin baths, since only two examples exist inside the madina of Fez. Both men's and women's hammams operate seven days a week throughout the whole year. The women's bath starts working at 07.00 until 20.00 and the men's hammam opens from 07.00 until 24.00 (midnight).

Hammam Saffarin was selected as case study for many tangible and intangible reasons. In particular, the hammam is important because of its strategic situation within the main historic district of the madina of Fez and the significance of the social role that it has continued to play throughout its history.