The effects of physical environment in Ottoman healthcare facilities: 2nd Beyazid Complex in Edirne

Abstract

Healthcare facilities have an important place in Ottoman Architecture. Started to be built during the Anatolian Seljuk period and continued into the Ottoman in many cities, they manage to survive. However, it is not possible to use them with their original functions today. Most of them are used by serving as exhibition and museum buildings like Edirne Sultan 2nd Beyazid Health Complex. In the use of such historical buildings, the examination of their response to changing living conditions and needs is important. This study investigates how the physical environment affected the design of the complex, and the impacts of its planning and building envelope on today’s IEQ. The physical environmental data were discussed about thermal, daylight, ventilation, and acoustics performances by calculating and evaluating the existing energy consumption of the building. Methods like literature review, direct observation, on-site examination, simulation, and documenting with photographs were used. It was determined that five hundred years ago, the building was compatible with its physical environmental data in terms of its function, planning, and building envelope, and, as being a museum today, it provides all the necessary comfort conditions for its users, and that the energy consumption is at an acceptable level.