Évolution des han (caravansérails) construits à Istanbul entre le début du XVIIIe et le milieu du XIXe siècle

Abstract

The Evolution of the Han (Caravanserai) of Istanbul Between the Early Eighteenth and the Mid-Nineteenth Centuries. Focusing on the han of Istanbul built between the early eighteenth and the mid-nineteenth centuries, this essay aims to fill a gap in the history of Ottoman architecture, few studies having been published on this topic. The han were concentrated in the Great Bazaar and its surroundings. They were intended for commercial purposes and used as inns. Their design preserved the main architectural features of earlier buildings while at the same time demonstrating changes that herald the wave of « westernization», which profoundly modified this type of building starting in the second half of the nineteenth century. The traditional han progressively went into decline and they were replaced by new buildings (office buildings, train stations, hotels). Today some han are being restored and rehabilitated. Unfortunately, both the Turkish authorities and the private investors involved in the rehabilitation are mainly concerned with the « folkloric » aspect of these old buildings and their potential as tourist attractions. It is important that contemporary Turkish society recognize the han as valuable parts of the national heritage and attend to their preservation.