Ottoman Architecture Research Articles

KOZMİK ARMONİ: OSMANLI MÜZİK VE MİMARLIK RİSALELERİNDE BİR ANTİKİTE/RÖNESANS KAVRAMI

This study discusses texts dealing with the common ontological and cosmological infrastructure of music and architecture, especially in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth-century Ottoman Empire, to present the prevailing perspective of this period. This research adopts an interdisciplinary hermeneutic approach to architectural and musical texts. Ottoman architecture's ontological and cosmological background is based on Sufi ontology and ancient philosophy. Pythagoreanism, on the other hand, had an impact on the systematic school of Ottoman music. When all this information is evaluated, we encounter the cosmic harmony, stages of creation, celestial layers above the earth, planets, and numbers associated with them that are considered sacred, music theory is formulated, and architectural examples are interpreted according to this hierarchy. When Ottoman culture is examined with an interdisciplinary hermeneutic approach, it is revealed that a perception of ontology and cosmology from ancient sources has been adopted.

A Turning Point in the History of Ottoman Architecture: Fossati Brothers

A Turning Point in the History of Ottoman Architecture: Fossati Brothers

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

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.

Textual manifestations of Ottoman architectural revival and the search for a national idiom in the late Ottoman period

AbstractThis article applies a critical approach to rethinking the relationship between nationalism and Ottoman architectural historiography by examining the intellectual medium during the late Ottoman period. More precisely, it examines how the history and theory of Ottoman architecture were initially established by Tanzimat (Reform) intelligentsia with the publication of Usûl-i Mimâri-i Osmani (Fundamentals of Ottoman Architecture) (1873). It addresses how the text was later comprehended and criticized by their successors, who utilized it to constitute their own vision of Turkish national architecture. By detailing the rise of the Turkish nationalist movement and the transition from Ottomanism to Turkism as the dominant identity, this article highlights the demand for the materialization of a national architecture as a component of the cultural construction of a national architectural style and the role of new public buildings as the site of nationalizing endeavors at the beginning of the twentieth century. Finally, this article problematizes the extent to which these new constructions can be deemed “national” by investigating the works of a pioneer figure of architecture, Kemaleddin Bey’s writings and the design and construction of his dormitory building, the Fifth Vakıf Han, in Istanbul.

The Madrasa of Mustafa Al-Nashār Pasha in Zabīd, Yemen: An Architectural and Archeological Study

The Madrasa of Mustafa Al-Nashār Pasha, considered one of the most prominent buildings of Ottoman architecture in Yemen, was commissioned by the first Ottoman governor of Yemen, the eponymous Mustafa Al-Nashār Pasha, in 962–63 AH / 1554 AD. The madrasa was built on the south side of Zabīd with the intention of spreading Hanafī and Shafiʿī Sunnī doctrines, replacing and eliminating Zaydī Shīʿī doctrine. It contains a mausoleum dome for Mustafa Al-Nashār Pasha and his family. The madrasa’s evident Ottoman style is displayed through a main domed section and a multiple-domed portico. This article provides a short biography of Mustafa Al-Nashār Pasha, and a descriptive and analytical study of the madrasa and its distinctive architectural and artistic features. The paper sheds new light on the historical importance of the madrasa as a prime example of the Ottoman influence on architectural style in Yemen. The article also aims to raise concerns about its exposure to threats of demolition and ruin due to the current conflict in Yemen .‏

MADRASA OF MUSTAFA PASHA AL-NASHAĀR IN ZABĪD, YEMEN; ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL STUDY

Madrasa of Mustafa Pasha Al-Nashaār is considered one of the most prominent buildings of Ottoman architecture in Yemen. It has commissioned by Mustafa Pasha al-Nashaār, the first Ottoman governor of Yemen, in 962-963AH/1554 AD. The Madrasa is built on the south side of Zabīd to spread the Hanafite and Shafite Sunni doctrines, replacing and eliminating the Zaydi Shiite doctrine. It contains a mausoleum dome for Mustafa Pasha Al- Nashaār and his family. The Madrasa's apparent Ottoman style is displayed through a main domed section and a multiple-domed portico. In this paper, the researcher provides a short biography of Mustafa Pasha Al-Nashaār, a descriptive and analytical study of The Madrasa and its distinctive architectural and artistic features. The paper sheds some new insights on the history of The Madrasa regarding its historical importance and distinctive architectural style as an excellent example of the Ottoman style in Yemen. The paper also aims to raise concerns about its exposure to demolition threats and ruin due to Yemen's current war and conflict.

Harmonious Relationships: Sounds and Stones in Ottoman Architecture in the Making

Architectural narratives on building processes are admittedly rare in premodern histories. Accounts of visitors who observed and reacted to architecture in the making are even more exceptional. Moreover early modern audiences’ perceptions of music and architecture have been rarely explored in relation to building processes and synesthetic experiences. This article presents a critical reading of Caʿfer Efendi’s Risāle-i Miʿmāriyye [Book on Architecture] of 1614 by focusing on its chapter on the Sultan Ahmed mosque (1609–17) in Istanbul. Caʿfer associates sounds in the construction site with Sufi musical practices and the science of music. A conversation with a Sufi at the site reveals how twelve types of marbles, four types of strikes, and seven types of foremen were associated with Ottoman music theory. The article also explores how the shared geometrical foundations of architectural tools and musical instruments were linked to harmonious sounds and forms. This union of spatial, visual, and aural experiences of the mosque in the making produced various forms of knowledge for the visitors. Architecture’s mediating role for sensuous, spiritual, and scientific knowledge further illuminates the relation between theory and practice in Ottoman architecture.

PRISON PROJECTS PREPARED FOR KONYA PROVINCE CENTRAL PRISON

Batılılaşma dönemi Osmanlı mimarlığında önemli bir yapı grubu olarak karşımıza çıkan kamu yapılarının oluşum ve gelişim süreçlerini Tanzimat Fermanı’nın ilanı ve sonrasında idari alanda yaşanan dönüşüm çabaları içinde değerlendirebiliriz. Osmanlı arşivlerinde rastlanan belge ve proje dosyaları ışığında kamu yapıları içinde önemli bir yere sahip olduğu görülen hapishaneler ise dönemin mimarlık ortamının politika ve hukuk ekseninde ne derece bir araya gelebildiğini gösteren önemli verilere sahip yapı grubunu oluşturmaktadır. Bu bağlamda Devlet Arşivleri Başkanlığı Osmanlı Arşivi içinde rastladığımız Konya vilayet merkezinde inşa edilmesi düşünülen hapishane binası için farklı tarihlerde tasarlanmış, birbirinden bağımsız tasarım özellikleri sergileyen üç proje, sanat ve mimarlık tarihi disiplini çerçevesinde incelenmektedir. Ayrıca hapishanelerin konumlarıyla doğrudan bağlantılı olan ve farklı kurumlarda bulunan haritalar da söz konusu hapishanelerin konumunu değerlendirme amacı ile kullanılmaktadır.

Ottoman religious architecture in Croatia

Objective: To provide a description and analysis of built, surviving, and lost Ottoman religious monuments in Croatia within the historical and sociopolitical context. Methods: Based on the analysis of relevant published sources, historical maps, online sources, as well as site analysis, we provide a description of Ottoman architectural, religious, and cultural heritage in the contemporary Croatian regions of the Dalmatian hinterland and Slavonia. This includes the art historical interpretation of the remains of the three surviving 16th-century domed mosques in three Croatian towns: Klis (today, the Catholic Church of St. Vitus in the Fortress), Drniš (now incorporated into the Catholic Church of St. Anthony held by the Franciscans), and Đakovo (today, the Catholic Church of All Saints). Results: The period of Ottoman rule saw the construction of a great number of Ottoman religious buildings in what is now the territory of the Republic of Croatia. There were two methods of mosque establishment: from the ground up, or by repurposing an older building, generally of Christian origin. With cessation of Ottoman rule these objects decayed and became less interesting for reutilization for Christian religious purposes. Many such converted objects perished in spite of their new utilization. The site analysis revealed the continuity of these sacred places in spite of religious conversion of the sacral site. Conclusion: The introduction of Ottoman architectural and urbanistic features was the defining feature of urban development in Croatia during the Ottoman era. In the settlements, the Ottomans built both sacral and utilitarian profane buildings, but Ottoman religious buildings were the most prominent. In the territory of present day Croatia, only three such Ottoman places of worship remain in existence as structures, albeit reconverted into Catholic churches. Today, due to the conversion and renovation works, they represent a fusion of several stylistic periods.

Investigations of Painting Techniques: Edirne Süleyman Pasha Mosque Wall Paintings

ABSTRACT Decorative wall paintings created in the Ottoman era are called kalem işi, and they are generally created using various pigments and binding media on dry rendering, or via lime-paint technique. However, detection of some decorative wall paintings that were applied on wet plaster in Süleyman Pasha Mosque located in Edirne, Turkey, has led to a more detailed analytical examination. Our study aims to research the techniques used on some painting fragments which were found while removing cement renderings during the restoration of the Mosque. The fragments were revealed in 2019 and were taken under protection as these were stylistically different from the existing paintings of the Mosque. The original location of the fragments on the wall could not be located and in situ conservation is not possible, but research continues. Initially, traces of preparatory drawing, which is thought to be the incising technique, were found on the paintings drawn on the rendering fragments. Then, SEM-EDX, FTIR spectroscopy, confocal Raman spectroscopy, and PED-XRF analyses were carried out along with examinations by optical microscopy. Following these results, experimental reconstructions of the paintings were made on test materials and a story about the painting techniques was revealed, indicating that these paintings were drawn on wet rendering (fresco). Therefore, it is considered that there may be different wall painting techniques in Ottoman architecture and that research in this direction should be increased.

A RESEARCH ON THE USE OF OTTOMAN-ISLAMIC HERITAGE AS A CONSUMPTION OBJECT IN CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE

The Islamic heritage contains a rich cultural diversity with residential and public buildings such as traditional houses, mosques, palaces, and caravanserais that belong to the Ottoman Empire period. The character of the Islamic tradition is reflected in the environment-form-space organizations and construction techniques of these buildings. But today, the influence of the Islamic heritage has begun to be represented with the dominance of consumption-oriented culture and technology. The references taken from the architecture influenced by Islam are reduced to pure visuality and fashion. Especially, Ottoman architecture and its traditional elements become consumption objects that put visuality in the foreground in contemporary design practices. The Ottoman-Islamic heritage is referenced by imitating traditional buildings’ facades or copying structural elements. These new buildings produced with today’s technologies under the name of continuity of historical culture aim to fulfill the demands of the capitalist economy rather than conveying the essence of design. The study criticizes the transformation of Ottoman-Islamic architecture’s authenticity into “looking/pretending authentic” as a theme. In this context, this study discusses the Ottoman-Islamic heritage has become an object of consumption through a variety of examples that are located in Turkey such as hotels, shopping centers, residential buildings.

A House in Ankara Ulucanlar District in the Context of Traditional Ottoman Architecture

In this article, the historical Anatolian Turkish houses, which have completed their development process in the Ottoman Empire Period have been examined. The plan types of these houses, which acquired their unique character in Anatolia and spread to geographies such as Balkans and Caucasus over time, have been examined in terms of architectural characteristics, construction techniques and decoration features and especially the historical houses built in Ankara, a Central Anatolian city, have been emphasized. In line with the data obtained on the subject, the historical house located in “Ulucanlar Eryokuşu” Street in Altındağ District of Ankara, on block no 2225 and parcel no 6 with door number 9/A has been selected as the case study. The selected sampling area has been examined in terms of the characteristics of the historical Ankara houses. The historical Ottoman-Turkish house has begun to disappear since the 20th century, so the number of these houses having survived until today is quite low. The purpose of this article is to examine and evaluate the characteristics of historical Ottoman-Turkish houses in Ankara and to clarify the subject through the sample house that still possesses these features and has preserved its originality to a great extent. With this study, it is intended to draw attention to the protection of historical Ottoman-Turkish houses that are few in number today.

A Regional Ornament in Late Ottoman Architecture: Bacini (An Evaluation on the Samples of Şanliurfa)

Bacini, en bilinen anlamıyla mimari eserlerin çeşitli yerlerine süsleme ve renk katmak maksadıyla seramik kapların yerleştirilmesiyle elde edilen bir süsleme tekniğidir. Avrupa’da 18. yüzyıldan itibaren keşfedilip yayınlanmaya başlanan bu teknik hakkında ülkemizde maalesef birkaç yayın dışında çalışma yapılmamıştır. Özellikle Avrupa’da yayınlanan çalışmalarda Anadolu’dan Selçuklu dönemine ait birkaç yapıya değinilerek Avrupa’daki örnekler detaylıca anlatılmaktadır. İlk ortaya çıkış yeri belli olmayan bu teknik ile Anadolu’da, Avrupa’daki kullanım şekillerinden bazı farklılıklar olmakla birlikte hem Selçuklu hem de Osmanlı dönemi eserlerinde karşılaşmak mümkündür. Osmanlı mimarisinde özellikle 18. yüzyıl ve sonrası gibi geç bir dönemde sadece belirli bir bölgede kullanılıyor olması da Osmanlı mimarisi içinde bölgesel etkenleri gözler önüne sermektedir. Ayrıca bu süslemelerde kullanılan seramiklerin üretim yerleri ve teknikleri dönemin ticari hayatı ve beğenileri gibi çeşitli alanlarda fikirler edinmemizi sağlamaktadır. Şanlıurfa’da Osmanlı camileri üzerinden bacini süslemeleri, ülkemizin Güney ve Güneydoğu’sunda yer alan Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis ve Hatay gibi şehirlerdeki eserlerle birlikte anlatmak, Osmanlı mimari süslemesinde az bilinen bu tekniğin aslında oldukça yoğun bir kullanım alanına sahip olduğu ispatlanmış olacaktır.

True-To-Form Survey on The Shrine of Idris Baba in Pécs

The shrine (türbe) of Idris Baba is one of the two Ottoman mausolea which can be visited in the territory of Hungary. Today, the shrine is in good condition and following several 20th century restorations, the buildings reflect their original conditions of the Ottoman period. However, the building had several different functions which resulted in modifications in its architectural features after the Ottoman rule in the region. During the 20th and 21st centuries, survey drawings were prepared to document the characteristics of the building, however, the last, true-to-form survey and TLS-scanning resulted in detailed documentation of the structural features of the monument. The aim of this article is firstly, to describe the methodology of the applied survey and to compare it with the previous drawings of the 20th century. In addition, it aims to analyse the detailed, true-to-form survey drawings of the building which contributes to record the evidence of the architectural modifications and propose ideas about the eventuating reasons.Keywords: Türbe/mausoleum, Hungary, Ottoman Architecture, Idris Baba, True-to-form Survey, TLS-scanning.

Karahisar-ı Demürlü, Ergülü / Erkulu Baba Zaviyesi

Turks adopted Islam based on mysticism since they entered to Anatolia until the Late Ottoman Period. Thanks to this feature, Turks became successful in living Islam. They followed the same way during the conquests of Anatolia and Balkans. Primary factor of success in those lands was to gain the hearts of the locals. Mysticism education was held in dervish lodges and lodges constructed by statesmen and wealthy people during the Ottoman period. It is thought that, at present this topic is to be examined in detail. Hence, in this research, a Bektashi lodge in Çorum, Sungurlu, Yörüklü village has been investigated in detail. History of the case study lodge and its remaining parts have been introduced based on the archival research. Years ago, the ruined mosque and tomb of the lodge had been examined, and Directorate General of Foundations had repaired the mosque, registered as a cultural property. Based on archival documents found later, a waqf deed dated 1530 and kept by a family living in Yoruklu Village, and field surveys, it was understood that Ergülü dervish lodge had been located there. In archival documents, the dervish lodge was registered as “Ergülü Baba Dervish Lodge in Çorum county, Demirli district, Sarıkamış village”. It is determined that the lodge, belonging to Ottoman period, has not been used in its original functional totally. Ergülü Baba lodge in Sarıkamış village, Demirli district has not been reached today. It is documented as an unsuccessful example compared to many dervish lodges with highly successful functions in Anatolia. Its remaining mosque part, in Classical Ottoman architecture, is an important cultural property in Corum. The mosque was repaired in 1992. It is important that this elegant and beautiful mosque in Yörüklü village is repaired and left as a legacy for the future. Keywords: Ergülü, Erkulu, Waqf, Bektashi, Baba, Dervish, Lodge.

Alevi-Bektaşi Kültüründe Kırsal Dini Mimarinin Mekânsal Özellikleri: Seyitgazi Örneği

This article examines “the three great tekkes (dervish logde)” of Seyitgazi as cases of rare monumental rural building complexes of the Ottoman architecture. These religious monumental structures, commenced to be established around the “Veli”, “Alp-eren”, “Gazi” identities in the 13th century within the Seljuk boundaries have been used as religious centers affiliated to Alevi and Bektashi belief since the classical Ottoman period. Within the context of this study, functional requirements, design features and symbolic meanings, emanating from social and architectural interactions and spatial developments of the structures through some annexations and repairs in their long past, were examined comparatively. The focal point of this research is to reveal spatial organisation of the structure mass and symbolic context of the religious architecture. For this purpose, primarily, physical formations within religious rituels and structures as well as annexes and modifications made over them starting from 13th century up to the end of 19th century were studied and, through the comparison with leading examples founded in Anatolia, common architectural features were determined. In order to locate the structures historical maps and drawings were utilized as primary data sources. Architectural analysis of identified structures constituted the second stage of the research. Records found at the Ottoman archive of Turkish Presidency, researches of European scientists and explorers regarding spatial foundation and socio-economic life and observations at locations enabled identification of modified features over the course of centuries.Overall assessment of the study reached architectural definitions of the religious structures built in Seyitgazi while at the same time revealed specific common spatial features. Keywords: Alevi and Bektashi, Seyitgazi, Religious Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Rural Architecture.

Fundamentals of Ottoman Architecture (1873)

Composed for the Vienna World’s Fair in 1873, Ottoman Architecture was the earliest modern book-length survey of built material heritage produced by the Ottomans themselves. Translated now into English and with the original illustrations fully reproduced, this electronic edition is accompanied by a critical essay introducing this monumental volume as a textual and visual resource for exploring how Ottomans made sense of their place in the history of world architecture.

قوش سبيلي (سقايات الطيور) في العمارة العثمانية دراسة أثرية فنية (إستانبول أنموذجًا)

اتسمت العمائر في العصر العثماني؛ لاسيما المشيد منها في مدينة إستانبول، باشتمالها غالبا على ملحقات معمارية بسيطة خصصت لخدمة الطيور دون غيرها من أنواع الحيوان. وقد عرفت هذه الملحقات المعمارية باسم قوش سبيلي، أو سقايات الطيور، وظهرت بکثره في تراکيب القبور وأمام شواهدها، کما نراها کذلک بأرضيات أحواش (حظائر) الأضرحة، وفي الچـشم ونافورات الوضوء، وکذلک بأفنية الجوامع، کما نراها بحدائق القصور أيضا. وقد تنوعت أشکالها، ما بين أحواض، وأعمدة أسطوانية الشکل، وألواح رخامية، وکذلک منها ما اتخذ شکل السلسبيل. کما تنوعت الزخارف التي نفذت عليها، ولکنها اتسمت في غالبيتها بالبساطة، إلا في النماذج التي ظهرت منها في حدائق القصور؛ حيث عکست الطراز الفني للمکان الذي ظهرت به. فهذه الورقة البحثية تهدف إلى دراسة سقايات الطيور بمدينة إستانبول في العصر العثماني من خلال التعرف على الأماکن والأشکال التي ظهرت عليها، وطريقة تزويدها بالمياه، وطريقة تسبيل المياه إليها، والمادة الخام التي صنعت منها، بالإضافة إلى التعرف على الزخارف المنفذة عليها، والأساليب الزخرفية المستخدمة فيها. The Birds waterers ( Kussebili ) in Ottoman Architecture (Istanbul as example) Artistic and archeological Study. Abstract The Ottoman cities, especially the city of Istanbul, included special types of buildings that were dedicated only to serving both birds and animals. Among these types of buildings were what is known as bird waterers ( Kussebili) , which were spread in the social and religious buildings. The shapes of these waterers varied between the shape of the salsabil , the slabs of sebils , columns in the courtyards of the mosques and the basins on the marble tombs or in front of the tombstones, and all these waterings were carried out from white marble, and generally it appeared simple in his appearance without any decorations, or decorated with some plant and geometric decorations that reflect the time and the decorations of the place in which they were located. This study aims to study bird waterings in the Ottoman era in Istanbul in terms of the shape and places in which they were located, the raw material, the method of supplying water, the method of channeling the water with it, and his implemented decorative elements.

Contribution to the study of public buildings of ottoman architecture in Southern and Eastern Serbia

The paper presents buildings from the period of Ottoman domination in southern and eastern Serbia. The paper first presents the architectural analysis of the buildings in question. The historical context of their construction, their original function and the social role they had when they were created are also considered. A special emphasis was placed on the analysis of the current state of preservation of these buildings, their new functions and the role they play in society today.

Megadome Evolution in The Ottoman’s Mosques; The Links

A long history of civilization through various cultural and technological influences, had shaped the Ottoman mosque architecture. Each of the objects has its unique characteristics yet connected each other. This paper examines how the classic Turkish mosque-dome architecture, have evolved by proposing examination on configuration similarities and its connection. The authors address 23 mosques in the high classical period of the Ottoman's era to reveal spatial and technical considerations of the main building. The dynasty's route in architecture from central Asia, Seljuk, Bursa, Edirne, and Istanbul is the context of the discussion. It is undeniable that the development of dome architecture in classical Turkey shows some clear linkages from the previous to the later age. Furthermore, some links connected pre and after Istanbul conquest, which contribute to clarify the dispute of the novelty of the architecture, were discovered.