Ahi Elvan Mosque, Örtmeli Mesjid, Sabunî Mesjid and Poyrajı Mesjid—four 14th and 15th century mosques in Ankara—a re-evaluation for their sustainable conservation

Download
2008
Erder, Evin
This study provides a re-evaluation of the physical condition of, as well as past and current restoration and conservation work at Ahi Elvan Camii, Örtmeli Mesjidi, Sabunî Mesjidi and Poyrajı Mesjidi—i.e., one Friday mosque, or camii, and three mesjids, or small neighborhood mosques, located in Ulus, today the historic center of Ankara. All four structures, now registered as historic monuments, have survived intact, preserving most of their original architectural elements. Each structure also represents a different example of a building type which became prevalent in Ankara during the 14th can 15th centuries which have stone foundations, mud brick bearings walls with timber tie-beams, as well as timber ceilings supported by freestanding timber posts. These structures, registered and restored during different periods since the 1920s, were intervened upon in various ways and clad and/or plastered with differing materials (e.g., cement-based or clay-based materials). Although at times past conservation interventions and/or signs of decay may be clearly visible, the effects of these on each structure as a whole—whether positive or negative—may be more difficult to detect. A micro-climatic investigation program thus provided the primary, non-destructive diagnostic technique for this study. In addition to this, published as well as unpublished documents within the archives of Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü, or the General-Directorate of Endowments in Ankara, provided visual as well as written information on the history of each structure. Their building materials, as well as past and present restoration and conservation work were also analyzed in situ. Based on long-term meteorological records for Ankara, data were collected at each structure for one year during January, April, July and October using Tiny tag® Plus data loggers on interior and exterior temperatures and relative humidity, as well as surface temperatures at their timber ceilings for one week per season. In addition to this, the distribution of temperature and relative humidity at each structure was measured every m2 within the main prayer hall and women’s section, or kadınlar mahfeli at each structure per season, and surface temperature measurements taken of their timber ceilings and interior wall surfaces. Data collected were subsequently analyzed with respect to various relevant factors such as; the physical characteristics of their load-bearing walls and the buffer capacity of materials within these structures and their effects on indoor microclimatic conditions, the risk of surface condensation at the exterior wall surfaces and the timber ceilings of each structure, suggested parameters required for the conservation of their interior timber elements, and materials conservation vis à vis existing comfort conditions. Past measures taken in the restoration and conservation of the four structures and their present physical condition were thus re-evaluated, and recommendations provided for possible approaches to their sustainable conservation in the long-term.

Suggestions

Historical background of Libyan mosque architecture: assesment and criticism of mosquesin Ajdabiya city
Buhlfaia, Saeid; Cengizkan, Ali; Department of Architecture (2006)
The study attempts to trace the development of mosque architecture in Islamic history, in modern architecture in the world, specifically focusing on the history of the mosque in Libya. It investigates whether the conformity of mosque components and finishing is due to historic, current and local Islamic prescriptions; due to functional purposes and necessities, or merely as an imitation of the stereotype styles for loyalty to mental and habitual traditions regardless of functions. The main objective of this...
Hands-on building practices in architectural education : METU summer construction practices
Turgay, Özce; Gür, Berin Fatma; Department of Architecture (2005)
This thesis explores the position of hands-on building practices in architectural education by focusing on METU Summer Construction Practices (ARCH190), which has been conducted in the rural sites of Turkey since 1958. It is believed that the summer construction practice is a tool of education to acquire knowledge of architecture by building 1-to-1 scale constructions. METU Summer Construction Practices are examined by asking the questions of أwhat is learnedؤ and أhow is learnedؤ in order to understand bot...
Restoration of Zazadin Han a 13th century Seljıkid caravanseria anseria near Konya
Önge, Mustafa; Madran, Emre; Department of Architecture (2004)
The subject of this thesis is the restoration project of Zazadin Han, which is a 13th century Seljukid caravanserai near Konya. Following a brief description of the building, the values of the building and the aim of study are discussed in the introduction chapter. It is followed by the methodology of the study, detailed description of the building, analysis about the structural, material and construction features of the Han, historical study about the building type and the building itself, respectively. Th...
An investigation on the water supply and drainage systems of historical turkish baths
Dişli, Gülşen; Tavukçuoğlu, Ayşe; Department of Architecture (2008)
Historical Turkish baths still keeping their functional systems represent their original architectural and building technologies. Studies on the functional systems of historical baths are therefore needed to discover such technologies and to maintain them in working order. This study was conducted on a 15th century historical Turkish bath, Şengül Hamamı, in Ankara for assessment of its water supply and drainage systems. These systems comprised of hot and cold-water supply, wastewater and rainwater drainage,...
Awarding architecture in Turkey: national architecture exhibition and awards program
Durmaz, Nur; Balamir, Aydan; Department of Architecture (2009)
The establishment of the National Architecture Exhibition and Awards (NAEA) program in 1987, by Chamber of Architects, coincides with the period of dissolving modernist paradigm and rising pluralist influences in Turkey. The program, as a critical medium, is expected to reflect “national” architectural practice and contribute in the “contemporary” architectural practice in Turkey. In order to evaluate the consistencies with these objectives, firstly the program identity and then the participations are analy...
Citation Formats
E. Erder, “Ahi Elvan Mosque, Örtmeli Mesjid, Sabunî Mesjid and Poyrajı Mesjid—four 14th and 15th century mosques in Ankara—a re-evaluation for their sustainable conservation,” Ph.D. - Doctoral Program, Middle East Technical University, 2008.