The Morphological and the Urban Characteristics of the Monumental Building Complexes in Ottoman Capitals

Abstract

This thesis deals with the analysis of a very important feature of the Ottoman cities, which is the Ottoman Monumental Complex. The concept of the monumental complex is defined as the core of social life in an Ottoman city. The typical Ottoman city has the most dominant features that make the historians specify it in a specific classification, but not among other classifications. Within time it has formed its characteristic features as a result of many different influences such as religion, geographical location, the conquests and the inheritances from the previous cultures. This makes the features of the Ottoman city unique but at the same time resembling the features of other cultures.In most of the previous studies, the Ottoman monumental complex is examined in terms of its architectural features. However it is seen that the concept has a deeper meaning when it is examined in terms of urban design and the social structure of the city. It has the significance of being shaped in accordance with Ottoman urban design pattern, has the responsibility of having a monumental value and having an important social task as a result of including a complex of different functions within itself. The study defines Ottoman Monumental complexes in Bursa and Edirne by means of their morphological criteria, origins, location, programs, and also by means of spatial and visual characteristics.