19. Yüzyılda Osmanlı Saray Kadınlarının İnşa Ettirdiği Külliyelerin İstanbul Kent Dokusuna Katkılarının Değerlendirilmesi
Pınar Şahin, Fatma Nalân Türkmen19. yüzyıl İstanbul’un kent dokusu açısından en büyük değişim yaşadığı asırdır. Reform hareketlerinin yoğunluk kazandığı bu dönemde devletin merkez teşkilatının batılı tarzda yeniden düzenlenmesi yanında şehircilik faaliyetleri açısından da birçok yeni uygulama yapılmıştır. 1855’ten sonra belediyelerin kurulması ile birlikte şehir planında önemli değişikliklerin yapılması, yerleşim alanlarının ve inşa faaliyetlerinin düzenlenmesi için ebniye nizannamelerinin hazırlanması bu dönemde meydana gelen önemli gelişmelerdir. Toplumsal hayatın her alanını etkileyen bu süreçte, Osmanlı saray kadınları baskın bir figür olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Gerek şahsi birikimleri gerekse de devlet desteği ile inşa ve tamir ettirdikleri sosyal, askeri ve sivil yapılarla İstanbul şehir dokusunda kalıcı izler bırakmışlardır. Modern şehircilik kavramının Osmanlı bayındırlık faaliyetlerine yeni bir yön verdiği 19. yüzyılda saray kadınlarının İstanbul’un silüetine damgasını vuran eserlere giderek artan bir ivme ile isimlerini verdikleri görülmektedir. Bu makalede saray kadınlarının inşa ettirdikleri Şah Sultan Külliyesi (1800), Nakşidil Vâlide Sultan Külliyesi (1818), Bezmiâlem Gurebâ-yı Müslimîn Hastanesi Külliyesi (1845), Bâlâ Süleyman Ağa Külliyesi (1863) ve Aksaray Vâlide Sultan Külliyesi (1871) ele alınmıştır. Araştırmada söz konusu yapılar konumları ve yapısal özellikleri ile dönem haritaları üzerinde incelenmiştir.
Complexes Built the Women of the Ottoman Court in the 19th century, an Evaluation of their Contribution to Istanbul’s Urban Texture
Pınar Şahin, Fatma Nalân TürkmenThe 19th century was the century in which the urban fabric of Istanbul underwent its biggest transformation. During this period when the reform movement gained momentum, the state carried out a Western-style restructuring and introduced many new city planning regulations. Among the important developments that took place in this period after municipalities were established in 1855 were significant changes to the city plan and the building regulations put in place to facilitate and coordinate the residential areas and constructions. This process affected all spheres of society and the women of the Ottoman court emerged as commanding figures. These women left their mark on Istanbul’s urban fabric thanks to the constructions and repair of social, military, and secular architecture which they brought about either using personal savings or state funding. Modern city planning gave Ottoman construction projects a new direction, it is evident that the numbers of buildings named after and funded by the women of the Ottoman court in the 19th century gathered momentum, and these structures have left their mark on Istanbul’s skyline. This article deals with the edifices built by ladies of the Ottoman court, namely the Şah Sultan Complex (1800), the Nakşidil Valide Sultan Complex (1818), the Bezmiâlem Gurebâ Müslimîn Hospital Complex (1845), the Bâlâ Süleyman Ağa Complex (1863) and the Aksaray Valide Sultan Complex (1871). These buildings have been studiedtheir location and structural features and they were examined on contemporary maps.
In the literature of art history buildings erected by the sultans’ consorts, mothers or daughters are studied as a concept known as Woman Builders. Recent research has shown that women builders, or architecture under female patronage, occupy a special place in the history of architecture and that women played an active role as builders in Turkish Islamic architecture since the Anatolian Seljuk period. In the 16th century, the golden age of Ottoman architecture, the buildings built by the sultanas became more of a standardised court tradition. Trusts established by the women of the Ottoman court – the sultans’ consorts, mothers, and daughters – were involved in large building projects, they even influenced the imperial architects. There are many 16th and 17th century mosques, madrasah, Turkish baths, primary schools, hospitals, darülkurra (a place for learning to read the Quran) and soup kitchens built upon the sultanas’ initiative.
The Ottoman sultanas erected many mosque complexes in the classic age of the Ottoman Empire and in the period that followed. Usually built in the name of the sultans’ mothers, they would leave their mark on the districts where they were built. The most prominent feature of the buildings from this period was their size and splendour, which had to eclipse all the others. The best-known examples are the Haseki Hürrem Sultan Complex (1551) in Avratpazarı, the Mihrimah Sultan Complexes in Üsküdar (1547) and Edirnekapı (1563-1571), the Atik Vâlide Complex in Üsküdar (1570-1579) and the Yeni Vâlide Complex in Eminönü (1597-1663).
The 19th century saw the commencement of modernisation in the Ottoman community and the state organization. The modernization efforts that began during the reign of Selim III (1789-1808) and continued with Mahmud II (1808-1839), acquired a greater dimension with the Imperial Edict of Reorganisation (1839) proclaimed by Abdülmecid (1839-1861). The radical changes brought about by the edict led to great strides being made by the Ottoman State and the community towards alignment with the West. The change began on a political platform and the effect soon began to appear everywhere. From the aspect of architecture, new types of buildings emerged because social, political and economic requirements. The important developments in this period following the establishments of the municipalities in 1855 were the building regulations put in place to facilitate important changes to the city plan and the coordination of residential areas and constructions.
When architecture came under Western influence in the 19th century he concept of modern city planning steered Ottoman construction projects in a new direction. The growing impetus by which the women of the Ottoman court gave their names to buildings that had an impact on Istanbul’s silhouette is evident. During this period a not insubstantial number of buildings were constructed upon the initiatives of the sultanas. The women’s architectural ambitions focused mainly on mosques, madrasahs, primary schools, Turkish baths, soup kitchens and fountains. Five complexes were built that played an important role in the transformation of the city. The Şah Sultan Complex (1800), the Nakşidil Valide Sultan Complex (1818), the Bezmiâlem Gurebâ-yı Müslimîn Hospital Complex (1845), the Bâlâ Süleyman Ağa Complex (1863) and the Aksaray Valide Sultan Complex (1871) were consequential building projects that left their mark on the period.
The Şah Sultan Complex and the Nakşidil Sultan Complex built by women of the Ottoman court in the 19th century, were built in Istanbul’s religious centres. The Şah Sultan Complex, which consists of a tomb, a primary school, a public fountain, and a drinking fountain, is located at the entrance to the district of Eyüpsultan next to the old road leading from Edirnekapı to Eyüpsultan. The Nakşidil Sultan Complex, containing a tomb, primary school, public fountain, and soup kitchen, is located in the enclosed area of the first Selâtin Mosque and Complex which forms Fatih’s core.
The other notable complexes built in the 19th century-the Gurebâ-yı Müslimîn Hospital Complex, the Bâlâ Süleyman Ağa Complex and the Aksaray Vâlide Complex-were built where the city’s social infrastructure was inadequate, in underdeveloped areas. Large structures containing entities such as mosques, primary schools and fountains which fulfilled the everyday needs of the population, became some of the main elements of city planning. Over time the districts around the complexes have become more populated and today they have turned into busy urban hubs. The Gurebâ-yı Müslimîn Hospital Complex in Yenibahçe built by Bezmiâlem Valide Sultan, the Bâlâ Süleyman Ağa Complex in Silivrikapı built by Âdile Sultan and Perstû Kadınefendi and the Vâlide Complex built by Pertevniyal Vâlide Sultan have contributed significantly to the development of Aksaray, where it was built.
The Gurebâ-yı Müslimîn Hospital Complex was built by Bezmiâlem Valide Sultan, and it is significant because it was one of the largest hospitals of the century. Yenibahçe Çayırı was the chosen site for the edifice that stood as a new model for modern healthcare establishments. The important point about this area is that it was far from the city, in a spacious, green environment well suited for treating the sick. After the Proclamation of the Republic, the area continued to be one of Istanbul’s important health centres. Besides the Vakıf Gureba Hospital, other medical facilities such as Istanbul University’s Faculty of Medicine, the Red Crescent Blood Donation Centre, and the Private Çapa Hospital also accumulated in that area.
Apart from the Gurebâ-yı Müslimîn Hospital Complex, another important complex, the Bâlâ Süleyman Ağa Complex was built by Sazkâr Kalfa, Adile Sultan ve Perestû Kadın Efendi to meet people’s basic needs for worship, education and water. The Bâlâ Süleyman Ağa Complex is also interesting because of its contribution to the city fabric. The roads running between the buildings provide circulation and form the district’s network of streets.
The complex built by Pertevniyal Vâlide Sultan in place of the Kâtip Mosque in Aksaray is the most comprehensive group of structures built by a woman of the imperial court in the 19th century. The Valide Complex in Aksaray is in a district where modern city planning was first implemented. It was the scene of urban planning not witnessed in Ottoman history until the 19th century. After a great fire in the district back in 1854, the Italian engineer Luigi Storari was commissioned to carry out the reconstructions and for the first time, Istanbul’s city plan had a parallel street system and a Western-style square. The Pertevniyal Vâlide Sultan Complex’s Mosque, tomb and public fountain were built on the corners of this square in Aksaray. Locations and structural features, contemporary maps, and the impact on the city fabric of 19th century Istanbul have been analysed for this study on the social complexes built by the women of the Ottoman court.
