Contextual Compatibility and Adaptive Reuse Potential of Muvakkithanes in the Historic Peninsula of Istanbul, Turky

Emre Belge & Süheyla Birlik

Abstract

Muvakkithanes, historical timekeeping houses associated with mosque-centered urban life, have largely lost their original function as urban, technological and institutional conditions have changed. Discussions on their reuse should not focus only on physical conditions, architectural values or possible new functions, because future use also depends on access, visibility, surrounding land uses and urban pressures. This paper examines this issue through ten selected muvakkithanes in the Historic Peninsula of Istanbul, Turky. The research focuses on ten muvakkithanes selected within 400 m catchment areas of major urban landmarks. Field surveys carried out in July 2024 were combined with open-source spatial data, municipal datasets and site management data. Information was organized in a GIS database to assess land use, public open space, transport access, parking conditions and environmental pressure. Buffer, overlay, proximity and area calculations were used to compare the surroundings of the sampled buildings. The analysis shows that the selected muvakkithanes form five contextual types shaped by tourism, commercial activities, transport pressure, local mixed use and residential character. It also reveals that current assigned uses, such as storage, staff lodging, staff rooms, security offices and retail use, do not necessarily constitute conservation-oriented adaptive reuse. It concludes that these buildings can be reused compatibly only when the assigned functions respect their limited physical capacities and urban settings. It argues that future reuse decisions should not treat muvakkithanes as empty rooms to be filled, but as heritage structures whose functions must be selected through case-specific contextual assessments.

Keywords:

Adaptive Reuse, Contextual Compatibility, Muvakkithanes, Urban Heritage, Spatial Indicators, Istanbul Historic Peninsula, Turkey.

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