Change of Ottoman Architecture in the 19th Century

    With the death of Mimar Sinan, the so-called Classical Period in Ottoman architecture was closed and its effects continued for a long time. This effect was especially strong and permanent in mosque plans. In Ottoman history, the 18th century was in complete contrast to the dreary last years of the previous century, which began a new era of peace and diplomacy with Europe, whose military superiority was generally accepted at that time. In modern historiography, Istanbul, which has changed with the energy of the palace men, who has recently been interested in the architectural culture of the West, has emerged. Ottoman Westernization emerged as a simultaneous sign of the military (and therefore cultural) decline of the empire after 1683, and a tendency for the more stable, Western-oriented modernization reforms of the 19th century emerged. Although Ottoman regressed in terms of military after the 1699 Treaty of Karlowitz, there was a significant development in architecture area. In the 19th century, Ottoman architecture peaked. It was affected by rococo, baroque and neoclassic European architecture.

     The newly adopted economic relations and way of life played a role in the urban transformation of Istanbul with the Tanzimat. In this process, new urban infrastructure and laws were needed and as a result of the legal framework and administrative organizations developed as a solution, urban planning was made. The palace and its environs spread along the Golden Horn and Bosphorus with palaces, pavilions and mansions, and the military structure of the state created new residential areas with barracks built in the north and on the Anatolian side. In the second half of the 19th century, the great fires in the Historic Peninsula (today’s Fatih), which has a dense urban texture of wooden houses, are the starting point of physical change. As in the whole of Istanbul, new construction techniques that will reduce the fire hazard have been shaped by the expansion of the roads in accordance with the new transportation technology and the reconstruction of the urban space. During this period, especially Western-style, such as decoration Baroque and Rococo is seen. However, traditional Turkish motifs and building types have not been abandoned in the application of these styles in Ottoman art. On the other hand, all the activities carried out can be read as the intervention of the people of the palace and the financially strong new high class that is formed around the palace within the project. Perhaps this intervention can be expressed as the anxiety of domination in the city in line with the tastes and world views of the palace and the upper classes clustered around the palace. The first change in Ottoman architecture was the Nuruosmaniye Mosque which has first Baroque technique. Contrary to classical Ottoman mosque styles such as Süleymaniye and Blue Mosques, it has

different architectural styles. For example, decorations do not contain Turkish motifs in the 19th century mosques, especially external ornaments. The baroque and rococo styles of Europe seem to be mixed about Nusretiye, Dolmabahçe, Ortaköy, Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosques. In general, mosques’ windows are bigger than classic Ottoman mosque windows and their minarets are thinner and grooved. Interestingly, if minarets are removed, mosques’ main bodies are similar to churches. This situation shows how Baroque, Neogothic, Rococo and Neoclassical architecture of Europe successfully applied. However, it should be known that, when the Ottoman Empire applied this kind of architectural technique, it did not discard its own architecture tradition and it combined its own style and European style. Public buildings such as banks (Ottoman Bank), embassy buildings (French, British, German Embassies) were built with new European Styles.

    When everything is taken into account, the Baroque influences that entered our architecture in the 19th century were manifested in all the buildings built in this century. The contrast of the concave and convex surfaces caused fluctuations on the surfaces. Classical motifs were replaced by western motifs. All the innovations seen in the 18th century buildings and continuing to develop in the 19th century are mostly related to the outer plane. These innovations have made them look different rather than changing structures. The Ottoman Empire tried to prove to Europe in terms of architecture as they do in every field as much as they were Western.