Paper title:
  A Turning Point in the History of Ottoman Architecture: Fossati Brothers

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4316/CC.2023.02.01
Published in:
Issue 2 (Vol. 29) / 2023
Publishing date:
2023-11-01
Pages:
241–262
Author(s):
Ayşe Kökcü
Abstract:
 The Ottoman architectural change, which occurred between the Tulip Era and the Tanzimat period (1718–1839) and was shaped by both conventional and novel styles attempting to follow Western influence, reflects the country's shifting political and cultural landscape. The change in the Ottomans’ perception of social and intellectual taste caused the architectural understanding to move away from the classical building styles. Although the Ottomans tried to train their own architects to implement the new building styles, attempts to meet the current need were made by foreign architects who received architectural education in Europe. The main figures of the new process, in which other foreign architects also took part, are the Fossati brothers. For the first time in the Ottoman Empire, after the Tanzimat, a team of foreign architects had the opportunity to undertake uninterrupted and successful works, leading to the subsequent employment of other foreign architects. This tradition, which started with the Fossati brothers in the Ottoman Empire, continued for about a century until the 1930s. In the study, an explanation of both the contributions of the Fossati brothers to the history of Ottoman architecture and the reason why they were the first representatives of a new era is proposed. In this regard, the history of the Ottoman architecture, deviating from the classical understanding and turning to a Western style, will be briefly mentioned. In addition, the buildings they constructed in Istanbul will be surveyed and their contribution to the architectural face of the city will be expressed.
Keywords:
 Ottoman Architecture, History of Science, Fossati brothers, Western style, Tanzimat Era.




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