A Case Study from Istanbul’s Westernization Period: The Technical Documentation of Prinkipo Palace

ABSTRACT

The deterioration and the consequent collapse of historic timber structures lead to a significant loss of knowledge transfer of local construction methods and building technics. In this article, based on a case study of an exceptional timber frame structure in Istanbul dating from the end of the 19th century, is an attempt to provide documentation on the structure and materials of the specific building. The main objective is to underline the general structural system and materials as a reference. The case study covers the traditional characteristics such as local timber framework techniques and features of the transition era in construction and materials, with industrialized and standardized construction members.

KEYWORDS:

• Büyükada Orphanage
• historical building materials
• hybrid structures
• multi-storey timber structures
• Prinkipo Palace
• timber construction
• traditional construction methods

Acknowledgement

The author is grateful both the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in İstanbul and Laki Vingas for their help and collaboration. The author is also grateful to Prof. Dr. Z. Canan Girgin for her valuable comments. Thanks to Prof. Dr. Kelami Şeşen for investigations on metallic samples. The microscopic identifications for the wooden members were administered thanks to the support of Prof. Dr. Dilek Doğu. Architect Aygen Erol contributed to the illustrations. Several students and Em.o.Univ.Prof.DDI W. Winter contributed to the photo-archive.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

¹ Greek Patriarchy — as second owner- could not contribute to structural information. Relevant publications: A book entitled Büyükada by Dr. Akillas Millas, İstanbul Ansiklopedisi- contribution of Prof. Oğuz Ceylan.

² Hımış: filled with brick, stone, or adobe and mortar; Bağdadi: timber laths with plastering or claddings.

³ The construction of the case study was after the invention of the Bessemer- in 1855 and Martin Siemens processes in 1879, and metallic arc welding in 1881 (Bouw et al. 2009; Schueremans et al. 2018).