Mimar Sinan’ın İstanbul Külliyelerinde Yer Alan Sıbyan Mektepleri ve Koruma Sorunları

Abstract

Primary schools were established to educate children about Koran and basics of religion since the early years of Islam. They used to give children the basic level of education in Ottoman Empire, as well. Many primary schools were built in Architect Sinan’s era. The total number of primary schools which were designed (or estimated to be designed) by Sinan is 23, 17 in Istanbul and 6, outside Istanbul. 12 of the primary schools are located in Istanbul architectural complexes. 8 of the 12 primary schools still exist today. This study aims to make an inventory of the primary schools of Sinan, to analyse the architecture of 12 primary schools of Sinan in architectural complexes in Istanbul and to determine their conservation problems. The research methods of this study are to evaluate the literature and to prepare the surveys of the buildings via field study. These masonry buildings which are mainly single-roomed or double-roomed in terms of plan and mass design, are positioned generally on the street corner, next to the entrance of architectural complexes or farther from the other buildings of architectural complexes. The primary schools, which are structurally in good condition, have authenticity problems because of unsuitable re-use and improper interventions by users. The primary schools were built to educate children; therefore, it is important to preserve and to reuse these buildings with a similar aim for public to enable the tradition of their foundation and to experience these buildings.