Turkey to protect architect Sinan's works in 40 countries... what about other historical legacies?

The Turkish Presidency and the Culture Ministry have begun an international project to preserve buildings constructed by the master Ottoman architect Sinan, with plans for the restoration of his works in 40 countries where the Ottoman Empire once ruled. Some experts, however, worry the project is neglecting the works of other important architects.

Although Turkey has launched a new project to preserve and restore the works of master Ottoman architect Sinan in 40 different countries, some experts have criticized the project, saying other historical legacies are being neglected.

The project, which will be carried out in 40 countries in which the Ottomans once had a presence, is being headed by Hagia Sophia Museum Chairman and Ottoman specialist Dr. Haluk Dursun with support from the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

At the same time, officials announced the formation of an Architect Sinan Foundation under the auspices of the Presidency.

Dursun said Syria and Greece had also given support to Turkey for the project in an interview with the Hürriyet Daily News and Economic Review. Sinan’s best-preserved works are in Syria, Yemen and the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, according to Dursun.

Noting that the idea for the project emerged a few years ago, the researcher said he and a team of experts visited the different countries to assess the works of the master architect.

Extensive restoration work for Sinan’s buildings that are in severe disrepair will begin as soon as official permission is granted by the relevant authorities.

‘Only mosques are being protected’

Sinan was born in the Ağırnas village of the central Anatolian province of Kayseri. The future chief architect of the Ottoman Empire created his first works by making formations out of “kevenk” stones, a type of soft volcanic rock found in Kayseri, when he was a child.

Sinan, who is said to be the child of an Armenian or Greek family from Kayseri, was drafted into the Janissaries, an Ottoman infantry corps. The sons of Christian families living within the empire were often taken from their families, converted to Islam and educated in the guild of the Janissaries.

Dursun said there has been much discussion of Sinan’s ethnicity, but that these debates largely served no purpose. “There is nothing more natural than different ethnicities in an empire. Discussions on ethnicity are meaningless. Sinan is a value to this land.”

Istanbul Technical University Faculty of Architecture member Afife Batur, however, criticized Dursun’s sole focus on Sinan. “Yes, Sinan is a significant name in terms of the history of architecture. It cannot be denied. But why are Sinan’s works taken under protection but not the works of the other architects before and after Sinan?”

Demanding an extension of the preservation project, Batur said: “I would prefer that such a comprehensive project implemented under the auspices of the Presidency included the whole of the history of our architecture. But I should ask why all of Sinan’s works within the borders of Turkey, except mosques, are devastated. Is there a project for them?”

Istanbul University member and Byzantine Art history expert Associate Professor Asnu Bilban Yalçın said she did not agree with Batur’s views, adding that Turkey had done its best to preserve the works of other architects for future generations.

She said UNESCO and European Union initiatives had made an important contribution to Turkey’s protection of its historical artifacts.

‘Worst damage done to ourselves’

Dursun said the protection of a historic structure was generally related to whether it had a continuing function in the present day. “If the structure is a mosque, it means this structure is still alive. This is what function means.” Other Sinan works, such as caravanserais, have meanwhile been reborn as cultural centers.

Noting that Sinan’s buildings had been placed into religious and secular categories, Dursun said the architect’s buildings had been neglected in Muslim countries, including Turkey. “The main reason for this is to deny and ignore the Ottomans and their heritage. Not only Arabic countries, but also we have also done the worst amount of damage to ourselves by ignoring the Ottomans.”

The researcher, whose own work has actually focused primarily on Sinan’s non-religious buildings, including Turkish baths, khans and caravanserais, said the project would take many years to complete.

Source : Hurriyet Daily News,Vercihan Ziflioğlu, 08.03.2010 (à retrouver sur www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkey-to-trace-architect-sinan-in-40-countries-2010-03-07)