The Conservation Problems of the 16th Century Eyüp Masjids

In this study, conservation problems of masjids with hipped roof dated 16th century in Eyüp were investigated. Eyüp, the first settlement outside the city wall, has been one of the important regions of Istanbul with its tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The first stage for the protection of this heritage, the urban site boundaries were determined by the decision of the Supreme Council of Real Estate and Monuments, No. 9591 of 15.01.1977, and the historical monuments in the area have been identified and registered. Despite many studies in the field of conservation since this date, the historical structures in the region are threatened by environmental and physical factors as well as users and practitioners who do not have sufficient protection awareness. Most of the masjids are unqualified additions (space, windbreak, eaves, etc.), attempts to make maintenance and repair by their own, interventions made with the efforts to beautify (!) the structure, material, form and/or stylistic features have been changed and their original identities have been damaged. In this direction, firstly, similar hipped roofed masjids, which were built in the region in the 16th century, were identified. Preservation problems were examined by discussing the process and conditions of the twelve masjids included in the scope of the study, and solutions were developed to ensure their sustainability and transfer them to the future with their original identities