A typological analysis of parsel-house relationship in Ottoman Western Anatolian cities: The Case of Kula

Abstract

There have been plenty of studies held in the course of time for the Ottoman City and the Ottoman House where effort has been spent to determine the origins of the Ottoman house and the plan typologies and to describe the social, administrative and economical structures of Ottoman cities through analyzing the cities and their urban patterns. However, it is worth notice that all the related researches lack any consideration based on analysis of the house-parcel in the Ottoman city. This study aims at searching for such a relationship in house . parcel with particular reference to Kula, 18th 19th century West Anatolia Ottoman city, and to examine the existence of any relationship as guided by due analyses to be held.In the first chapter, the main point of departure has been the definition of the problem. Through discussion on the studies, which have been accomplished as concerning the Ottoman house and Ottoman cities in related literature, those points of consideration that lack any detailed study have been determined. The scrutinization of related literature has then revealed that there exists, no researches related with either the existence nor non-existence of house and parcel relationship in Ottoman cities and with the intention to create a basis for similar researches to be established later, the decision has been given to work further on the house . parcel relationship. Those criteria thathave been adopted for considerations of location have been mentioned and the methods to be used for the study have been determined.In context of this study, the second chapter involves primarily the description of the physical structure of the Ottoman city to be later followed by examination of economical and social structures and an introductory explanation of administrative and economical institutions; and effort has been spent to determine the actors that undertake a role in production and production of the physical environment. Finally, the districts, which can be depicted as the basic units of the Ottoman city, have been elaborated in terms of their cultural and physical structures, organization, administration and daily life.The third chapter, on the other hand, discusses the origins of the Ottoman houses, the typological classifications made as concerning the plan types and states the general characteristics, elements and plan types of the Ottoman House and additionally, the regional house types and general characteristics of the West Anatolian houses have also been mentioned since the case study area has been chosen as Kula.In the fourth chapter prior to passing on to the case study, the historical background, the geographical and geological structures as well as physical structure of the case study area of Kula have been elaborated and in context of physical structure, effort has been spent to introduce the changes in urban pattern, the public buildings,architectural characteristics of house, construction materials and construction elements.In the case study, on the other hand, the studies within the selected area has been furthered by grouping of parcels according to their shapes, locations, sizes (areas) and the ratio acquired by division of house area into parcel area, all accomplished in the will to determine the house types. Following the analysis and grouping of all data in tables,the analyses on Parcel location . Parcel.s geometrical shape, House type . Parcel's geometrical shape, House type . Parcel location, House type . Parcel Area and House area / Parcel area . Parcel.s geometrical shape have been made and the obtained data have been further grouped in tables availing for interpretation of results.Finally in the conclusion, the percentage rates of all data obtained in chapter four have been calculated in the will to arrive at a statement based on these rates.