Architecture of Edirne

The Architecture of Turkish Houses

Edirne is in North-West of Turkey in the area named ’THRACE’. Edirne has a historical importance as it was the capital city for 92 years during Ottoman Empire. Today it still has importance because it is situated along Greek and Bulgarian border and also very close to the biggest city, Istanbul.

This building is the town hall of Edirne and it was built in 1898 during Ottoman Empire. Respectful of its predecessor structures, qualified to respond to the needs of the age and at the same time feel that it is the administration building with its architecture ,The Town Hall has taken place between the monumental buildings in the city of Edirne..By Using the technique of structural masonry, basement, ground floor and first floor of three-storey building was built. Entered the front of the building in terms of Mimar Sinan Street higher windows ended with arch, the municipal writing and addressing balcony, can be defined as outstanding architectural elements.When the wooden entrance door is opened which can be reached by six marble staircase, you will encounter with the aesthetics and the characteristic plan of 33 pieces wooden staircase to the upper floor

TOWN HALL of EDIRNE

This is one of the meeting rooms of the town hall.There are pictures of former mayors on the walls.The chandeliers and paintings are also very attractive.

There are two colourful tiled stoves in the meeting room that adds aesthetic value to the room as they are historical and impressive They are still used for heating in winter.

This room is decorated for the memory of our leader ATATURK.He stayed in this room during his visit to Edirne in 1930.In 1978, the room was redecorated and is open to visit now.

The District of KALEICI (means the interior of castle)Edirne, is the place that preserves the traditional Turkish houses. Edirne houses with their summer, winter, indoor and outdoor sections, are mansion-house types with gardens. These are large and small structures separated from each other by trees and flowers and scattered around famous palaces in 16th and 17th centuries.Separated by a wall from the street, these structures are mostly one or two storeys; composed with courtyards.With fountains ,various ornamental ponds and summer areas, houses of Edirne, has a distinctive place in architecture of Turkey.

Historical mansions of EDİRNE

Historical mansions of EdirneThese mansions were built of stone and plaster walls of skeletal systems with a perfect

symmetry. From the smallest up to almost ostentatious of all houses in every part of the Balkan Peninsula have a partition called"life". This chapter is the room where the doors opened directly in the direction of the house overlooking the garden of 1.5 to 2 meters based oncolumns. Ilhan Koman (one of our valuable sculpturers)was born one of these mansions ( the white one)and this neo-classical style mansion was built in 1908 by Greek architects and painters.

House of Ilhan KOMAN

ARCHITECTURE of APARTMENT BLOCKS

In the east part of Edirne there are new constructed residential areas and most of these new constructions are apartment blocks. They are between 5 and 12 storeys.The tallest residential building in Edirne has 17 storeys.These buildings have 2 or 3 apartments on each floor and each apartment is about 100 – 130m2. Construction companies build these apartments and people buy from these companies.The apartments are expertised by expertise companies because people get loan from banks to buy their apartments.Whether an apartment is expertised or not is a very important issue while deciding to buy.

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

ADMINISTRATION OF TURKEY

Particularly for the low and middle-income groups, there is the question of acquiring houses in a liveable and planned environment.and to solve this problem and making adequate shelter available, accessible and affordable to meet the housing need for the ever-increasing populations of the urban settlements, housing development administration build houses and provide bank credits for the low and middle income groups.

PUBLIC INSTITUTION HOUSING

These apartments are lent to public employees with low rental amonuts by the public institutions.

VILLAs Upper-income groups would rather live in villas rather than in flats.These houses are generally in a site and a bit far from the city (7-14km). Most of the villas have children’s playground ,swimming pools and tennis courts and are built by building contractors.

Interior samples of ordinary houses Guest Room

Every household in the country, if the place is available,there is an extra room kept as a guest room, except the living room and bedroom. These rooms are well furnished, constantly kept clean. And it is only open when guests come. Guests are hosted there, and when they leave the room closed again. This is an event that does not change all over the country. In a guest room there is a dining table and glass case where special dining stuff for the guests are kept..

Interior samples of ordinary houses

In most of the guest rooms there isn’t a clock hung on the walls.People think that placing a clock in the guest room means, a continuous clock reminding the guest to let him go now. It is considered as a shame.

ŞEHİT ASIM PRIMARY SCHOOLOur school was built in early 20th century.It was built as accommodation and institution to acquire a profession for orphans orphans during 1st World and Balkan Wars. In 1932 it was started to be used as aprimary school and 1952 its name was changed as ŞEHİT ASIM. It is the name of a martyr soldier who donated all his money to build a school before going to the war. Our school is in the centre of Edirne, in the district called Kaleiçi .