“Hans” As a Social and Cultural Heritage from Ottoman’s

From past to present, cities have been serving for several functions. These functions have contributed the city in architectural level besides giving shape to public lives. Together with fulfilling cultural, social and commercial needs, common public areas are occurred too. In Turkish architectural history, “Han”s as common public areas have important place.

In first place, hans are commercially established residences have met several needs and purposes. Bursa is an Ottoman city which owns several common public areas like hans with these characteristics. Market places are the commercial areas where have an intense pedestrian traffic. This huddle cause significant axles in urban texture. These areas have been improved architecturally over time and gain new functionalities. As a result, hans are not only commercial places but also become the heart of the city. Hans hosted several social activities, by them it can be determined the period when the hans is constructed and also held a view of governmental and economical issues of those times. Furthermore, materials and supplies used in terms of building, give an idea of construction techniques. As a result of aggregation role of hans, new city centers had created around them. Thus, around the hans population densifing can be observed. Bursa hans which are generally two floored, have atriums. Fountains, to perform ablution exist on the atriums. Occasionally, small mosques- masjids reside on these fountains. Therefore, we can say that, hans were providing worship areas.

Only six of Bursa hans have survived to the present time. The number of hans used to be over twenty however familiar reasons like extending of the city, widening the roads, lack of care and passing time caused to decrease the number of hans. Surviving hans are still functioning commercially. Although old wares and assets aren’t being sold and manner of trade has changed, there exist areas keeping up the vividness. For instance, Koza Han is the center of silk market which is very famous in Bursa. Hans functionality has changed after the restorations. Restaurants, traditional Turkish coffee houses and touristic souvenir shops have become some of the new functionalities.

In the future, by bringing new functions beside the present ones, hans could be a place for social and cultural activities. They can be an appropriate medium as a public training center for traditional Turkish arts and exhibition centers for exposing these works. Hans can be contributed as museums. Moreover they can be in use as training centers for different art branches or workshop areas. In this way, hans turn out to be places nested with art and culture. Bursa has an important place from the Ottoman cities, has been reflecting the culture till today. By protecting hans region which is directing the cities architectural texture, heart of the city will stay the same.

Finally, by architectural protection, vouching for the social and cultural heritage of the city, conveying this heritage to the future can be achieved and by restoration more sense can be affiliated.

This essay was written for Berkeley Prize 2010, Essay Competition Stage 1