1-ICAUD 1 st International Conference on Architecture & Urban Design Proceedings 19-21 April 2012 – www.icaud.epoka.edu.al EPOKA University Department of Architecture 939 From East to West: Persian, Indian and Central European Themes Forming the Architectural Scenery in Early Modern Ottoman Culture Soner Sahin (Assistant Professor Dr. Soner Sahin, Yeditepe University, Kayisdagi Campus, Kadikoy-Istanbul, soner.sahin@yeditepe.edu.tr) 1 ABSTRACT This study aims to define the changes in architectural scenery and cityscape in Ottoman cultural life in early modern era, i.e. 18 th century. It is aimed to complement intercultural relations in this age through surveying the foreign impacts on Ottoman architecture. Istanbul, as the capital city, the cultural center of the Ottoman Empire, located between the two worlds: the East and the West, considered as an ideal example for this study. The 18 th century for Turkish architecture was a “receptive” age which combined with the wish for innovative experience in all manners, and can be identified as the century of “change”. The exchange of artistic and technical models between the Ottoman cultural era and the rest of the world increased rapidly and extensively at the beginning of the century. In the first decades of the century new period of renewal, called as the “Tulip Period”, appears. Beginning with this period traditional, introverted manner of the society began to change; they started to use the open and public areas more frequently for enjoying themselves. Small public buildings as libraries, primary schools, “sebils” and public fountains were built in major cities. The survey on Ottoman buildings of these decades shows us that different themes from India to Persia were used as source of “inspiration” to create this new décor for the architecture and public spaces. On the other hand in the middle of the century, some radical changes, completely deviated from the principals of traditional ones, appear in Ottoman architecture. It was in this period that the new style, later called, “Ottoman Baroque” was born. Local tradition revealed here an impressive ability for adaptation of Baroque methods and Rococo ornamentation. Ottoman architects and patrons, after 1740, seemed to prefer to use the Western Mediterranean and Central European iconography instead of the Eastern one as source of novelty. Still as a traditional society Ottomans tied to its past, sometimes resists to economic and political reforms; but it is interesting that the architectural transformations were easily accepted by great masses. Artisans developed, with remarkable rapidity, a synthesis of styles and freely borrowed forms from distant cultures and regions, and playfully took up themes both from Asia and Europe to decorate the cities. This innovative modeling brought a prosperous new way to Ottoman cityscape and architectural design in early modern period. 2 EARLY YEARS; 1718-1730 The first Ottoman sultan in the 18 th century; Ahmed III, was coroneted on 22 August 1703. Nevertheless, the changes did not begin until 1718; the year that Ibrahim Pasha took office in Babıali (Supreme Porte) as The Grand Vizier. Soon after, with the mediation of British and Dutch ambassadors, Ibrahim Pasha managed to set up peace with the Habsburg Monarchy and the Venetian Republic in the Treaty of Passarowitz. After this treaty, Sultan Ahmed III, under the guidance of Ibrahim Pasha, pursued a peace and stability policy all through the Empire both in domestic and international issues. This policy favored a settled life in prosperity; and during this period, the Ottoman Empire seemed beginning to direct itself towards the global developments of the world. Afterwards, for the first time the Ottoman Empire sent various ambassadors to European cities to experience contemporary European customs and life (Unat, 1992 p.53). The Ottoman Empire also embarked on new economic and cultural policies and programs during this period: Istanbul's first fire brigade was established, new manufactories such as tile, textile and paper factories were founded, and the first printing press for Turkish was set up (Genc 2000 p.180). Moreover, many public libraries were founded, important masterpieces in Arabic, Greek, and Persian literary works, were translated into Turkish (Evin 1980 p.135). Istanbul, the capital city, was refurbished; its monuments restored, city water system recovered and improved. In Ottoman historiography, this period of renewal between 1718 and 1730, came to be called as the “Tulip Period” after the epoch’s passion for tulips.