Space readings regarding mosque courtyards: A case study of Üsküdar Mihrimah Sultan and Atik Valide complexes

Space exists only with humans; space accumulates layer upon layer with past memories, current experiences, and future usage scenarios, and it lives throughout history only in this way. Therefore, to read a city's space means to attempt to read the network of relationships, which includes the memories, actions, behaviors, and emotions of the people experiencing the city. In this thesis, the human factor, which establishes and shapes architecture, being both the object and subject, is examined through the lens of public life and everyday life, with the aim of "making the ordinary visible" and discovering 'the key to continuity' in the constantly changing city. The study focuses on the urban open spaces, specifically the courtyards of mosque complexes, using the Jan Gehl methodology. In the first section of the thesis, titled Conceptual Background, it is highlighted how cities have undergone continuous change and transformation throughout history, influenced by multifaceted factors such as social, political, economic, and technological aspects. The study presents the theorists and their works that have pioneered new quests within this complex web of relationships, particularly in European and American cities. Among these pioneering works, emphasis is given to Jane Jacobs' approach to urban open spaces such as squares, sidewalks, and streets, and subsequently, the torch she passed on to Jan Gehl, who further developed systematic and methodological approaches based on her ideas, deepening the subject matter. Subsequently, the thesis discusses the changes occurring in Istanbul, which is the most dynamic city in the Turkish geography and is influenced by global transformation processes. Courtyards, as urban interfaces that simultaneously encompass spatial dualities such as interior/exterior, open/closed, and filled/empty, are included in the study as integral elements of urban space. In the context of the city scene, the courtyard spaces of complexes, which correspond to the urban open spaces in the Ottoman era, have emerged as essential components of public life, ensuring spatial and everyday life continuity, akin to the squares in the Western world. The courtyard spaces of mosque complexes have maintained their vibrant presence throughout history due to their role as an intersection between the city, public life, and everyday life, as well as their ability to create diverse spatial experiences and actions through various intermediary spaces within them. These public open spaces possess a high spatial quality that supports public life. They have been actively used since their construction, thereby encapsulating numerous lived experiences. Moreover, their adaptability to the changing actions of each era and its people allows for new discovery in every reinterpretation, presenting us with fresh realms of exploration. At this point, in order to reconcile seemingly independent concepts within the thesis, the hypothesis is put forth that the "opportunity-creating spaces" in Jan Gehl's factors of spatial quality that support public life in urban open spaces correspond to "threshold spaces". Before delving into the field study section, an evaluation of the Conceptual Background is presented, highlighting the potentials harbored within these threshold/opportunity spaces and asserting their role as the key to the continuity of public life. The chapter titled Spatial Analysis through the Courtyards of Selected Mosque Complexes is the section where multidimensional spatial analyses are conducted using Jan Gehl's methodology, focusing on the historical, spatial, and everyday life practices of the chosen courtyards in Üsküdar: Mihrimah Sultan and Atik Valide Sultan Mosque Complexes. The relationship of both courtyards with the city and their surroundings, the topography they occupy, and the presence of various intermediary spaces have influenced the actions of individuals experiencing the courtyard space, resulting in diverse spatial experiences. Despite changes in activities and ceremonies over time, these structures, built 500 years ago, continue to be heavily utilized, serving as evidence of the continuity of public life. These courtyards, with their high spatial quality, have adapted to the passage of time and met the changing needs of users through the series of threshold spaces/opportunity areas they encompass. The chapter concludes by examining the similarities and differences between these two courtyards, evaluating their urban open space qualities through the Jan Gehl methodology, and drawing conclusions. As a result of the observations and evaluations made, it is tried to convey how the public life related to daily life changes when the environmental context changes. The aim here is to determine the effects of factors such as actions, user profile and human density on the continuity of public life in the use of the two selected complexes, and to reveal the differences based on the environmental context. The observations and evaluations aim to convey how public life, closely tied to everyday life, changes when the environmental context changes. The goal is to determine the impact of factors such as actions, user profiles, and human density on the continuity of public life in the selected mosque complexes. By highlighting the differences based on the environmental context, the study seeks to identify how these factors influence the sustainability of public life. In summary, reading and reinterpreting the spaces that have witnessed historical public life is crucial in understanding and providing insights for the creation of entirely new public spaces using today's technology. The key to the continuity of spaces and public life lies at the heart of everyday life, in actions, usage, and people. It should not be forgotten that space exists through humans; they are intertwined. Therefore, studying and understanding the relationship between spaces and human actions can offer valuable clues for the development of new and vibrant public spaces. Keywords: complex, urban courtyard, threshold space, Jan Gehl, public life, everyday life