The place of traditional Filibe (Plovdiv) houses in the spatial structure of turkish houses

Filibe (Plovdiv), over the course of five centuries, became a center of economic and military-strategic importance in the Ottoman Empire. Bulgarian historians have referred to the period between 1730 and 1878, when Ottoman rule had not yet ended, as the "Bulgarian Renaissance" or "Bulgarian Revival." The focus of this thesis is on the houses from this era that have survived to some extent, and the aim of this study is to analyze the architectural features and decorative details of these houses to trace their origins. Through such research, architectural heritage can be better defined, and its interactions with other cultures can be understood. Within the scope of this thesis, 18th and 19th-century houses in Filibe (Plovdiv), whether existing, demolished, or reconstructed, were studied. The construction stages of these houses, their floor plans and sections, were examined in detail and supported with drawings. The characteristic curves of these houses were drawn, and conclusions were drawn. In addition to investigating interior and exterior decorations, detailed drawings of elements such as doors and window frames were also made. The evolution of houses during this period is quite evident. Houses used before 1750 developed in response to the conditions of the time, and by the end of the 19th century, their architectural development had been completed. The pre Renaissance house is characterized by a semi-open layout. The ground floor is used as a stable, while the first floor has a room with a fireplace, a pantry, and a central open area called the "hayat". Similar to Turkish houses, there are seating areas known as "sedirlik" in the hayat. Over time, spaces called "eyvan" in Turkish, developed between rooms. In the process (early Renaissance), the houses became more inward-looking, the staircase, originally located at the edge of the hayat, became an internal staircase, and the main facade of the house faced the street. In the late Renaissance period, a new form was developed with Baroque influences. This new form began in Filibe (Plovdiv), where there were strong connections with Istanbul. A table prepared within the scope of the thesis compared the floor plans of Plovdiv houses with the development of Turkish house floor plans, revealing parallels. The most significant influence on traditional Filibe (Plovdiv) houses came from Istanbul and Edirne. One reason for this influence is the strong economic and social relations with the Ottoman Empire's capital. Another reason is the Bulgarian workers who worked as apprentices and rose to the rank of masters in Istanbul and Edirne. In summary, the Bulgarian Renaissance house was created by developing room layouts inherited from pre-Renaissance houses and adding the structural elements required by the new economic production methods and changing social structure. The same spatial development is also observed in Istanbul and Edirne houses, where the characteristic elements of the Turkish house are most pronounced.