Transformations Of Mesires Along The Anotolian Side Of Istanbul (1839-1938) And Their Connection With The Present

Historical green spaces, integrated into the history of the city of Istanbul, have been one of the most significant components of its wide geography due to their value as social areas. Among them, mesires emerge as original "lawn areas" in the topography of the city. In this study, rapidly changing public spaces of the city and preferences of using different areas due to social changes are handled with an understanding of the historical processes. In this context, the aim of the thesis is to analyse mesires, which were the most popular areas mainly preferred for promenade by people from different social walks during the 19th century and the Early Republican Period, with their green area potential, physical and social effects and contributions to the social life along the Anatolian Side of the Bosphorus; and to define their status in the present. A detailed study has been conducted on the selected areas along the Anatolian shores in the context of the research question: "How did the transformation processes of mesires in the 19th-early 20th century affect by physical, social and political events ?". Physical and social changes in the 19th century, influenced by the western lifestyle and reflected in all aspects of city life, are assessed in the study, mainly focusing on the period between 1839-1938. During this time many political, administrative, social, and cultural modifications came into being, so recreation also began to move into the city's natural areas, or mesires, that had already gained popularity before the 19th century and were used for strolling and social activities. From the Ottoman Empire to the Republican Period, mesires kept their existence up until the middle of the century but with a new design approach, turning them into designed, limited and defined green spaces named as "parks". The following tools have been implemented in this research: firstly, literature sources, then, historical maps of the 19th and 20th centuries; also, archive documents of the Ottoman and the Republican Period, chronicles, historical travel books, engravings of the City and historical photographs. The most important component of this study is field studies performed in each area mentioned in the paper to define the existing site situation. As a result of the source analysis, it is seen that, most of mesires seem to have disappeared under the influence of random construction activities that the city has been recently experiencing. And those places that managed to stay mostly intact continue enjoying their popularity serving as local attractions, although they have lost most of their land integrity. In the first chapter of the study, detailed information is given about the aim of the study, its main components and the methods of this process. In the second chapter, the relationship between the concept of "mesire" and its history are closely examined. This chapter has a chronological order which outlines the etymology, ownership and land use situations of mesires, their value as a "cultural landscape", access conditions to these areas, their social role, visiting times and the reasons for visiting these areas. These themes are evaluated together with conceptual information. Also, historical accounts of foreigners and travellers observing and experiencing life in different counties of the city within certain time periods should not be overlooked as they provide valuable and detailed information about the life in the mesires. And finally, cemeteries are mentioned, which, despite their aesthetic potential, never gained as much social application as mesires. In the third chapter, general situation of mesires before the Tanzimat Period in the 19th century Istanbul will be considered. Firstly, summer places (sayfiye), which existed before the mesire concept in the Byzantine Era and constituted the historical and cultural backbone of Istanbul, are examined, followed by the mesires in the Ottoman Time. Then, important descriptions dated between the 15th and 17th centuries are interpreted, giving us a valuable insight into the City's life at that time, including settlement, transportation, open areas and valuable architectural works of art during the Ottoman Period. The research has shown that, the mesires were considered to be the Ottoman Dynasty's private properties (hasbahçe) and that there were few places known as "mesires" until the 19th century. So, in this chapter green areas are quoted by the literature sources as "private gardens of the sultan (hasbahçe)" or "gardens". However, Kağıthane Mesiresi on the shores of the Golden Horn in the European Part built in the 18th century and Göksu-Küçüksu Mesiresi in the Anatolian Part established in the middle of the 18th century can be considered as exceptions. In the fourth chapter, the main focus is on the general situation of mesires and their transformations throughout the city between the Tanzimat Period in the 19th century and the first quarter of the Republican Period in the 20th century. With the aim of defining the relationship between mesires, which are located in European and Anotolian Parts, and City's physical-social potentials, Westernization process and its' effects on remodeling public life is taken into account. With this aim, the city's topography is evaluated, including the center (Historical Peninsula) and its outer settlements. Moreover, innovations and changes brought by the Republican Period and their effect on the mesires are questioned through the concept of "park". At this point, a comparison is done between Istanbul, where western lifestyle became a norm in 19th century, and Europe in terms of open area usage regarding "park" concept. This comparison is supported by the evidence of change and development of park movements in Europe before 19th century and interpreted as their Ottoman counterparts. In the fifth chapter, selected areas are studied in the context of the chronological theoretical basis in order to provide an understandable and sequential narrative with definite subject matters. In this part, a comprehensive and systematic analysis of literature data, archive documents, period chronicles, traveler observations, photograph archives and historical maps is supported by field studies statistics, including site photographs and site observations. Field studies were performed in each study area at certain intervals, firstly with the aim of determining the location, topography, transportation, settlement character, green area quality and architectural works of art and secondly, for evaluating their social contributions to public life mentioned in the sixth chapter. In this part, a historical process table is prepared for each area and their located settlement, with the reference to the literature sources, archive documents and field study datas. This process analysis is also a kind of synthesis and includes a wide time scope from the Byzantine Period to the first part of 20th century, with the exception of some study areas mentioning the mid-20th century, related to some important developments happening at that time. The analysis of the historical processes also reveals quite clear results about the identification of "mesire" notion. Following this, a detailed historical analysis of maps dated between the 19th and the early 20th centuries was done in order to draw conclusions about physical field situation of mesires and their surroundings during certain periods. In the sixth chapter, a general evaluation of the study areas' details discussed in the fifth chapter is done. In this part, mesires are observed from the three main stand points, namely "physical perspective (location, green area quality)", "architectural work of art" and "social role". This categorization is the result of the research of each study area and is developed in order to provide a more systematic approach. In this context, different schematic images and charts are designed for each evaluated topic to provide integrated and result oriented interpretation approach. As a result, mesires are categorized into three basic groups, such as those "which have disappeared", "partially preserved" and those "preserved to the present time". In this categorization, most of the mesires, "which have disappeared" (Kuşdili Lawn, Haydarpaşa/İbrahimağa Lawn, Istavroz Lawn, Kuleli Garden, Vaniköy, Kandilli Settled Mesire, Göksu-Küçüksu Mesiresi, Kavacık Mesiresi, Paşabahçe-İncirköy) are identified to be negatively affected by the settlement processes and exposed to construction activities (transformation about housing, commercial or carpark areas, etc.). Mesires, which are "partially preserved" are identified as those which have lost most of their green area potential from the past, as most of the land was lost and turned into different site facilities. Their remained land areas were mostly transformed into "parks" (such as Havuzbaşı Mesiresi to Havuzbaşı Park, Sultaniye Lawn to Sultaniye Park), tea gardens (old Moda Lawn to Moda Family Tea Garden); the picnic area near the sea shore (Çubuklu Mesiresi) or areas still keeping their lawn identity (Beykoz Lawn). And areas that are "preserved to the present time" aim to keep their historical green area identity as "parks" such as Fenerbahçe, Yoğurtçu and Baruthane Parks. As a result of the study, it is seen that mesires that are "partially preserved" and "preserved to the present" are able to sustain their historical identity while still enjoying the popularity. In the history of Istanbul, mesires, which have a wide user group from every social background, have transformed into green natural spaces within the urban fabric as the physical growth of the City has stopped.