The evaluation of Kahramanmaraş historical baths within the scope of space organization

Conservation of historical buildings allows us to pass on the culture and history of our country and province to future generations. The strategic location of Kahramanmaraş has served as a host to numerous civilizations or periods over the course of history. There are many architectural buildings that have survived from these civilizations and reflect our history. One of them is the ancient/traditional bath that reflect our washing and cleaning culture. From ancient times to the present, baths have served as cleaning space. Based on information about the bath culture and historical baths of Kahramanmaraş, this study performs a typology study of the historical bath buildings of our city. In order to achieve this, a literature review was conducted in the first instance and an emphasis was placed on the historical development of baths and bathing culture, followed by a discussion of the architectural features and space fictions of historical bath structures in our city. A comprehensive literature review was made on the bath structures, and the structures that have survived to the current day have been examined in situ. This study examined 12 baths in Kahramanmaraş that have survived to the present day. The study also included seven baths that have not survived to the current day, but which followed by literature. Baths are examined under the headings of their history, spatial characteristics, construction systems, plan typology, interior decoration, and lighting. At the end of the study, it was intended to draw attention to the subject of following the changes in the bathing culture in the society through the architecture of the bath, analyzing the spatial configurations and plan typologies of the historical baths of Maraş, and ensuring their sustainability within cultural contexts. Keywords: Kahramanmaraş, Turkish Bath, Spatial Organization, Typology