The architectural analysis and evaluation of Darphane-i Amire buildings and the Stamp Printing House in historical process

Money, that is circulated by the state, includes its value on the surface, made by paper or metal, has been the symbol of the sovereignty of the states since the beginning of the history. In Ottoman Empire it?s well known that since the time of Osman Bey, its founder, money is coined. In Ottoman Empire coins were called ?sikke?, the process of minting coin was called ?darp? and mints were called ?darphane?. During the imperial time mints were founded in many cities and money was coined. As from the conquest of stanbul the mint of stanbul becomes the central mint. As from the 16. century it?s known that there is a mint in the Topkapı Palace. After 18. Century ?Darphane-i Amire? in the First Courtyard of the Topkapı Palace sustains its original activity. Darphane-i Amire becomes the only mint of the entire empire in the 19. century and continues to mint coins after the Foundation of the Turkish Republic until 1967. Darphane-i Amire that is located in the First Yard of the Topkapı Palace consists of administiration and production buildings and a printing house named ?Stamp Printing Office? where stamp and valuable papers were printed. After moving the mint in 1967 the empty buildings were used for several purposes. Only the ?Stamp Printing Office?, the stamp printing house , is used in its original purpose. In this project the historical processes and architectural qualifications are researched. The survey projects of the structures besides the stamp printing house are brought together and their present sitautions are defined. The existing position of the stamp printing house is documented with technical drawings and photographs; the structural, architectural and functional problems are determined. A restitution is proposed by analyzing the datas found on the structure. Urgent precautions for the protection of the stamp printing house in its original condition are determined. It?s obvious that by activating the original machines, introducing the old technologies and regenerating the original production in the buildings will revalue the structures technologically as well as architecturally. For the transfer of this value to next generations it is necessary to keep the original identity of Darphane-i Amire buildings. Keywords: Darphane-i Amire, mint, Stamp Printing Office, coin, revenue stamp, minting of coins, minting technology, museum of technology.