Historical development of istanbul, kucukcekmece, azadli gunpowder factory and reconsidering of Kasr-ı Humayun buildings

After XIV century, firearms started to be used in wars intensively. As a result, gun powder production had risen as an important industry in the world. Most importantly, producing good quality of the powder became a significant instrument to win in battle grounds. Since Ottoman Empire could not reach its European counterparts quality in producing gunpowder, factories in the Empire became deficient in production quality and quantity. During this time the Sultan Selim III decided to establish modern and more advanced gunpowder factories which had higher capacity and quality of powder production. Therefore, there became feasibility tests in Istanbul to be able to find an appropriate place for constructing a new gunpowder factory that would be run with hydraulic energy. While searching, near Kucukcekmece town in Azadli Village they found a suitable place which had a brook that had enough flow rates for the mills. So, Azadli Gunpowder Factory started to be built in this village in 1794. Under the engineering of Aragel Usta (Master workman), a pool which had modern cogwheels and gavels runs with water force was built to provide water flow on cogwheels. In a short period of time, the gunpowder factory that included a pavilion named "Kasr-i Humayun" in where the Sultan would stay started to produce gunpowder. However in a very unfortunate accident in Azadli Gunpowder Factory in 1829, almost all structures included Kasr-i Humayun collapsed. The Sultan of the era, Sultan II Mahmut rose up the demolished structures on foundation walls, and he increased the capacity of the gunpowder factory by adding new buildings. In addition to that, the Sultan decided to build Kasr-ı Hümayun structures outside of the factory borders for keeping them in safe from another hazard. The new chosen area is on 25 meter high hill that is 127 km north of the gunpowder factory. Moreover, watching the entire gunpowder facility from the hill was possible. In this area, Kasr-ı Humayun, Nazır Dairesi (Minister House), a water tank and a mosque were built. In 1877 during the Russo-Turkish wars, by Russians movement to the near Kucukcekmece, Azadli Gunpowder Factory stopped its production. After that time, facilities in the factory had lost their functions. The main goal of the thesis is to determine the data that linked with gunpowder architecture in the era and finding evidences about this architecture for documentation. Additionally in the paper, suggestions appeared for protecting and rebuilding the structures of gunpowder factory again. Since Kasr-i Humayun buildings are devoted for Istanbul fire-fighting as an education center, the function of the structure has been Fire-Fighting Education Center. For the reason that there is not enough information and documents to rise up of Azadli Gunpowder Factory Building's remnants, it is been chosen to exhibit as in ruin aesthetic form. Within the scope of the thesis, the plans belong to present condition and original shape of Azadlı Gunpowder Factory and the restoration project of Kasr-ı Hümayun buildings have been prepared.