Spatial Analysis of Traditional Coffeehouses of Cyprus: A Case of Multifunctional Space

ABSTRACT: Turkish coffee is one of the most significant beverages, which had a great power all around the world, influencing patterns of public behaviours and social relationships, regardless of age, gender, economical condition, social status, or ethnic origins. Moreover, throughout the enturies this beverage has preserved and maintained its quality and magnificent taste. Originally, the beverage known as “Turkish Coffee” has obtained its name due to the specific manner, in which it was prepared and served in Turkish culture. Indeed, although first coffee has been discovered in Yemen, it was the Ottomans, who initiated coffee culture and spread it over the various countries. Significantly, Turkish coffee possesses a unique capacity to form its own culture, which, with the time, has been transformed into the conception and establishment of real space, known as “coffeehouse”. In fact, all aspects and traditions of coffee culture has greatly influenced the formation of coffee-spaces, which, in turn, considerably affected various faces of social life, especially in the regions, being under the control of Ottoman Empire. Consequently, Cyprus, which has been once conquered by Ottomans, entirely adopted coffee and coffeehouse culture, which rapidly integrated with local customs and traditions. Remarkably, most of the today’s traditional Turkish Cypriot coffeehouses are preserving the majority of basic aspects and features, adopted from Ottomans and assimilate with local conventions centuries ago. Along these lines, the current thesis is intending to evaluate and analyze the situation of today’s traditional Turkish Cypriot coffeehouses, in terms of its spatial configuration, functional layout, social aspects, and cultural values. In this respect, thirteen traditional coffeehouses in rural settlements of Iskele region of North Cyprus are selected and evaluated according to the traditional features associated with coffeehouses of the past. Thus, the basic interpretations of space formation are developed through investigation of selected spaces, in terms of spatiality, functional layout, activities, and other aspects and factors, influencing the configuration of the space. As a matter of fact, despite of the considerable decrease in popularity due to establishment of contemporary cafes, the traditional Cypriot coffeehouses can still express social values, customs, and various features of Turkish Cypriot culture. Therefore, it is essential to reveal the importance of preserving today’s traditional Cypriot coffee-spaces as one of the signifier and custodian of cultural, social, and communal values within rapidly developing and changing man made environment. Additionally Traditional coffeehouses of Cyprus are the finest example of multifunctional space, which provides simultaneous integration of various activities and social interactions within its boundaries. Keywords: Coffee, Turkish coffee, coffeehouse, traditional Cypriot coffeehouses, function-activity-space relations, human-human relations, Cypriot culture, Ottoman Empire. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………