Analysis of Ottoman Baths in the Context of Architectural Typology: Bursa Bazaar Baths

Abstract

The act of bathing, a practice that has maintained its importance from the past to the present, has always been facilitated by bath structures. These structures, which were also of great importance for the Turks, reached their architectural peak during the revered Ottoman period. This study aims to comprehensively examine the architectural typologies of the Ottoman period bazaar baths in Bursa. The importance of this study lies in its contribution to the existing knowledge of Ottoman architecture, as it analyzes the architectural features of these historical buildings in detail. It also emphasizes the urgent need to preserve these buildings and transfer them to future generations as cultural heritage. The methods used in this study include literature review, field study, and comparative analysis. The literature review examined the general characteristics of Ottoman period baths, followed by a detailed analysis of the construction dates, spatial arrangement, and current use of the baths in Bursa. The findings reveal that the bath buildings in Bursa show an asymmetrical structure in terms of plan and mass characteristics, but there are differences in their spatial arrangement and usage patterns. In particular, it was determined that some of the baths preserved their architectural identity despite the loss of their original functions. The results of the study make important contributions to the literature in terms of identifying commonalities and differences between the architectural typologies of Ottoman baths and emphasize the critical importance of preserving these buildings for cultural sustainability and the continuity of historical heritage.