Hans, their origin, their develop-ment and potential of their structures for future use are treated in this work. Partic-ular focus should be placed on the com-position of the floor plan of this polyfunc-tional building type; where the structure was maintained over centuries, but the function has been permanently modified.

They were in many regions of Anatolia nucleus and starting point of an urban-ization or were inserted in an already existing urban fabric; made possible by the introverted cell structure around the courtyard. In both cases, physical and functional changes can be perceived by the new environment.In today’s context, the fortress-like archi-tecture has become obsolete. As imper-vious blocks they group into commercial zones of Anatolian cities. Hardly used for accommodations anymore, the hans,

due to their floor plan, which is based on a modular system, are redeveloped for goods storage or processing facilities. Furthermore the courtyards are filled with new informal structures.Robert Hillenbrand speaks of hans as miniature cities that were self-sufficient and led to a concentration or zoning of economic activities within the city. Both trends have the common property, that part of the urban area is pulled inwards and confined in a rigid frame. The im-pression of the isolation is enhanced by the surrounding rooms, which act as a thickening of the boundary between the outside and inside of the han. The interac-tion between the han and the urban fabric is blocked.Does this fortified architecture, which has become part of the city and was previous-ly found only extramural, be dismantled and opened to the public?

Turkish ModernismIstanbul

Chair for architectural theoryProf.-Univ. Dipl.-Ing. Axel Sowa

Chair for building construction and designProf.-Univ. Dipl.-Ing. Hartwig N. Schneider

Comparison

analysis of caravanserais and inner-city hansfloor plans

Hasan Paşa Hanı

The construction of the Hasan Pasa Hani wascommissioned by Grand Vizier Seyyit Hasan Pasha in 1740.

Evdir Han

The caravanserai was built by Sultan IzzeddinKeykavus I (1210-1219) and servedas protection for travelers on the old

Caravan route from Antalya to Burdur.

Context

from metropolitan area of Istanbul to the Süleymaniye quarterurban area

metropolitan area of Istanbul

historic peninsula of Istanbul

Süleymaniye quarter

building site

Evolution

analysis of commercial structuresschemes

caravansereis on the silk routeornamented facades

inner-city hansreduced to complete functionality

IMCwith no context at the Atatürk boulevard

accumulation of hansdirect market environment

Süleymaniye quarter

urban grain plan

Current state

axonometryscale 1:1000

Surrounding buildings

elevationscale 1:500

Proposed design

north-east elevationscale 1:500

Surrounding buildings

elevationscale 1:500

Proposed design

axonometryscale 1:1000

Typologies

floor plans & axonometriesscale 1:250

underground garage5m x 5m

storage room5m x 5m

workshops5m x 5m

accommodations5m x 5m

Proposed design

north-west elevationscale 1:500

Proposed design

north-west elevationscale 1:500

3rd Floor

floor planscale 1:1000

3rd Floor

axonometryscale 1:1000

Section j-j

longitudinal section scale 1:500

Section j-j

longitudinal section scale 1:500

5th Floor

floor planscale 1:1000

5th Floor

axonometryscale 1:1000

Section n-n

longitudinal sectionscale 1:500

Section n-n

longitudinal sectionscale 1:500

Section c-c

cross sectionscale 1:500

Section k-k

cross sectionscale 1:500

Section c-c

cross sectionscale 1:500

Section k-k

cross sectionscale 1:500

Financing

Community fundraising for the constructionaxonometry

Central point of the complex

Replica of the courtyard mosque of Sultan Han in Aksaray, Turkey (1232-36 Seljuk period)