History in Eminönü will revive through restoration

Already hosting one of Istanbul’s most important trade centers, Eminönü district takes on a new appearance with a series of restoration activities. The restoration project covers the Spice Bazaar, New Mosque and the Grand Bazaar enabling the Historical Peninsula to reach a new vision as the intersection of trade routes. With each to be restored in different periods, the total cost of the project will amount to TL 220 million.

BIGGEST IN HISTORY

Visited annually by 92 million people as the world’s oldest shopping center, the Grand Bazaar will go through the biggest maintenance in its history. Starting from the roof, the restoration activities are expected to be completed in around ten years. The massive restoration will be the first comprehensive repair on the 554-year-old historical bazaar and will be launched under the auspices of Fatih Municipality. The ancient bazaar’s roof restoration will be completed within 1.5 years, and 1.5 million tiles will be used in the roof restoration process.

AS OLD AS 5.5 CENTURIES

Undergoing partial restoration activities in its 5.5-century history, the historical bazaar saw the proposal for comprehensive restoration project first in 2009. It took six years to get approval and take the first step. The huge restoration project will take place in three main stages; which will involve strengthening the roof, infrastructure, and bearing walls, respectively. In the first stage, nearly a 110,000-square meter area including 21 shelters will be restored. The total project is expected to cost TL 200 million.

FIRST IN 71 YEARS

The Spice Bazaar, one of Istanbul’s oldest markets after the Grand Bazaar, will give impetus to trade with its renewed face. Undergoing restoration in 1945 the last time, historical market will undergo restoration with its dome, interior walls, and roof. The project is expected to be completed throughout 2017. To ensure water insulation, the historical market’s roof was covered by the membrane in addition to the further covering of the wooden roof with lead. Involving hand-carved manufacturing of the cross corridor vaults; the restoration project will cost in total approximately TL 11 million.

TO BE FINISHED IN 2.5 YEARS

The New Mosque will also get its share from the restoration projects as the first structure to welcome visitors in the Historical Peninsula. Recorded in history as the Ottoman-era mosque with the longest construction period, the New Mosque had its most recent restoration in 1983. The mosque’s interior, roof, doors, and exterior will be renewed during the first restoration project in 33 years.

The project has a total cost of TL 8.5 million and is expected to be completed in 2.5 years.

SHOPPING WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED

Merchants will resume their activities in the Grand Bazaar during the largest restoration project in its history. Restoration will not take place simultaneously in every part of the old bazaar. The project will first focus on parts requiring an emergency response to be followed by gradual improvements in other parts. The roof renewal in the first stage will clear this part of cables, air conditioners, and TV antennas. A special activity will be conducted during the infrastructure restoration. A so-called “box” system will enable repairs by going underground in any case of failure without the necessity to dig open a particular area. Therefore, shopping activity will never stop in the historical bazaar and tourists will always be able to visit this place.

CRACKS WILL GET FILLED

Called the Egyptian Bazaar in Turkish due to its construction with taxes collected from Egypt, the 3.5-century-old Spice Bazaar witnessed the formation of cracks in the wall and roof over the years. As part of the activities, cavities in the bazaar walls were filled hydraulic lime through the injection method. The surfaces of the bazaar’s walls were cleaned with the blasting method. İnterior equipment, transformers, and air conditioning systems will also be installed in the coming days.

LEAD COVER TO BE ENTIRELY RENEWED

Initially called “cruelty” by people due to its long construction period, today the New Mosque serves as the entrance to Eminönü through the sea. The historical mosque’s lead cover will be renewed completely as part of the restoration works launched in March 2016. All damaged tile panels will be renewed following the damage assessment. Additionally, all paneled and kündekari doors, shutters and window frames are to be renewed, too. All imitation stone facing on the mosque’s exterior will be corroded, and it will be covered by the küfeki stone.

01 Eylül 2016 Perşembe

Etiketler : English