Contextual Compatibility and Adaptive Reuse Potential of Muvakkithanes in the Historic Peninsula of Istanbul, Turkiye

Adaptive reuse of muvakkithanes—historic timekeeping houses in Istanbul’s UNESCO-listed peninsula—must prioritize contextual compatibility over functional flexibility. A study analyzing ten structures within 400 m of major landmarks reveals that current uses, such as storage or retail, often fail to align with conservation goals. Instead, successful reuse depends on balancing physical capacity and urban context, shaped by tourism, commerce, transport pressure, local mixed use, and residential character. The research, combining field surveys (July 2024), GIS analysis of land use, open-space access, and environmental pressures, demonstrates that muvakkithanes should not be treated as 'empty rooms' but as heritage structures requiring case-specific functional assessments to ensure sustainable integration into their evolving urban environments.

Belge, E., & Birlik, S. (2026). Contextual Compatibility and Adaptive Reuse Potential of Muvakkithanes in the Historic Peninsula of Istanbul, Turkiye. ISVS E-Journal, 13(3), 84. https://doi.org/10.61275/isvsej-2026-13-03-06