19th Century (1839-1923) non-Muslim educational buildings in Çatalca province and their current conservation conditions

Abstract

In the 19 th century, significant developments took place in the Ottoman State education system as a part of the modernization process. One aspect of the modernization of education can be found in non-Muslim communities, which were already modernizing education due to the various ideological influences. The number of non-Muslim schools increased rapidly and educational buildings became more visible, especially in Çatalca, Edirne, and Istanbul provinces. As a result of wars, migrations, and population exchanges that occurred in the region during early 20 th century, these schools generally lost their original functions as the communities using them were no longer present. The article focuses on the development process, statistical information, and architectural features of 19 th and early 20 th century non-Muslim school buildings in Çatalca Province, where non-Muslims were densely populated. The study revealed that there were roughly 70 Greek Schools, one Armenian School, and one Bulgarian School in Çatalca Province in the 19th century, and only nine of them still exist. This article aims to shed light on the historical memory of the non-Muslim educational buildings in Çatalca Province, both extant and lost, with the aim of better understanding the shared heritage of the area. The conservation status and transformation process of these nine extant structures have been analyzed according to the holistic evaluation of the international charters. In conclusion, this article presents an evaluation and potential for the conservation of the extant school buildings with respect to their original architectural identities and cultural significance