AN INVESTIGATION ON MARONITES’ HOUSES IN KONYA

Aim: There were many minority subjects under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. These minorities that are active especially in trade and social life, have been able to find the environment in which they will live their own culture. The Maronites, which are among these groups, migrated to the inner parts of Anatolia, including Cyprus, Mersin and Konya, in 1860 due to the internal conflicts in Lebanon. While blending in the local culture, they have been an important element of commercial and social life in Konya with their own identity and culture. This study aims to show how some of the Maronites, who had to migrate to various parts of the Ottoman Empire and settle in Konya, shaped and expressed their houses differently from the local architecture while living in the same climate, topography and geography, and to show how the different beliefs and culture, manifested themselves in their architecture. Method: Within the scope of the study, civil architecture examples built by the Maronites starting from the end of the 18th century in the city centre of Konya were determined from the inventory studies and the Cultural Heritage Preservation Board records. Literature researches were conducted on the subject. Samples that have preserved their characteristics today and are still standing in city centre were selected and examined. Results: The current status of the houses which belonged to Maronites, located on the line between the Anıt Square and historical Girls’ Teachers School in Konya city centre were determined and the Chamber of Architects building, Ataturk Museum, Arapoğlu Kosti House and the Girls’ Secondary School were selected as they reflect the architectural identity of the Maronites. The common features of these houses were determined and compared with traditional Konya houses. Thus, it was observed how these effects were reflected in the houses shaped by different socio-cultural influences, both in terms of spatial organizations and in terms of facade characteristics. Conclusion: Considering the common features of the selected Maronite houses in the study area, although there are similarities with traditional Konya houses in terms of the plan, it is seen that there are baroque and orientalist influences in the plan and the facade in terms of materials used, also in the entrance opening the street, the construction of the façade (such as cornerstones, floor mouldings and window jambs), and the onion dome or wavy eaves detailed roof cover, unlike the traditional civil architecture.