Transformation of Ishak Pasha Palace

Abstract

This research analyses the transformation of the historic Ishak Paşa Palace, chronologically starting from its almost-a-hundred-year construction period of 1685-1784, through the damages it suffered from wars, invasions and improper restorations of the 19th and the 20th century, and the recent restoration work finished by 2009. Carrying architectural characteristics of Ottoman and Seljuk civilizations, the palace's uniqueness also comes from its central heating systems documented as one the first examples of its kind in the world and its location on the Silk Road in Doğu Beyazıt province of Turkey. Starting from the Russian siege in 1828 and the following wars, invasions the palace suffered from several damages. Not until 1966, after the announcement of its preservation by the Directorate of Monuments and Museums in 1963, the projects for restoration, the first of which included a general clean up, excavation of the site and maintenance of the East and South facades, started to be developed. Restoration works continued until 2007 and it was reported that improper restorations which were damaging the palace had been taking place during the last 48 years. In 2007 once again the palace has undergone another restoration which covered the whole palace with a roof of huge wooden beams and laminated glass visually blocking the perception of the palace both from inside and outside. In the year 2011 a new contract was issued for the restoration of the palace. The article aims to discuss mainly the restoration projects that have transformed Ishak Pasha Palace and have given it its current appearance, within the last 48 years, on the bases of its historical background, an embodiment of a variety of architectural styles together with the wars and invasions it had gone through.