Abstract :
Hagia Sophia had been transformed into Islamic-Ottoman social complex in the period of Sultan Mahmud I, after the construction of new buildings. Sultan Mahmud I had built a library in addition to a fountain (sadirvan), a primary school, and an almshouse. According to the endowment, the construction of the library had completed in 1740; the library was opened in April, the same year with the participation of Sultan Mahmud I. Hagia Sophia Mahmud I Library was one of the important libraries of its era including its architecture, large collection of books and large personnel strength. The reasons that make the Library developed and became an important institution are; large collection of books, the lectures will be brought into regular education personnel working with determination in the endowment and the payment of wages in case of student attendance.Architecture of the Library; Library was built between two buttresses on the south nave of Hagia Sophia. This type of architecture differentiates Hagia Sophia Library from other libraries. The Library consists of entrance hall, reading hall, light stony ground and Hazine-i Kutub (place where the books were preserved) combining along a corridor. Entrance hall and reading hall with reticulate facade are located indoor; Hazine-i Kutub section is located outdoor of Hagia Sophia. Considering this different type of architectural design, the structure might be gradable as unique.In this article, an assessment is done by explaining the restoration in 2012-2013 after the brief historical process of the Library with its significant architectural type. The subject restoration was done in accordance with the reports of Istanbul Restoration and Conservation Center Laboratories and controlled by Istanbul Special Provincial Directorate of Administration and Istanbul Directorate of Surveying and Monuments.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Sultan Mahmud I , Hagia Sophia , Hagia Sophia Library , Sultan Mahmud I Library , Restoration
