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Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Istanbul >> Boat rides - Vapur gezileri >> Boat ride to Büyükada - one of the Princes' Islands > Istanbul Big Princes Island May 2014 6533.jpg
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14-May-2014 Dick Osseman

Istanbul Big Princes Island May 2014 6533.jpg

I did not bother to identify the houses along the route. I had my gps on most of the time, so you may be able to locate their position if you feel like renting, buying even?



Bay windows on the first floor (and eventually on higher floors too) are common in 19th century civil architecture in Anatolia. In all medium size and larger homes, the ground floor was organised as a ‘service area’ (depots, kitchen, residence of the staff, etc.). The ‘haremlik’ (= private living area for the owner’s family), as well as the ‘Selamlık’ (reception room where male visitors were received) were located at the upper floors, beginning with the first floor.
The main room of the ‘haremlik’, where the women of the household spend most of their free time, was generally located at the street side of the house, and often had such bay windows. These windows were (almost always) equipped with wooden grills: the women could easily keep an eye on what was going on in the street, without being seen by (male) passers-by. So, the ‘harem’ – a closed and sacred area, when observed from the outside – appears to have had eyes that observed the outer world (and did so without his knowledge).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: ‘Anadolu Mirasında Türk Evleri’ (T.C. Kültür Bakanlığı) 1995.

Nikon D4
1/2000s f/8.0 at 24.0mm iso500 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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