Compositional Approaches in Defining Istanbul’s Urban Identity

The goal of this study is to provide an interpretation of Istanbul’s urban development by comparing compositional techniques in urban designs that have influenced the city’s growth. The investigation is based on theories derived from Italian studies conducted over the course of the last four decades. In these studies, a compositional rather than merely historical perspective was used to analyze urban development and define an urban identity. The compositional research method, as well as the historical one, begins with the analysis of literature and archive materials. These materials, unlike the historical method, are analyzed with a critical stance toward the projects, interpreting, and understanding them through the drawings. When accompanied by a thorough historical analysis, it can provide a complete overview of the designer’s work. The following study aims to demonstrate how the Ottoman city, despite its differences with North African and Middle Eastern medinas in terms of morphology and materials, can be considered an expression of the Islamic city. The primary research focus is on Mimar Sinan, an important figure in Ottoman architecture who worked from 1489 to 1558 and whose name is still widely recognized throughout Europe. The Turkish architect Turgut Cansever (1921–2009) provided new evidence that stems from further and more in-depth examinations of this topic.