Architectural Heritage of the Ottoman Balkans: Public Buildings and Urban Spaces

The Ottoman Empire’s rule in the Balkans began in the late 14th century and continued until the late 19th century, and its impact on the region’s history, culture, and society was significant. The systematic study of Ottoman influence in the Balkans, however, has only gained pace from the early 20th century.

Architectural Heritage of the Ottoman Balkans: Public Buildings and Urban Spaces explores aspects and instances of Ottoman public architecture in the Balkans, a region that encompassed diverse populations, climates, and landscapes, all of which contributed to a wide array of architectural variations in both public and private structures. Throughout the book, a common thread emerges: the rich tapestry of Ottoman architecture in the Balkans reflects a synthesis of influences, both local and global. Ottoman, regional, and European architectural traditions intertwine to create a distinctive architectural identity that characterizes the region.

This book also underscores the challenges of studying historical architecture, including language barriers and the scarcity of well-preserved records, while highlighting the importance of understanding these structures in their historical and cultural contexts.

Velika Ivkovska (ICOMOS Macedonia) is an engineer architect and an assistant professor. She completed her PhD at Istanbul Technical University between 2014 and 2018 at the Faculty of Architecture. She is the author and co-author of numerous monographs and scientific papers. Her fields of interests include Ottoman and vernacular architecture as well as the fields of Byzantine and modern architecture.

Stela Tasheva defended her PhD thesis on the semiotics of architectural graphics at the Institute of Art Studies of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in 2012. She is currently a professor at the University of Forestry in Sofia and is a member of the Bulgarian Chamber and the Bulgarian Union of Architects.

Haris Dervisevic is an associate professor of Islamic and Ottoman Art at the University of Sarajevo. He has also lectured at the University of Lisbon and the University of Graz. He is a member of the Historians of the Islamic Art Association and many other academic networks including the International Council of Monuments and Sites.