CIPA 2005 XX International Symposium. 26 September - 01 October, 2005, Torino, Italy 
1150 
THE WINDOWS OF HISTORICAL BUILDINGS IN KIRKLARELi/TURKEY: 
CHARACTERISTICS AND PRESENT CONDITIONS 
I. Yiiksek 3 , N. Erdogan h 
a izzet Yiiksek, Trakya University, Faculty of Technical Education, P. Box 14 39100 Kirklareli, Turkey - izzetyuksek@trakya.edu.tr 
b Nevnihal Erdogan (Prof.Dr.), Trakya University, Department of Architecture, 22030 Edirne, Turkey - nevtrakya@hotmail.com 
KEY WORDS: Windows, Traditional Houses, Degration 
ABSTRACT 
The windows of historical buildings in Kirklareli/Turkey exhibit architectural features that warrant special attention. They reflect the 
essential and characteristic elements of an architectural culture, which evaluates external space as a natural extension of internal 
features. 
The window is a significant functional element of a Turkish house and room. Fixed glass windows located above the lower ones were 
the light sources; whereas, the lower windows protected by wooden shutters or bars were used for ventilation or scenery. A shelf, 
which extended along the four walls of the room used to be placed between the upper and lower windows. The height of this 
continuous shelf was low enough for use. 
The traditional Turkish homes had partitioned glass windows rather than large one-piece types. Windows composed of small square 
glass partitions are the characteristic types of windows in traditional Turkish homes. This is a convenient architectural style both for 
privacy and external perspective. Based on the above-mentioned features, the windows of civilian architectural structures in 
Kirklareli are very' similar to the windows in Traditional Turkish Homes. 
The aim of this work is a formal analysis of the windows in these historical buildings from structural and functional aspects. The 
analysis is composed of the establishment and evaluation of architectural characteristics associated with existing elements of these 
structures. 
The structural features are evaluated by comparing them to the architectural characteristics and materials used in different historical 
periods, as well as in relation to new techniques. Finally, particular attention is given to the state of degradation and damage observed 
and to the restoration of traditional characteristics. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
The window is a significant functional element of a Turkish 
house and room. Fixed glass windows located above the lower 
ones were the light sources; whereas, the lower windows 
protected by wooden shutters or bars were used for ventilation 
or scenery. A shelf which extended along the four walls of the 
room used to be placed between the upper and lower windows. 
The height of this continuous shelf was low enough for use 
(Uluengin; 2000). 
The traditional Turkish homes had partitioned glass windows 
rather than large one-piece types. Windows composed of small 
square glass partitions are the characteristic types of windows in 
traditional Turkish homes. This is a convenient architectural 
style both for privacy and external perspective. 
The lower casement windows of the 17th century homes, which 
were protected by wooden shutters, had immovable glass 
partitions so it was necessary to have high upper windows for 
lighting. In Turkish homes, the finished floor according to 
which the window-heights were adjusted, was constructed to 
meet the functional requirements of the particular room. This is 
a mere consequence of the social structure, customs and usage. 
There was no furniture in Turkish homes; meals were eaten 
sitting on the floor, either cross-legged or on knees, and people 
slept on floor-beds. A room served different functions 
depending upon the time of day. People would sit cross-legged 
on couches raised off the floor that were placed around the 
room in front of the windows. In the traditional Turkish home, 
the window parapet was kept low in relation to the couch. 
The traditional Turkish homes were made of timber. Timber 
was favored for its particular characteristics and as a 
consequence of the Turkish philosophy. In Turkish architecture, 
due to the indispensability of timber frame construction, 
specific dimensions had to be used depending on the structure 
of the material utilized. The first floor had block stone walls and 
the floors above were of timber frame panel walls. The narrow, 
vertical spaces between the posts and braces, which constitute 
the timber skeletal system, are covered with a filler. Thus, a 
modular plan of construction is established for window 
organization and for the overall façade of the structure. In the 
timber frame system of construction, posts with cross-sections 
of 15x15 and 12x12 cm are placed 120-150 cm apart and are 
supported by in-between posts. The skeletal frame mostly 
composed of three centerlines forms, the room with bay 
windows having a three-sided view. This healthy and practical 
type of construction was used in building Turkish homes for 
four hundred years in the Ottoman Empire. 
Based on the above mentioned features, the windows of civilian 
architectural structures in Kirklareli are very similar to the 
windows in Traditional Turkish Homes. 
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 
The present work is part of the study carried out on windows of 
traditional homes in Kirklareli in 2004. A total of 103 homes of 
traditional style were found in the old districts of the city. 
Among these, 57 homes constitute the topic of this study. The 
windows in these buildings were studied in detail, were 
photographed and their plan, sectional elevations and views 
were obtained by scale drawings. The evaluations were based 
on these data obtained. 
3. WINDOW CHARACTERISTICS 
The windows in single and two-storey houses are grouped in 
pairs. The window frame is mounted on the inner edge of the 
wall thickness. The window is either placed directly on timber 
structure or timber lining or on a jamb which is also used as the 
shutter frame. 
The pivoting windows always have a double-casement. The