Page 189 - Çevre Şehir İklim İngilizce - Sayı 3

İbrahim Yenigün-Vildan Balcı-Abdullah Yenigün-Sinan Uyanık

(Canan, 2000). The Ottoman state took important steps in water culture with
the conquest of Istanbul. After the conquest, various reconstruction activities
were carried out, which resulted in adding visual and cultural richness to
Istanbul. Fountains built at every corner, dispensers kept at the top of slopes
for compliments, aqueducts, and depictions of pearl necklaces, which are the
subject of literature, emerged as part of this culture (Urfalioğlu, 2015). The
fountain of Ahmet III and its accompanying dispenser, shown in Figure 3, is
one of the most significant examples of water culture with its visual richness
that has survived to the present day.

Figure 3. Fountain of Ahmet III and Its Corner Dispenser
Considering the lack of technology in that period, Ottoman architectural
works of rare beauty are a manifestation of Islamic metaphysics that they have
reached the present day with durability. Many structures such as reservoirs,
water collection and distribution centers (maksem), dams, pump buildings,
fountains, foot water tanks, etc. constructed in this context have been able
to survive with a close resemblance to their original structures. The Topuzlu
reservoir, which was built in the 18th century and is shown in Figure 4, is
another work of art that has retained its originality.

Figure 4. Istanbul Topuzlu Reservoir (Cangül, 2020)

174 Journal of Environment, Urbanization and Climate