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Exploring Istanbul: The Fener and Balat District with Dr. Luca Orlandi

Exploring Istanbul: The Fener and Balat District with Dr. Luca Orlandi


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

The Fener and Balat districts in Istanbul are two must-see destinations stretched along the shore of the Golden Horn. From antiquity to modern-day, its colorful and picturesque narrow streets have hosted Jewish and Greek Orthodox communities, showing an incredible and rich architectural environment in which synagogues and churches alternate wooden houses and stone masonry mansions, between the steep hills and the waterfront. 

During this conversation, we will explore the Fener and Balat districts from an urban and architectural point of view, exploring several landmark buildings that contribute to the history and culture of Istanbul itself. 

Fener and Balat has been for centuries a unique crossroad of different religions and Turkish elements were later introduced in these neighborhoods, adding even more color and creating with its new historical layers a cultural mix of fascinating contrasts. Strolling among the small cafes, the artisan shops, the sumptuous buildings in ruins, the old traditional wooden houses, the mosques, synagogues and churches of these neighborhoods – now populated mainly by Turks from the rural areas of Anatolia – can restore calm to the frenzy and confusion of everyday life in the metropolis of Istanbul. 

Led by an expert on Ottoman Architecture, Luca Orlandi, this interactive seminar will discuss the urban development and the architectural environment of Fener and Balat through the main phases that characterize the districts’ history. Tailored to give accurate details and to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased and deep knowledge of the impressive and rich cultural heritage still visible across Fener and Balat districts.

Luca Orlandi is an architect and an architectural historian. He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at University of Genoa (Italy) and obtained a PhD in 2005 from the Polytechnics of Turin (Italy), within the program: History and Critics of the Architectural and Environmental Heritage. He lives in Istanbul and works as Assistant Professor Dr. in the Faculty of Architecture and Design at Özyeğin University (OZU). He teaches courses such as: History of Architecture, Contemporary Architecture, and Architectural Design Studio. He often participates in lectures, seminars, and workshops in other Turkish universities and abroad, mainly in Italy. He is an active member of ICOMOS Italy and his fields of interest cover several topics like Ottoman Architecture and Master Sinan, Contemporary Turkish Architecture, as well as Genoese Heritage in the Orient and Travelogue and Narratives about the Levant.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review
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N.C. (Yarmouth, US)
Exploring minorities through history and architecture In Fener and Balat area

Historical and present day settlements of the Ottoman/Turkish minorities in the Fener and Balgat districts of Istanbul is explored. Even though the very old maps of the area was interesting but difficult to see the details, I would have preferred that more photos of the buildings and more inside shots would be shown. The talk was very informative and I learned new details and enjoyed the talk very much.

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review
0%
(0)
100%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
N
N.C. (Yarmouth, US)
Exploring minorities through history and architecture In Fener and Balat area

Historical and present day settlements of the Ottoman/Turkish minorities in the Fener and Balgat districts of Istanbul is explored. Even though the very old maps of the area was interesting but difficult to see the details, I would have preferred that more photos of the buildings and more inside shots would be shown. The talk was very informative and I learned new details and enjoyed the talk very much.