Before passing on to the Ahi Evran-ı Veli Islamic Complex Project, could you tell us a bit about Mi’mar Architects and its projects?
We established the firm of Mi’mar Architects together as Ahmet Yılmaz and İbrahim Hakkı Yiğit in 2005. As two co-founders resuming our architectural carreers in various offices and working fields, we are maintaining our architectural background in building restoration, educational projects including university campuses, urban design services and urban design projects along with our staff, bearing the same architectural responsibilities since 1994. Within this context, ITU TRNC Gazimagusa Campus Architectural Project, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Project and Kirsehir Ahi Evran Islamic Complex Project are some of the projects we are currently conducting.
The project is designed for conserving the Ahi-order tradition, rooted back to 12th century, having an important place notably in Kırşehir and in the Anatolian history. Can we hear the story behind the Ahi Evran-ı Veli Islamic Complex project?
The mayor of Kırşehir, Dear Yaşar Bahçeci considered to design the project in the current 55,000 sqm of area. As a result of a tender they made concordantly, the duty of the project is assigned to us, MI’mar Architects and later on we tried to absorb the project through meeting him. By year 2011, we developed the project by having interviews personally both with him and the experts he referred. Therefore, we would like to mention Prof. Mikail Bayram and Ahi Baba Mustafa Karagüllü whom we visited in Konya and benefited from his knowledge, Prof. Sadettin Ökten and Architect Muharrem H. Şenalp, Mimar Mahmut S. Kirazoğlu, Kazım Ceylan,Prof. Ahmet Kala and his contributions. Other than these names, the project is finalized through phases along with our consultants contributing to the project on various levels. Especially the ambition of our mayor for the islamic complex project to be used for centuries, initiated the project as a stone construction. At this point, we can say that the design process is still in progress for this dynamic project. Implementation projects are performed primarily in the urban design project located in the project area and in the construction plan pursuant to the project. Spaces are designed as partial integrations connected with the current texture. Right at this point, we would like to commemorate the late TURGUT CANSEVER who guided us both with his ideas and his projects.
We already know that you are doing researchs about the Ahi-order. Could we hear about this as well?
The Ahi-order system is impermanent right now. Being a constituent for both Seljuks and Ottomans, this system had to be embraced. In this respect, we reached to a level through having interviews with the aforementioned names and the significant readings performed for reaching inventories related to the Ahi-order such as books, symposiums etc.. Even though there was a demand list for spaces, eventually we tried to take the project to a certain level both for the spaces in quantity and the project in quality by taking the list much further. We had countless visits to Kırşehir, Kayseri, Konya and Nevşehir. We both had interviews with the experts and visited spaces that present importance and quality for their era such as Konya Mevlana Complex and Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Complex. Ultimately, we tried to construct the Kırşehir Ahi Evran Islamic Complex project along with the information and experience received from these people, sources and spaces.
Which issues called your attention for the project being in a public space?
Embodying open and closed spaces on various levels, the most important feature of the project is the accessible quality that embraces everyone comfortably. We made a decision about designing the project in two stories at most, for functioning with less interventions and small expenses during the activities. In conclusion, it’s essential for such group of buildings in this volume to be sustainable and to operate for many years with same quality.
Is the existing green landscape (trees) protected?
Yes, one of the most important criteria of the design is to conserve the qualified trees located in the area. Primarily, the trees are protected in this square and the architectural and urban design is then orientated for the remaining spaces. Therefore, trees are both protected and transformed into elements accompanying and enriching the design rather than being merely units of decoration.
It’s a big project along with 40,000 sqm of building size within a 55,000 sqm of area, embodying Ahi-Order Reference Library, Ottoman/Covered Bazaar, Ahi-Order and Astronomy Museum, Master and Craft Rooms, Shops, Fountain, Stage and Ceremony Area, Boutique Accomodation Facilities and Food & Beverage Spaces. In which phase you stand right now?
Our project is composed of 4 phases in total. The first phase at the center of the project is about to be completed. The preliminary project of all the phases is completed and approved by relevant institutions.
What is needed to be done to make the project sustainable, in other words to keep the culture of Ahi-order alive? Could you reflect them to the project?
Kırşehir is the last major city of the Ahi-order. In the conducted researchs, we see that there are about 30 ahi-order cities in our country. Besides, the Ahi Evran Foundation established its center in Kirsehir during the era, embodied 75 different branches in various centers. The center of the Ahi Evran Foundation is located in Kazlıçeşme, Zeytinburnu and it’s detected that there are 276 foundations involving the name ‘AHİ’ in the whole geography of the Ottoman era. These evaluations describe the importance and substantiality of the Ahi-order for the society in the past. Consequently, it’s endeavored to use all these data for designing the project today. The bottom line is to revive the fraternity and the Ahi-order. Our project is designed within this understanding.
Which materials are used in the Ahi Evran-ı Veli Islamic Complex Project where the locality rises to prominence?
The fundamental construction material in the whole complex is the travertine stone. Reinforced concrete along with the classical stone system are used in compliance with the current earthquake regulations. All of the walls are envisioned through a classical stone system with 60 cm of thickness. Beams, roof, vault systems and partially hidden vertical conveying systems are implemented with special high-strength concrete. Apart from that, titanium zinc is used in the roofing system, wood/oak and aluminium joinery systems are used in all cuttings of windows and door-shutter systems.
What was the quantity of the natural stone? Stones from which region are being used?
4,250 m3 of travertine stone is used and an additional amount of 7,000 m3 will be used in the upcoming phases. The travertine we use is quarried from the region of Mucur within the provincial borders of Kırsehir.
Thank you for all the information you have shared.
