The Typology of the “Sandal Bedestan” in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Throughout history, trade areas and bazaars have been located in the centre of Ottoman cities. Trade places in the Ottoman city were shaped by culture and developed together with social life. This study focuses on the Sandal Bedestan located in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Bedestans, which are closed structures, are usually stone structures with a rectangular plan. They were built for the sale of valuables such as jewellery and fabrics. Bedestan, which appeared as a type of structure for the first time in the Ottoman period, constitute the core of the commercial fabric of Ottoman cities. In general, the formations of Ottoman cities were realized according to the commercial areas located in the centre. In order to understand the settlement of Ottoman cities, it is first necessary to study the settlements, shapes and relationships of trade areas with landforms. The aim of this research is to present a study on the architecture and history of Sandal Bedestan. Sandal bedestan is one of the two bedestans located in the Grand Bazaar. Sandal Bedestan, built in 1472, is called by this name because a type of fabric called sandal was sold in it. In this article, the reasons why the bedestan has this shape, why it has different characters from other bedestans built during the Ottoman period, why it is located in the Grand Bazaar, why the structure of the fabric and jewellery trade area was built as a bedestan, why it is located in the core of the Ottoman city are discussed and examined by referring to historical sources. The relationship of the Sandal bedestan with the surrounding structures and topography will be examined by looking at maps, drawings, and pictures. Bedestan typologies will be examined and evaluated in the context of plan diagrams. It will be compared with other bedestans built during the Ottoman period, and the similarities and differences between them will be examined. In this study, it will be explained that Sandal bedestan has a strong relationship with urban texture and landforms from an architectural point of view, and that it is a key residential point in the city as an important commercial point in the Grand Bazaar.