KONGRE BİLDİRİLERİ
The Vilayet of Monastir (Bitolj)
In the year 1878 with a new administrative division of Vilayet of Monastir, becomes one of the
main military, administrative, political and commercial centers.
Figure 5. Photo of demolished
government building(Hűkűmet Konaği)
in Vilayet of Prizren1.
Figure 4. Government building of Vilayet Monastir (Bitolj) 1878.3
Administration building in the Vilayet of Bitolj built during the 19th by style, belongs to the
neo-Classical style. Like other administrative buildings, built during the 1878th up to 1912 has a
similar spatial architectural structure: the number of floors, basement, ground floor and first floor,
symmetrically placed windows with more or less prominent frame, pilasters on the main facade (the
main street) and smaller decor on the facade.
1.2.1.
The Vilayet of Janina
The Vilayet of Janina, was one of the four Albanian vilayets in the territory of Rumelia in the
European part of the Ottoman Empire. Its territory included parts of today’s cities in Albania, eastern
parts of present-day Greece, with the cities of Janina, Arta, Preveza, etc. In this Vilayet, during the
19th century was the famous Ali Pasha Tepelena, its power is directly influenced the development of
the economy in the albanian Vilayets.
1.2.2.
The Vilayet of Kosovo, with the center of Pristina (1878-1888. g.)
In the year 1868, Prizren became center of the Vilayet of Prizren. This Vilajet at that time was the
biggest, which included four large Sanjaks as of: Prizren, Diber, Shkupi and Nish, in the year4 1871.
From the year 1874, Vilayet of Prizren was abolished being replaced with Kosova Vilayet, with its
headquarters in Pristina, as center of Kosova Vilayet from 1878. From 1888 until the 1912th when the
city of Shkupi took the role of being the center of the vilayet after the pressures of Albanian insurgents
against the Turkish government. Pristina city among its role as the most important trade center, was as
well one of the biggest military centers in the Western Balkans.
3 ibid., pp. 37
4 Kalesi, H., “Prizren kao kulturni centar za vreme turskog perioda, Pristina, 1972, str. 98
336
Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü
Figure 6. Government building
(Hűkűmet Konaği) in Kosova Vilayet,
center of Prishtina, 18962
2. ARCHIVED DOCUMENTS FROM THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE AS MEANS FOR
INTERPRETATION
Architectural heritage of Kosova is not equally preserved, either as appearance or by the number
of buildings. The course of history in a particular geographical situation, with frequent wars and
destructions, were not favorable environment for a longer duration and preservation of buildings, that
is the reason why most of them are dating back mainly only to the 19th century. Little is known about
the medieval architecture of Kosovo, except buildings of Fortress (Kale) in Prizren. Among preserved
architecture are mosques, sarays, tekkes, mejtefs, madrasas, etc. During the history, Kosova cities have
gone through difficult and not in favor to urban renewal context stages, by destroying the urban natural
design between mahallas, during the design and creation of residental modern new areas, trying to
have as rectangular streets, often at the cost of destruction of all inherited. During the mid-19th century
Kosova cities receive new architectural structures, by new methods of construction. In essence they
were oriental yet with few other western characteristics like: multistory houses, shops with new doors
and glass, oriental clothes start to modernize, known locally as “ala Franga clothes.”
The aim of this study is: To identify, analyze and then interpret the origin and development of
architectural structure of public buildings and their reflections on the social and public life during the
19th and early 20 in Kosova. From the research objectives, derived tasks of research:
• Analysing documentation of Kosova public building architecture of 19th century, archived in
the main State Archives of Kosova in Prishtina and State Archive in Istanbul/Turkey.
• Collection of original design drawings of Public buildings (Administration/military, health
care, schools, culture, commerce, etc.)
• Analysing art and skill to public building construction in the territory of Kosova, during the
19th and early 20 century, Ottoman Empire in Kosova.
Archived documents that includes visual documentation and cartographic documents, photographs
and sketches of architectural designs, reviewed for the purpose of the research first time in 2008, State
Archive of Istanbul by the author to this study.
The need for a reinterpretation of architectural structures in the 19th century - early 20 century, no
matter of the facts wether still remaining nor being destroyed, is essential for establishing a continuity
of planning development and architecture influenced under the western style. Studies of visual archival
documents, is of importance due to advancement of scientific researches in the field of architecture and
urbanism of Kosova.
Arşiv Dairesi Başkanlığı
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