Late Ottoman public architecture in the provinces: The case of Babaeski

Abstract

This study examines the architectural, stylistic, and spatial characteristics of public buildings constructed in
Babaeski during the Late Ottoman Period, elucidating their impact on urban development within the context
of post-Tanzimat centralization policies. The scope of the research comprises nine public buildings
constructed between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, four of which are extant and five of which are nonextant.
Adopting a qualitative methodology, the study evaluates archival records, architectural drawings,
and period publications, supplemented by on-site observations and photographic documentation. The
findings reveal that these public buildings were not merely functional responses to administrative needs but
served as spatial manifestations of the modernizing Ottoman state’s bureaucratic organization, institutional
representation, and center-periphery dynamics. Situated along a specific urban axis, these structures
redefined public space and steered the city’s morphological evolution. The emergence of a secular,
administrative public core—in contrast to the traditional külliye-centered settlement pattern—represents a
concrete reflection of Late Ottoman modernization on a provincial scale. Consequently, this study contributes
to the literature by providing a holistic perspective on the intersection of public architecture and urban
transformation in a small-scale settlement.