The Influence of Ottoman Era İstanbul Architecture on the Maghreb
Ahmed Saadaoui

Conference Wednesday 9 May 2012, 18.30 Throughout nearly four hundred years between the 16th and the 19th centuries, the three Ottoman provinces in the Maghreb had close ties with İstanbul, the Empire's capital. Hence, many historic cities in the Maghreb owe their current appearance to the Ottoman era. This lecture aims to offer certain reference points for a better understanding of the architecture in the centers (Tripoli, Tunis, and Algiers) of these three provinces. Furthermore, the lecture strives to demonstrate the features of this architecture, follow its development, and interpret it within the context of the Empire. This paper intends to demonstrate that within this cultural panorama, a consistent concept of architectural complex (külliye) emerged in Tripoli (Darghouth Paşa/Turgut Reis Mosque Complex, 1560) and Tunis  (Yusuf Dey Mosque Complex, 1615) through the influence of İstanbul. Numerous monuments in Maghreban cities such as the New Mosque (Yeni Cami) in Algiers and the Muhammad Bey Mosque in Tunis, bear resemblances to their counterparts in İstanbul. According to Tunisian sources, the latter is modeled after the Yeni Cami (New Mosque) in İstanbul. On the other hand, while the region adheres to the architectural tradition of square layouts, it also gives rise to cylindrical minarets. During this period, we also witness the emergence of a characteristic art of architectural decoration, -particularly in tiles, marble reliefs, and calligraphy- inspired by the capital of the Empire. Admissions free. The conference language is French. Simultaneous translation into Turkish will be available.