Foreword

The windows of Turkish houses in Kirklareli Province have undergone both a cultural and structural change due to the rapid urbanization experienced in the last 60 years. Throughout history, many different cultures have flourished together in this region, which has resulted in the construction of a variety of styles of buildings. Today, both these buildings and unique architectural features such as their windows are on the brink of total destruction. Only a small number of traditional buildings have been subjected to architectural surveys and many such buildings have already been totally destroyed or are at risk of destruction.

The purposes of this eBook can be listed as follows: firstly, to provide a comprehensive and detailed record of the window examples which constitute an important architectural element of the multicultural city of Kirklareli, and which also bear the traces of the history of the East Balkans; secondly, to present information on the designs and structures built by the practitioners in parallel with the historical developments and changes in the window element. Such information will help academics and practitioners in making deductions about future window trends, aesthetic values and structural characteristics. The third purpose of the eBook is to raise awareness of such buildings among users and other stakeholder, concerning architectural details of the traditional city pattern, which is an important factor in the successful realization of urban conservation projects.