Istanbul’s fountains victim of projects for urbanization

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Historical fountains, once commonplace in many Istanbul districts, have fallen victim to the disputed urban development projects, neglect and ill-treatment.

One of these historical fountains had belonged to the Yeridz Mangants Church Foundation, and was built during the reign of Sultan Murad II in the Ottoman Period. It was regarded as unclaimed in 1936 because it was not registered in the 1936 Declaration, then the municipality took possession.

The head of the foundation, Nazareth Özsahakyan, told the Hürriyet Daily News they could not take any action for bureaucratic reasons and the fountain had been severely damaged.

The fountains are in a miserable condition, according to Aydın University Architecture and Restoration Department head Dr. Fatma Sedes, who has conducted comprehensive research on historical fountains.

Sedes said only monumental fountains and the ones located in squares have been restored. “They are restored, but some fountains sustained more damage during restoration,” Sedes said. The remaining fountains‘ pools have been drained and their inscriptions, lead plates and taps have been stolen, she said. “What is more, unfortunately, some fountains disappear under the foundations of huge construction projects,” Sedes said.