THE ROLE OF EKREM HAKKI AYVERDİ IN CONSERVATION OF THE OTTOMAN ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE IN THE BALKANS

Historic conservation and enhancement of the architectural heritage requires constant struggle against time, since various effects work against the preservation of historic buildings. Therefore, identification and documentation of the searchitectural works when they are still present is of paramount importance. In thissense, the research regarding the Ottoman architectural heritage in the Balkanswhich was conducted by Ekrem Hakkı Ayverdi and his team 40 years ago, haspriceless value.Considering the direct effects of the process in the Balkans for the last 20 years onthe Ottoman architectural heritage, the importance of the documentation done by Ekrem Hakkı Ayverdi can better be understood.Ekrem Hakkı Ayverdi, has made extensive field research and archival work with a team of colleagues, I. Aydın Yuksel, Gurbuz Erturk and Ibrahim Numan between1975-1983. The four volume book "Ottoman Architecture in Europe" which waswritten as a result of this study gives documentation about 15 669 architectural work. The book which provides survey drawings and photos of many buildings inthe region is an important document of Ottoman architectural heritage in theBalkans. Today, many of the buildings which have been listed in Ayverdi's book are totally damaged or forgotten, undergone change because of the renovations, or instruggle to stand.This paper searches the role and importance of the research and publications by Ekrem Hakkı Ayverdi, on the conservation and enhancement of the Ottoman architectural heritage in the Balkans