Heritage Left to Ruin: Conservation of Ruined Ottoman Hammams in Istanbul

Ottoman-era hammams (baths) in Istanbul constitute an essential component of the city’s architectural identity and collective memory, functioning as key public institutions that shaped the social fabric, urban morphology, and cultural practices of their respective periods. Over time, however, these structures have largely lost their original functions and fallen into disuse for a range of multidimensional reasons, including economic pressures, inadequate legal frameworks, technological transformations, and shifts in sociocultural habits. Economic constraints—particularly challenges in fuel provision and rising operational costs—significantly reduced the profitability hammams. Deficiencies in legal procedures, coupled with the weakening of regulatory mechanisms following the transition from public to private ownership, further contributed to their vulnerability. Meanwhile, the development of modern water infrastructure and the widespread adoption of indoor bathrooms diminished the relevance of communal bathing culture, while the emergence of new social venues rendered many of the traditional social functions of hammams obsolete. This study investigates a selection of abandoned Ottoman hammams that are currently at risk of structural failure, offering detailed documentation of their existing condition, architectural attributes, and historical value. It also examines the sociocultural, economic, and environmental forces driving their deterioration and outlines sustainable strategies for their conservation. The findings highlight an urgent need for comprehensive, feasible, and long-term preservation models grounded in an interdisciplinary approach.