SELJUK PERIOD INTERIOR ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CARAVANSERAIS IN ANATOLIA

Abstract

Caravanserais are structures built by the Anatolian Seljuk State to meet the accommodation and security needs of merchants traveling along trade routes. These buildings have conveyed valuable information about the advanced architectural and artistic understanding of their period to the present day. However, many caravanserais suffered damage over time due to various reasons and have undergone restoration in order to survive. This study systematically examines the current conditions of caravanserais from an interior architectural perspective. Although caravanserais have been addressed in the literature by different disciplines, they have not been comprehensively analyzed in terms of interior architecture. Therefore, the study aims to emphasize their interior architectural significance, comparatively examine examples with mixed and closed plan types, and contribute to the transmission of their artistic and spatial characteristics to future generations. The research seeks to identify both common and distinctive features of caravanserais regarding spatial organization, architectural style, construction techniques, and decorative elements. The study framework was developed using information obtained from various written sources. Selected structures were analyzed through a qualitative case study method. In this process, the spatial organization, architectural style, construction techniques, and decorative characteristics of the examples were documented through on-site observations and photographic records, followed by comparative analysis. The comparison of four caravanserais revealed that, in addition to shared architectural and interior architectural characteristics, each structure also exhibits unique spatial stylistic differences. As demonstrated by the Sarıhan example, the active use of these buildings supports the preservation and transmission of their spatial character to future generations.