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Restoration Diary


April 26, 2023

We have reached the final stages of the restoration of the Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi). Upon completion of the fabrication of the facade and dome, the piers were then removed. The coastal fortification works have been completed and the temporary embankment around the island, which we mentioned in our previous posts, continues disassembly starting from the north side. Landscaping arrangements are being made with the continued installation of the landscape foliage. Electrical and mechanical installations are almost finished. The restoration of the tower's one-story building on the west side, dating back to the period of Mahmut II, is nearing completion. The final touches to the tower interiors and the castle courtyard are wrapping up, and the dedicated teams are working to open the Maiden's Tower to visitors as soon as possible.

Figure 1: The general view of the tower that emerged after the dismantling of the piers.

Figure 2: Image of the removal phase of the temporary embankments on the shore.

Figure 3: Mahmut II period structure manufacturing phase and landscape manufacturing.

Figure 4: The original marble inscriptions, columns, and shelf slabs that remain today from the end of the 19th century have been preserved and resituated in their original places.

Figure 5: Landscape stone cladding and lighting-a view of the manufacturing phase of furniture for seating purposes.

Figure 6: An image of the interior application of the lath and plaster in the building of the Mahmut II period.

Figure 7: View of the manufacturing stage of the castle’s inner courtyard stairs.

Figure 8: View of the manufacturing stage of the stairs in the tower.

Figure 9: Landscape manufacturing stage view.

March 7, 2023

During the restoration of the Maiden's Tower, the work on the wooden dome, mentioned in our previous posts, was completed. The dome image was reconstructed in accordance with its original appearance, and the coating and finishing stages were started. The reinforcement work on the historical masonry walls have been completed. Scaffolding dismantling has begun on the castle walls as production has been completed. The dismantling of the scaffolding will continue in the other areas as well. In addition to the tower and castle restoration works, in terms of the survival of the Maiden's Tower, soil filling has started for the ground vulnerabilities around the island and the ground strengthening works continue. The production of steel-reinforced concrete integrated piles anchored to the bedrock at an average depth of twenty-four meters is being carried out at the level of the island boundaries. Thus, the surroundings of the structure are strengthened against possible tremors, floor slides, and other hazards that may occur. The refilling of the island’s ground and other tasks in the tower-castle areas are being conducted concurrently in coordination with the other teams on the island.

Figure 1. Images from the construction phase of the wooden cone.

Figure 2. Images from the construction phase of the wooden cone.

Figure 3. Pre-coating appearance of corner steel sheet reinforced structural wooden walls.

Figure 4. Interior view of the dome; solid manufacturing stage.

Figure 5. An interior image of structural wood and steel reinforcements.

Figure 6. An image of the under-lead felt, and lead coating production started after the completion of the wood production in the dome.

Figure 7. An image of the under-lead felt, and lead coating production started after the completion of the wood production in the dome.

Figure 8. The appearance of the scaffolding on the castle walls, whose production has been completed, after dismantling.

Figure 9. Castle wall walkway steel carcass manufacturing stage image.

Figure 10. The image of the historical walls after reinforcement and joint manufacturing.

Figure 11. An image of the ground reinforcement manufacturing stage made with steel-reinforced concrete piles made around the island.

Figure 12. Temporary filling to fill the ground around the island.

January 11, 2023

We are entering the last stages of the restoration work. After the dismantling, explained in our previous public updates, we have begun reconstruction. In the tower, the application of steel flooring on the protected historical walls has been completed and the flagpole has been put back in place. After the production of the steel structural elements, wood manufacturing started. Work on the wall’s axis alignment, which houses the door-window gaps of the structural design with a wooden cone, is nearing completion. Wooden elements forming the cone taper continue to be put into place. The production of stainless-steel lines and joint pieces, needed for reinforcement purposes, on the walls of the tower and the castle’s masonry body also continue.

The work on the wooden structure from the period of Mahmut II, on the facade facing the Üsküdar side of the castle, the castle courtyard, and the tower interior stairs, will be conducted in the next phase. In addition, it was requested that the General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure investigate the ground deformations and the current condition of the piers located on the Maiden's Tower’s island and to take the necessary next steps. In 2022, in the determinations made by the General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure deformations were found due to sea waves and earthquakes, and on the ground, it was established that waves had eroded the island's floor. Also, in the past, the fenders, bollards and rings, key components of the dock structures, became unusable, and the block stones in the fortification structure were scattered into the sea. Restoration and strengthening works on the superstructure are being carried out by our Ministry. According to the projects approved by the İstanbul Cultural Heritage Protection Board No. 6 and the Advisory Board by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments, work will be started to ensure its permanent stability by making a girdle with rock fortification and pile construction on the island.

Figure 1.

Figure 2. Masonry walls are reinforced against earthquakes by forming lines with stainless steel reinforcements within the structure.

Figure 3. Beams built in 1999 and that did not contribute statically to the structure were dismantled and removed from the structure.

Figure 4. The dentil coping on the castle walls has been completed.

Figure 5. Tower balcony flooring manufacturing stages.

Figure 6. Manufacture of octagonal steel flooring.

Figure 7. Installation of the flagpole and starting of wood production.

Figure 8. Stages of wood manufacturing.

Figure 9.

Figure 10. Stages of wood manufacturing.

Figure 11. The condition of the reinforced concrete stairs in the tower after careful dismantling.

Figure 12. Performing the crescent and the star on the minaret and lightning rod installation.

Figure 13. Dismantling of the scaffolding around the flagpole.

Figure 14.

Figure 15. Pile and rock fortification fabrications to be conducted around the island.

September 14, 2022

Within the scope of the restoration project, which has been revised in accordance with the technical reports shared with the public in recent months, the dismantling of the non-original building elements of this historical structure in terms of conservation and engineering science continues. In the previous information note dated August 16, 2022, the dismantling works on the cone section, have been completed in such a way as not to damage the original parts of the monument. As was detailed in the technical reports mentioned above, and can be seen in the photos below, the parts that were found to have completed their life, and those that were built with the reinforced concrete construction technique in 1944, were removed from the structure.

It is respectfully announced to the public that the reconstruction of the cone part of the Maiden's Tower will begin with original materials according to the restoration project prepared on the basis of the Mahmut II period restitution. The revision was approved on August 10, 2022.

Figure 1. Photos of the construction process of the dismantled cone in 1944.

Figures 2,3. Reinforced concrete cone dismantling stages.

Figures 4,5. The condition of the structure after the removal of the reinforced concrete cone from the structure.

Figure 6. The condition of the structure after the removal of the reinforced concrete cone from the structure.

August 16, 2022

The work on the flagpole, detailed in the previous information record, has been completed and the dismantling of the other reinforced concrete elements in the cone section of the structure continue.

Furthermore, it is announced with respect to the public that the updated restitution work in the light of the data obtained during the restoration process and the restoration project, which will allow the dismantled parts of the structure to be rebuilt with original materials, has been approved by the İstanbul Cultural Heritage Protection Board No. 6 as of August 10, 2022.

Figure 1. The dismantling method applied at the upper elevations of the reinforced concrete tower shipment.

Figure 2. The dismantling method used in the lower elevations of the reinforced concrete tower shipment.

Figure 3. The use of sand in the shipment of reinforced concrete tower.

Figure 4. The use of sand in the shipment of reinforced concrete tower.

July 25, 2022

An important part of the restoration work is the dismantling of the reinforced concrete sections that were added to the structure in the 1940s. As a result of the investigations carried out with the initiation of the strengthening and protection work in these sections, it was found that the concrete material had lost its properties due to the use of sand and shells and that the iron fittings suffered excessive corrosion causing cracks to the structure. This situation was reported by our consultants and a decision was made to completely dismantle the reinforced concrete parts. This process, which includes the dismantling of the cone part of the tower, has been approved by the conservation board. The development of application projects for the reconstruction of the dismantled parts with original materials continues.

Prior to the dismantling works of the flagpole, careful dismantling of the copper crescent and star on the minaret was conducted. Parts of it were taken to the workshop for documentation and conservation works. Gold leaf residues have been detected on the copper crescent and the star on the minaret, and the observed distortions have been documented with drawings and photographs. Some cracks had been observed on the flagpole, and at the junction of the pole and the cone, with material properties degradation due to the wind and natural elements. Dismantling operations of the deteriorated reinforced concrete elements will begin in accordance with the decisions of the Protection Board.

Figure 1. Cracks visible in the reinforced concrete flagpole.

Figure 2. The condition of the reinforced concrete flagpole.

Figure 3. The state of the copper crescent and star on the minaret before the conservation works.

July 07, 2022

Within the scope of the works and in accordance with the decisions of the Conservation Board, a temporary suspension-closing scaffolding manufacturing that will protect the structure from adverse climatic conditions and static risks-and the dismantling of the unqualified additional buildings that were added to the historical structure continue. However, during the georadar operation, gaps and anomalies were observed. Considering this information, strengthening measures have been started for the original walls. The implementation project details are continuously updated in light of new data. The development project continues under the supervision of the knowledgeable consultant committee.

Figure 1. Northern and western fronts georadar survey data.

Figure 2. South front georadar scanning data.

Figure 3. The process of removing the reinforced concrete pediment from the structure.

Figure 4. The condition of the north facade and the battlements after the removal of the reinforced concrete pediment, the reinforced roof, and the mezzanine floor from the structure.

Figure 5. The condition of the western and southern facades after the removal of the additional building roof and mezzanine floor from the structure.

Figure 6. The dismantling process of the reinforced concrete structure built adjacent to the eastern facade of the tower.

Figure 7. The dismantling process of the reinforced concrete structure built adjacent to the eastern facade of the tower.

Figure 8. Details of the dentil, which was filled in later, appeared after the dismantling of the structure adjacent to the eastern facade of the tower.