Architecture 2.0

Walking around and simply coming across interesting structures, frequently with no idea what they are about. This roof is on the oldest building on our street, as seen from our terrace:

The residency is named after this caravansari, or inn for traders and their horses and camels, built on a Genoese cathedral:

The two-storey structure reveals Romanesque arches on the ground floor and pointed Islamic arches on the first floor:

Originally I had thought to do some sound pieces within these upper vaulted spaces, but the perished render over the brickwork creates a highly absorbent acoustic and very dead sounding space. This level is reached by an external stair:

There are, however, some very cool doors here, obviously not old:

 

 Although this one looks like the entrance to a corner tower:

Aside from a few stones on the ground level paving this intricately carved Corinthian capital is the only relic of the Italian Renaissance period remaining in the caravanasri, utilized as a support for, I've been told, an illegal water supply:

Walking up a parallel road towards the other Genoese monument in our neighbourhood, the Galata Tower, once again the steep geography is evident (spot all the steps on the pavement? Five on the right, just below the man delivering the ubiquitous 20 lt bottles of water). This is looking up towards Şişane/Tünel:

A bit difficult to see is that the road is completely blocked with parked vans looking in both directions. Note how the buildings' roof lines step down. Apparently it was 'code' to not block the view towards the water, although from this street one can just barely make out the other side of the Golden Horn, but no water:

But just here is an empty lot, fenced in and looking onto this unidentified structure:

This part of the city seems to be a jigsaw puzzle of 110% density interspersed with the occasional vacant space. Another steep street (well, cars do traverse it but it is great exercise walking up it!) with an unusual brick and stone pattern:

 Islamic arch above barred window:

and more interesting brick and stone combination just behind the oleander. Note the crenelation at the roofline: