Rural Ottoman Heritage and Vernacular Timber Mosques: Documentation of the Çantı Technique in Northwestern Anatolia

Abstract

This study examines vernacular timber mosques constructed using the traditional Çantı technique in the Kocaeli and Sakarya regions of northwestern Anatolia. Based on interlocking wooden elements assembled without nails, the Çantı technique represents a distinctive yet under-documented component of early Ottoman rural architecture.

The research aims to document the current condition, architectural characteristics, and conservation status of selected mosque structures, and to evaluate their significance within the broader context of regional architectural heritage. The study adopts a qualitative methodology, combining field surveys, architectural measurements, photographic documentation, and archival research.

Six mosque structures were analyzed comparatively with respect to plan typology, construction systems, material properties, and restoration history. The findings reveal that these buildings share common features such as rectangular layouts, timber load-bearing systems on stone foundations, and limited window openings, while also exhibiting variations in elements such as minarets, women’s galleries, and restoration interventions.

The study highlights the vulnerability of timber-based heritage structures to environmental conditions, natural disasters, and human interventions, emphasizing the urgent need for systematic documentation and context-sensitive conservation strategies. By providing updated data on the current state of Çantı mosques, this research contributes to the discourse on vernacular architecture. It offers a valuable reference for future conservation and restoration efforts.