Acoustic Evaluation of a 19thCentury Ottoman Palace Theatre

Abstract

The concept of architectural heritage gained extra value by the growth of its limits as to cover acoustical heritage during the last decade. Conservation of the acoustical environment of the spaces such as open air antic theatres, worship spaces, opera and concert halls has to be an important part of the architectural heritage concept. The original acoustical environments of these spaces are worth to document, protect and even restore as they play a signifi cant role in the past of humanity. On the other hand, studies on the acoustical properties of historical buildings may provide several clues to recent problems besides creating a different type of documentation related to these edifi ces. Respectively, more and more building types and acoustically important halls are being studied for documentation, investigation and examination purposes. This article covers the acoustical evaluation and documentation of Yildiz Palace Theatre (1889) which is a building that has both national and international importance for being the only Ottoman Empire (1299–1922) palace theatre that could survive until now. The result of observations, measurements and evaluations showed that the theatre is suitable with respect to its present functions of speech and chamber music, as it was in the past.