Makalenin konusunu oluşturan Yeni Han, Haliç kıyısı ve yamaçlarında hanlar bölgesi olarak isimlendirilen alanda, Tahtakale'de bulunmaktadır. Tahtakale ve çevresi, liman içi bir semt ve en önemli ticaret iskelelerinin hemen arkasında uzanan bir bölge olarak hem Bizans hem de Osmanlı dönemi boyunca ticaret alanı olma özelliğini devam ettirmiştir. Hasırcılar Caddesi üzerinde bulunan yapı, Tahmis Çıkmazı ve Fındıkçılar Sokağı ile çevrelenmiştir. Yaklaşık 1366.5 m2'lik bir alanı kaplamaktadır. Hasırcılar Hanı, Emin Hanı ve Tahmis Hanı gibi değişik isimlerle de anılmaktadır. Çalışmada ilk olarak Yeni Han'ın da içinde bulunduğu Tarihi Yarımada'daki ticaret bölgesi hakkında, fetih öncesi ve fetih sonrası olmak üzere kısa bir bilgi verilecektir. Fetihten sonra İstanbul'da görülen ticaret yapıları kısaca tanıtıldıktan sonra çalışmanın konusunu oluşturan Yeni Han'ın konumu, yeri ve günümüzdeki durumu incelenecektir. Yeni Han'ın inşa tarihi, yaptıranı ve mimarı hakkında kesin bir bilgi yoktur. Makalede binanın tarihlendirilmesine çalışılmıştır. Bunun için bölgede bulunan ve çeşitli yüzyıllara tarihlenen hanlar incelenmiştir. Birçok hanın duvar işçilikleri, plan ve cephe kuruluşları, avlu sayıları ve mimari ögeleri araştırılmıştır. Toplanan veriler ışığında sonuç olarak yapının 18. yüzyıla tarihlendirilmesi uygun görülmüştür. Bu makale ile bugüne kadar hakkında herhangi bir araştırma bulunmayan İstanbul'un önemli bir ticaret hanı, detaylı bir şekilde incelenmiş ve bilim dünyasına tanıtılmaya çalışılmıştır

The Yeni Han, which is the focus of this study, is situated in an area called Tahtakale, an area made up of the group of such structures lining the shores and upper reaches of the Golden Horn. Tahtakale and its environs serve as an inner-harbor region, one that spreads inland from behind one of the city’s major trade wharves and one that even today continues to reflect the same kind of importance to commerce that it represented during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Facing Hasırcılar Caddesi, the Yeni Han is also surrounded by Tahmis Çıkmazı and Fındıkçılar Sokağı and covers a space of 1366.5 square meters. It has also been known by such various names as the Hasırcılar, Emin, and Tahmis Han. First in study, a brief information will be given about the trade zone in the Historical Peninsula, which is also included in Yeni Han about before and after the conquest period. Then the trade structures seen in Istanbul after the conquest are briefly introduced, and finally the position and situation of the Yeni Han, which constitutes the subject of the study, will be examined. While written history includes nothing certain of its year of construction, its architect, or its builder, this study has tried to establish such data. To this end, this work included investigations into the han’s wall construction styles and materials, the general plans and facades, the numbers of courtyards, and other architectural elements visible in other previously dated hans located in this same region. Based on these studies we can confidently date this structure to the 18th century. With this study, an important trade complex of Istanbul, which has not been investigated until now, will be tried to be introduced to the world of science and art The inlet along the waterway of the Golden Horn, or Haliç in Turkish, is a natural and protected harbor that has always represented an essential element of this ancient city. Its unique features made it a haven for early maritime trade and, over time, its shores became dotted with such harbor amenities as piers, wharves, and warehouses, leading it to rank as the trading center of the city, a role it played both prior to, and following, the 15th century Turkish conquest of the city In the 17th century the city’s commercial center began to spread up the hill from the Golden Horn towards the districts of Unkapanı and Sirkeci, and the Golden Horn wharves began to become specialized according to the kinds of products its warehouses stored. A century later the commercial center began to spread even further inland, towards first Beyazıt and then Aksaray and Saraçhane, where it met with the sprawling complex that made up the Grand Bazaar. In the 19th century the importance of these structures began to be recognized parallel to the development of urban studies and no significant changes were made to these structures that housed both manufacturing and trade activities. Following the conquest of the city, the Ottomans began to construct four different groups of trade-related buildings: Bedestens, the Kapalçarşı (Grand Bazaar), Arastas and Hans. The first group, the bedestens, are secured stone buildings roofed with series of domes. These buildings are accessed through high, iron gates on each of the four sides. Built originally to sell cloth, these bedesten gradually became sales points for antiques and other precious goods. The Eski Bedesten, which is also known as the Cevahir Bedesten, and the Sandal Bedesten were built adjacent to the old palace by the Conqueror, Sultan Mehmet II, (1432 – 1481), as means of securing income for the Hagia Sophia. Over time, these bedestens came to serve as the foundation for the Grand Bazaar, for not long after their construction, various shops and buildings containing workrooms and warehouses began to spring up around them. Soon these areas became warrens of narrow streets and avenues lined with these shops and workrooms. This development continued until it comprised a 30.7 hectare area of building complexes spread over sixtyone streets. This development also led to the construction of Arastas, series of shops lining both sides of a street, which were designed to provide income for various adjacent külliye, complexes made up of a mosque and other charitable and educational buildings and facilities. The fourth group of Istanbul trade-related buildings is made up of large buildings called hans (inns) which are used to store and trade a variety of manufactured and other goods. In the past, these large buildings also served as accommodations for traders and their beasts of burden. These traditional trade and commercial centers, these hans, are primarily seen today in the areas surrounding the Grand Bazaar, the areas between Eminönü, Beyazıt, and Laleli, and on the slopes of the Golden Horn. Because these buildings were constructed to accord to the unique physical features of their sites, they most often do not reflect an adherence to a single traditional plan; despite this, these hans usually comprise a ground floor topped by one or two additional levels. Another common feature is their inner, colonnaded courtyards (mostly one, but sometimes two). Minimal in style, the hans are constructed of stone and/or bricks. Their ground floors are generally used for storage, while the upper levels are reserved for accommodations or offices. The Yeni Han, which is the focus of this study, is situated in an area called Tahtakale, an area made up of the group of such structures lining the shores and upper reaches of the Golden Horn. Tahtakale and its environs serve as an inner-harbor region, one that spreads inland from behind one of the city’s major trade wharves and one that even today continues to reflect the same kind of importance to commerce that it represented during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Facing Hasırcılar Caddesi, the Yeni Han is also surrounded by Tahmis Çıkmazı and Fındıkçılar Sokağı and covers a space of 1366.5 square meters. It has also been known by such various names as the Hasırcılar, Emin, and Tahmis Han.While written history includes nothing certain of its year of construction, its architect, or its builder, this study has tried to establish such data. To this end, this work included investigations into the han’s wall construction styles and materials, the general plans and facades, the numbers of courtyards, and other architectural elements visible in other previously dated hans located in this same region. Based on these studies we can confidently date this structure to the 18th century. Our research has revealed that the Yeni Han shares close similarities with the other hans constructed in the 18th century. Almost all the hans built in that century have walls made up of series of one row of stones and two rows of bricks. The plan of the Yeni Han consists of a ground floor with a colonnaded courtyard topped with one additional level, a plan that is also reflected in almost all the other 18th century hans. And, similar to the other hans of this area, because the building accords to the unique physical features of the site, it too is devoid of a uniform plan and façade. Both the entrance and exit of the Yeni Han are achieved through a single gate. The han also has a second courtyard that was used as a stable. These same features are also present in the Cebeci Han which has been dated to the 18th century. The stables of both of these hans are also located in the same corner. Moreover, the wrought iron room doors of the Yeni Han are identical copies to those seen in almost all the other 18th century hans. Today this han is in an almost complete state of ruin. Its upper story has been demolished. Over time, mezzanine floors were added to the chambers and a basement level was also added. Following the demolishing of the upper level, some windows were opened in the vaulted ceilings. Various of the original window sizes were also altered and some of the windows were converted into doors. Along with this, several of the walls dividing the chambers now reflect different widths and materials. The wall niches and the original flooring have been modified. The courtyard porticos and staircases are no longer extant on the second floor of the han. In recent years, the ground floor of the Yeni Han was used as a coffeehouse. Also, in the early twentieth century a fourstory concrete building was added to the building. While the han managed to continue its original function for a long period of time, the effects of the fires, earthquakes, function-modifications, and unwise additions it has been exposed to during the intervening years have led to the loss of the its original features. As a conclusion, this study represents the first research carried out to date on the Yeni Han. This work also included a brief study into the site on which the Yeni Han stands, looking at both its pre- and postconquest periods. This study has succeeded in dating this previously undated structure, has determined the changes and innovations made to the structure during its existence, and has described the current condition of this structure. The restoration work on the Yeni Han is set to begin at a recent date. It is hoped that while this structure will gain a new function, it will also continue to serve as an important work of our past, one that can serve as an important remnant of our cultural heritage and that will shed important light on our world’s shared history.