Statement from the Architect about the Restoration of the Maiden’s Tower

Maiden’s Tower, which was under restoration work in the past months, became the agenda on social media with some images shared over the weekend. In the images in question, it was seen that the tower section of the Maiden’s Tower was destroyed. While there were great reactions from social media after the images, official statements were also shared one after another.

Following the announcement of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, a new statement came about the Maiden’s Tower today. In charge of the restoration project architect and restoration expert Prof. Dr. Zeynep Ahunbay shared with Cumhuriyet why the tower was demolished and what to do within the scope of the project.

prof. Dr. Description of Zeynep Ahunbay:

“After a fire in 1944, the upper part of the tower was rebuilt with reinforced concrete. Maiden’s Tower is open to the southwest and is a humid place by the sea. The iron inside the reinforced concrete, which has been used since 1944, was rusted and lost its resistance to earthquakes.

Restoration after the fire was done without documentation, with its own materials. The tower, with the current restoration, II. It will be restored to the state of the Mahmut period. Within the scope of the project, it was decided to renovate the tower, respecting that period. Therefore, the balcony and the dome will be made of wood.”

The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums also shared a statement:

“The reinforced concrete addition, which was built after the fire in the Maiden’s Tower in the 1940s, was carried out by Prof. Dr. Zeynep Ahunbay, Prof. Dr. In line with the reports prepared by Feridun Çılı, Han Tümertekin, and Istanbul Technical University and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation University, stating that the building is not resistant to earthquakes, and the projects prepared under the supervision of our consultants, the cone part is removed from the building in accordance with the principles of universal protection.

Work continues on making it in accordance with its original material, and all documents and developments regarding the restoration and the Maiden’s Tower are shared with all our people at https://kizkulesi.com.”