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In central Türkiye, a local resident has spent 25 years guiding visitors through the childhood home of Mimar Sinan, providing a unique look at the early environment that shaped one of history’s most influential architects.
Ahmet Bekdas, 53, has been serving as the guide of Mimar Sinan’s birthplace in the Agirnas neighborhood of Kayseri for 25 years, helping visitors connect with the life and legacy of the renowned Ottoman architect.
Born in 1490, Sinan lived in the house until he was 22, and the residence now serves as a museum open to the public.
Before the site became a museum, Bekdas had already been working voluntarily to promote the house, and he continues to introduce visitors to its historical and architectural significance.
Sinan later moved to Istanbul, where he rose to become “Mimarbasi,” or chief architect, serving under three Ottoman sultans: Suleiman I, Selim II, and Murad III.
Bekdas explained that visitors come from across Türkiye to see the house where the architect was born and raised, noting that he both protects the site and shares its story with guests.
According to Bekdas, visitors often leave the site deeply inspired.
He added that architects, engineers, universities and various institutions frequently visit the house, where he introduces them to Sinan’s biography, the Agirnas area, and the home’s architectural features in a manner accessible to audiences of all ages.
Bekdas emphasized that the house itself offers clues into Sinan’s early influences. He noted that underground spaces beneath the building were historically used as storage areas such as cellars and depots.
Inside, the structure includes galleries, living rooms, arched sections, kitchens, seating areas and storage spaces. These features, he explained, continue to interest visitors and provide insight into daily life during that period.
Highlighting the broader significance of the building, Bekdas said the structure “became a principle for Sinan, influenced him and inspired him,” underlining how the environment may have contributed to the architect’s later achievements.
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