Koza Han, located in the center of Bursa between the old Orhan Mosque and the grand Ulu Mosque, is evidence of the city’s remarkable heritage. Designed by architect Abdul ula bin Pulat Shah, commissioned by Sultan Bayezid II in the late 15th century, this caravanserai served as a basis for the Sultan’s great undertakings in Istanbul. Koza Han has not only maintained its architectural integrity over the years but also kept on being a hive of trade, especially in the silk business.

Maintaining the basic features of a typical caravanserai and adding elegant artistic aspects, Koza Han epitribes the Ottoman architectural heritage. Fundamentally, the construction is set around a large courtyard where a remarkable six-fountained pavilion mosque (mescid) forms the center point. Rising on a hexagonal basis, this prayer area balances and harmonizes with the surrounding arcades and rooms. The elaborate stone carvings on the huge entrance gate accentuate the architectural grandeur and massive presence of the inn even further.

A unique achievement among medieval commercial buildings, the han’s structural integrity stays mostly intact despite decades passed. Its design reflects the time-honored caravanserai tradition, with a lower level set aside for trade and storage and a top level housing traders. This practical design guaranteed the security of their expensive goods and let dealers run company effectively.

Koza Han has been known by many appellations during its long history, each reflecting a particular stage of its life. Originally called Yeni Han (New Inn) or Han-ı Cedid, it eventually changed its name to Han-ı Cedid-i Evvel after Pirinç Han was under development. Other titles, like Han-ı Cedid-i Amire, Yeni Caravanserai, Beylik Han, and Simkeş Han, have found their way into historical archives attesting to the han’s prominence in Bursa’s mercantile environment.

Still, the name Koza Han has lingered over the years from the silk cocoon commerce that thrived inside its boundaries. Traditionally known for its silk output, Bursa developed into a major center for traders of this sought-after item. Renting rooms in the han, silk dealers would use the top quarters for lodging and business meetings and the bottom chambers for storage. This dual-use system made commerce easier and let stores monitor their silk purchases with simplicity and efficiency.

Amazingly, Koza Han has remained a vibrant marketplace with its commercial use all those years. Although the nature of trade has changed and new boutiques and cafés are scattered among traditional silk vendors, the han stays closely linked to its ancient background. Reflecting Bursa’s prominence in the Ottoman and worldwide silk trade, visitors can still discover premium silk goods. The vibrant environment of the han, enhanced by the presence of artists, merchants, and guests, reflects the attitude of its legendary past.

History

Originally the capital of the growing Ottoman Empire, Bursa thrived as a center of silk trade and manufacture. From the 14th to the 16th centuries, the city’s economic life was summed up in a complex web of commercial buildings comprising bedestens (vaulted markets), bazaars, and hans (caravanserais). At least thirteen of these buildings remain, evidence of the city’s continuing trade legacy despite centuries passed and the destruction of seismic activity.

Beside the ancient Orhan Gazi Mosque in the center of Bursa’s traditional market area is the Koza Han, a symbol of the city’s silk trading dominance. Early in 1490 Sultan Bayezid II commissioned the han; it was finished by September 1491. Abdul Ula Bin Pulad Shah’s architectural talent helped to realize this idea. Mostly acting as a waqf (endowment), the han received funds for the upkeep of the vast mosque complex owned by Bayezid II in Istanbul.

Apart from its purpose as a marketplace, the han was a vital center for foreign traders providing housing, storage for products and animals, as well as specialized areas for trade offices and workshops. One of the most well-known residents of the early 16th century was the commercial agent of the famous Medici family from Florence, therefore confirming Bursa’s place in the world silk trade. With opulent silk stores still lining its hallways today, the Koza Han stayed a lively hub of trade even as the silk business slumped in importance. The han saw several repairs over time—in 1630, 1671, and 1784—to maintain its structural integrity and visual splendor. The focal component of the ensemble, the central mosque underwent significant repairs in 1946 and 2007. Visiting the han in 2008, Queen Elizabeth II along with Turkish President Abdullah Gül attested to their cultural relevance. Beyond its function as a silk trading center, the han has developed into a social enclave today with thriving cafés and tea gardens where guests may experience history among a busy business scene.

Architecture

The architectural beauty of the Koza Han is clearly shown in its painstaking building. Its strong but aesthetically arresting façade, which is characteristic of Ottoman-era masonry, is made by alternating layers of stone and brick. Following the classic caravanserai pattern, the edifice has a rectangular floor plan with a 45.9 by 37.5 meter wide courtyard in front of Surrounded by a two-story gallery, this courtyard offers access to a variety of small, barrel-vaulted chambers originally set aside for stores and their products.

There are fifty rooms on the ground floor and fifty-four rooms on the top floor, each radiating a historical accuracy. Rising on eight strong pillars, a modest, octagonal stone mosque (mescit) is a unique architectural feature at the heart of the courtyard. This elevation was a practical design decision that guaranteed the purity of the prayer area by keeping pack animal pollution under control. Underneath the mosque, at ground level, is a fountain surrounded by a space set aside for ceremonial ablutions, hence highlighting the han’s religious and commercial duality.

An magnificent stone-and-brick doorway that stretches outward from the main façade marks entrance into the han. With spiral moldings around its borders and geometric designs created from inset colored tiles, the portal invites traders and visitors into an enclave of business and culture both functionally and aesthetically.

A monument to Bursa’s golden age of silk, the Koza Han is still a living relic with stone hallways echoing the footfall of both past and current traders. Its architectural and historical importance guarantees its ongoing status as one of the most valuable sites in the city, so elegantly linking the past with the present.