Located in central Kütahya, directly behind the Great Mosque, are the structural remains of a 15th-century complex. Initially, the site consisted of a single, semi-ruined structure visible above ground. However, recent archaeological excavations conducted by the property's owner, the Directorate General of Foundations, have unearthed the remains of a hammam (bathhouse) below ground.
Research indicates that the above-ground structure may have originally been a small mosque (mescit) which was later repurposed as a library. The subterranean structure has been identified as the hammam belonging to the historic Yakup Çelebi İmaret and Külliye. Considered alongside the main imaret building, which is now a museum, the discovery of the hammam completes the known architectural components of the original complex.
However, given the fragmentary nature of the remains and in consideration of the urban memory, a critical decision was made. It was determined that a full reconstruction would be scientifically unsound with the available data. Instead, a new vision was adopted: to preserve and exhibit the structures in their current state as an open-air archaeological site, complementing the adjacent Great Mosque and the museum.
In this context, the project was conceptualized as a multipurpose open-air exhibition and urban landscape area, complete with necessary service units. Based on this adaptive reuse approach, the complete suite of architectural survey, restitution, and restoration projects was prepared.