History
The Signora Giveret Synagogue (Turkish: Sinyora giveret sinagogu) was built by a Portuguese merchant in 16th century. Havra street divided it into more synagogues at Anafartalar Throughway, at 927 street. The building was damaged in the major fire of 1841, and subsequently restored by the Yeruşalmi family according to the original design. The new construction also used Italian approach. Building is still in use by the Jewish community today.
Contents
Context
Sinyora Giveret Synagogue has a big yard surrounded by massive, high walls that block the view from the outside. There are add-on structures in the yard which are referred to as Bet Midaş. Şalom and Algaze Synagogues, which are in Havra street, are neighboring buildings. The synagogue is located in Kemeraltı, a historic bazaar of Izmir, forming a web of small shops, stores and narrow streets which surround the synagogue.
Characteristic features
People reach a terrace by a 5 step stairway. The portable tevya of Synagogue merges with the tora ark. Seats are arranged linearly as in church interiors. The mehizah starts in the entrance hall open to the main interior. This space adjoins the hekal wall as a mezzanine which is separated by wooden latices. The structure is a double standard construction space and is seen as a single volume. It was constructed using stone masonry. The roof of the building is wooden and hipped. The floor and ceiling is also made of wood.
Architectural Anaylyses
One can enter the building from a simple iron door. When you enter through the door you can across the north facade of the building which is also has a simple view. Through a short hallway one can reach the yard and the entrance of the building is also there. When you enter the interior you can face with modest furniture and many window opening to increase the natural light usage. Seats are arranged carefully and owners names are carved on some of them. Additional to wooden seat some sitting places are added in right and left side of building next to the walls.
Structural features
Building is made by stone and brick and has a rectangular plan. Upper side of it is covered by wooden hipped roof. One can reach the mehizah which is on top of entering hall, through the yard. This space was placed against the hekal wall as a mezzanine which separated by wooden latices. In floor and ceiling tiling we can see highly usage of wood. Inner space is tog up by bronze flowers surrounded by green geometric forms on the ceiling, tevyas tora cabinet and its bordeaux coverings. Since the building is masonry work window openings are arched. Windows in north and south facade give the building opportunity to rich usage of natural light.