Integrated Maintaining

Intersection point of Asia and Europe is Turkey which is the setting for many emigrations and people movements because of its specific geographical location. For this reason, Turkey has affluent variety in terms of cultural, social and historical values.

Today, our cultural and social haritage is process of evanescence because of several reason. After this stage, we should make an effort to gain them.

Which values should be include maintaining? In my opinion, values which are in historical and cultural area should be permanently maintained completely. We should not approach as one building. If we maintain a building, we should consider its consistency with its environment. Let us say that, a building was maintained and regain its function, can we not to do same maintaining for other building and their environment? This maintaining would be more realistic and meaningful solution. So, buildings which is considered to maintain absolutely should not be limited within a typology. Maintaining should be do according to what is necessary to maintain in this life style, texture of environment and culture.

After 1975 Amsterdam Declaration came up a subject that includes not monumental buildings but more small scale buildings and their environments are accepted a complete. The reason of this maintaining, preventing the loss of traditional environment, identity and culture of societies gained over the years. The environment is mentioned can include a districts, streets or site areas. This condition can change depending on texture, culture situation and history of environment.
There are good examples for our country to talk about these maintainings and I want to talk about Midyat region in Mardin. Midyat region has had the dominance of various civilizations throughout history. The stone material is dominant in Midyat. Shadow of a house doesn’t fall the others and streets were arranged opposite to rays of sun so give shade to people. Buildings and streets are planned in harmony with each other. Some of the houses in there used as a hotel for visitor. So that, the people feel better historical and cultural fabric of there.Spaces of selling, exhibition and making of these tradiditional arts like stone processing, pottery and weaving can be seen greatly in Midyat. Shortly, with its religious buildings, houses, narrow streets and multiculturalism, Midyat have a right to become a museum city.

Also, we should give function to building and other areas in environment that include maintaining. When we look at history of this environment, reusing and adapting to today functions that integrate with this area will be more meaningful from giving a new function. Therefore, this environment won’t lose its identity and will continue. Functions can be for public or private. For example, a building that is used as house can be used as a house, a place of exhibition or accommodation. What is important is that, to determine the function searching required conditions in environment.

In conclusion, everything which have cultural, historical and social identity in an environment should be protected entirely.