Investigation of re-functioned churches and assessing in terms of conservation


Thesis Type: Postgraduate

Institution Of The Thesis: Gazi University, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Turkey

Approval Date: 2023

Thesis Language: Turkish

Student: Ömer ŞAHBAZ

Principal Supervisor (For Co-Supervisor Theses): Cemile Nakış Karamağaralı

Co-Supervisor: Özlem Sağıroğlu Demirci

Abstract:

Cultural properties are values that are important not only to contain historical, cultural, social, technical and technological information about past civilizations, but also to protect them in the context of handing down the next generations. However, the evolution of the interest in the protection of cultural properties into scientific conservation theory has only been possible in the recent past. The concept of re-functioning has become important when it is realized that the protection of the buildings by using them in contemporary life with conscious interventions has benefits such as the problems that arise as soon as possible and preventing them from growing. When the original functions of cultural assets do not have a place in contemporary society or when it is not possible to use them for their original purposes due to reasons such as plan organization, lack of comfort conditions, or transportation, protection through the use of functions that will not harm the structure and will not prevent it from returning to its original state at the desired time has become more prominent. In this context, abandoned or underutilized churches for various reasons have also found their place among the structures that have been refunctioned. In this thesis, the restorations of churches in Turkey and Europe with different functions in the context of being brought to contemporary life have been examined and compared in terms of positive and negative situations brought by their functions. The results show that in our country, functions such as museums and cultural centers that do not require too much intervention are preferred, while in Europe, uncommon functions such as offices, bookstores, hotels, residences, and restaurants are preferred in the evaluation of church structures. With this study, the diversity of functions in Turkey and Europe has been compared, and the interventions made to churches have been evaluated in accordance with the rules stated in the Venice Charter through selected examples. It was discussed whether the authenticity of the churches was preserved with the interventions.

Key Words : Preservation, Conservation, Re-functioning, Church