Conservation of a modern heritage place: "Çarşı" – the commercial core of Middle East Technical University (METU)

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mimarlık Fakültesi, Mimarlık Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2018

Tezin Dili: İngilizce

Öğrenci: ZEYNEP İLAY YILMAZ

Danışman: Ayşe Güliz Bilgin Altınöz

Özet:

Conservation of modern heritage is a relatively recent issue in the field of conservation, both in Turkey and in the world. The campus of the Middle East Technical University (METU), which was constructed in early 1960’s, is one of the important modern heritage places in Turkey. The campus project was designed by Altuğ-Behruz Çinici, the winners of the project competition. The campus constitutes of different zones such as the academic zone, the administrative zone, the residential zone, the cultural and commercial zone. The core of the cultural and commercial zone were “Çarşı”, meaning bazaar, where in, various commercial and social gathering functions were located. Besides its social and functional importance within the whole campus, “Çarşı” was also architecturally significant with its concrete mushroom structure, which was progressive in its period. Since the construction of the campus until today, “Çarşı” has always been in use, while its physical, functional and social context and aspects changed due to various interventions in time. As a modern heritage place still in use, “Çarşı” should continue its function while conserving and sustaining its tangible and intangible values. Hence, this thesis aims at documenting, analyzing and assessing the physical, functional and social aspects of “Çarşı”, the commercial core of the METU Campus, since its construction until today, so as to define principles and strategies for its conservation and management as a modern heritage place. Accordingly, in this thesis, the emergence and development of the concept of protecting the modern heritage is examined first. Within this context, national and international initiatives, approaches, and legal sources are investigated. Subsequently, the changes that “Çarşı” of Middle East Technical University has had from its initial design to the present day are evaluated together with different needs and uses in time. In the light of the collected data, suggestions are developed for conserving and managing “Çarşı”, as a modern heritage place still in use.