State support policy concerning the conservation of traditional architectural heritage in Safranbolu, Turkey

Abstract

There are many settlements worth preserving in Turkey; Safranbolu, a World Heritage property since December 1994, is one of the most important among them. The town is a typical Ottoman city that has survived to the present day, the historical settlement interacting with its prominent natural and topographical features. This paper examines the financing tools for the restoration and maintenance of the vernacular architectural heritage in Safranbolu. The purpose of this paper was to present and evaluate the effects of grant-aided subsidies and loan systems held by the central government, on the protection, conservation and restoration of the traditional architectural heritage in Safranbolu.

Keywords:

• Architectural heritage
• conservation
• conservation policy
• Safranbolu
• state support
• World Heritage Site

Acknowledgements

This paper is based on a Master’s thesis submitted to the Gazi University Institute of Science by the first author under the supervision of the second author.

Notes

¹ Turkish Constitution, 1982, 11 (63.1).

² Ibid., 63.2.

³ Turkish Law on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property, 1983, 1 (5).

⁴ Turkish Constitution, 1982, 12.

⁵ Turkey: Ministry of Tourism, Regulation on Providing Aid, 2 (Article 11.1).

⁶ General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, “Aids Databank for Registered, Immovable Cultural Properties”, https://kvmgmbutce.kultur.gov.tr/fon/Login.aspx [accessed 26 June 2014].

⁷ Turkey: Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Regulation on Providing Aid, 2 (Article 9.1).

⁸ Ibid., Article 9.3.

⁹ General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism “Aids Databank for Registered, Immovable Cultural Properties”, https://kvmgmbutce.kultur.gov.tr/fon/Login.aspx [accessed 26 June 2014].

¹⁰ General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism “Facilities on Grants or Immovable Cultural Property to be Protected”, http://www.kulturvarliklari.gov.tr/TR,106721/tasinmaz-kultur-varliklarinin-onarimina-yardim-faaliyet-.html [accessed 25 November 2014].

¹¹ Turkish Law on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property, 1983, 2 (12.8).

¹² Housing Development Administration, Turkey, Rules on allocation.

¹³ Ibid.

¹⁴ General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, “Facilities on Grants or Immovable Cultural Property to be Protected”, http://www.kulturvarliklari.gov.tr/TR106721/tasinmaz-kultur-varliklarinin-onarimina-yardim-faaliyet-.html [accessed 25 November 2014].

¹⁵ Turkish Law on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property, 1983, 2 (12.3).

¹⁶ Ibid., 12.4.

¹⁷ Regulation on Contribution Share for Preservation of the Immovable Cultural Assets, 2005, 3 (Article 12.1).

¹⁸ Interview by authors with İbrahim Zıvralı, Director of Grants, General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism [Ankara, 20 September 2014].

¹⁹ UNESCO World Heritage Centre “City of Safranbolu”, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/614 [accessed 25 November 2014].

²⁰ Gökoğlu, A. 1952 Paphlagonia.

²¹ Günay, Turkish Housing Tradition.

²² Kuban, Urban Conservation in Turkey.

²³ Ibid., 189.

²⁴ Kuş, First Steps.

²⁵ Turkish National Commission for UNESCO, Turkey’s World Heritage.

²⁶ Interview by authors with Mustafa Sucu, Director of Regional Council for Conservation, General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Safranbolu, 25 September 2014).

²⁷ Interview by authors with Başak Dökmeci, Director of Planning, Safranbolu Municipality (Safranbolu, 26 September 2014).

²⁸ Ibid.

²⁹ Cabbar, Evaluation of Public Support Policy.

³⁰ Interview by authors with Mustafa Sucu, Director of Regional Council for Conservation, General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Safranbolu, 25 September 2014); Interview by authors with Başak Dökmeci, Director of Planning, Safranbolu Municipality (Safranbolu, 26 September 2014); Interview by authors with Mehmet Adalar, Representative of the Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage (Safranbolu, 27 September 2014).