Browsing by Author "Eken, Esra"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Citation - WoS: 14
Citation - Scopus: 17
An Evaluation of Decision-Making Process on Maintenance of Built Cultural Heritage: the Case of Visby, Sweden
(Elsevier Ltd., 2019) Eken, Esra; Taşcı, Burcu; Gustafsson, Christer; 01. Izmir Institute of Technology
Preventive conservation is a significant approach for the conservation of built cultural heritage. This approach aims to prevent major deteriorations through monitoring and a planned maintenance programme. Although Visby, as one of the most important world heritage sites of Sweden, has many governmental organizations for conservation, none has a particular focus on maintenance. This paper examines the perspective of the habitants about the maintenance of their dwellings in the World Heritage Site of Visby. In this context, a survey is carried out to determine the main tendency of the habitants regarding the maintenance of historic buildings inside the city walls. Thus, the survey requires not only quantitative methods based on statistical data, but also qualitative methods based on interpretative data. The questionnaire conducted with the owners and tenants is the primary data collection tool. Both the owners and the tenants agree with the necessity of a non-governmental organisation in Visby to provide advice on maintenance. Maintenance and regular monitoring prevent costlier and large-scale repairs and are essential to retaining the cultural significance of Visby. This study can be helpful for adopting the community's opinion to the regular maintenance programme and promoting cooperation between non-profit organizations and governmental organizations in cultural heritage.
Traditional Dwellings of Gölde (i̇ncesu): a Rural Heritage in the Process of Change
(Routledge, 2021) Eken, Esra; Kul, Fatma Nurşen; 02.01. Department of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage; 02. Faculty of Architecture; 01. Izmir Institute of Technology
Gölde, officially named İncesu, is a rural settlement located in Aegean Anatolia. Before the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923, Gölde hosted both Orthodox Rum and Muslim Turkish communities. Despite out-migration since 1923, traditional life continued in the settlement with a small population that now comprises mostly elderly Turkish people. This paper aims to understand traditional Gölde dwelling units by analysing the influence of daily-life practices, customs, traditions and values through interviews with current locals and the oral testimonies of former Rum inhabitants. A site survey identified 136 traditional dwelling units, 68 of which are still inhabited. Site reconstruction analysis revealed the original condition of 90 dwelling units. These formed the primary focus of investigation. No major differences were found between houses originally belonging to the Rum and Turkish communities. However, the study identified significant adaptations of the dwelling units in line with changing socio-cultural conditions over time.
Understanding Gölde (i̇ncesu) With Its Tangible and Intangible Characteristics
(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2018-12) Eken, Esra; Kul Özdemir, Fatma Nurşen
International conservation agenda focuses on the significance of understanding rural heritage with a holistic approach considering both tangible and intangible aspects. However, tangible aspects are still the main concern of legal documents as well as academic discussions in Turkey. Thus, most of rural heritage sites are either demolished or lost its authentic characteristics without being understood and documented inclusively. This study aims a holistic understanding of Gölde (İncesu) rural settlement within the border of Kula where Muslim Turkish and Orthodox Rum communities lived together until the beginning of the 20th century. Considering the aim of the study; both tangible and intangible characteristics of Gölde are deciphered by using different information sources; observation and analysis of the physical environment for tangible, and narratives of the present Muslim and past Orthodox Rum inhabitants for intangible. Thus; continuing, changed and lost values of Gölde could be evaluated. The results of the study made it clear that analysis of the sole physical environment in not enough to understand a place with all its dimensions. Intangible characteristics that shaped and/or performed in this physical environment should be also understood.