Papers A Sustainable View to Fener ‐ Balat District Kishali E. Politecnico di Milano, Building Environment Science Technology (BEST) [email protected] Grecchi M. Politecnico di Milano, Building Environment Science Technology (BEST) [email protected] TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES AND DISTRICT REHABILITATION Sustainable rehabilitation and preservation strategies in historic quarters Industrialisation, started with Industrial Revolution in mid 18th century by the invention of machines but advanced fast in early 19th century by establishing factories in large areas, has changed various aspects of life in terms of economy, architecture, design, and construction, rate of production, social life and politics. However one aspect, the nature, became very important in architecture field when there have been various and serious problems on four basic elements of planet: earth, air, water and fire. All these elements have been influenced badly after industrialisation period due to high demand for rapid and heavy construction regarding the all aspects above. Nowadays, in architecture it is inevitable to find a link between nature and construction, engineering and design to preserve the resources of life which can be called sustainability. This link is very essential in today's new architectural designs to sustain environment but it is more interesting and difficult to find the sustainable link for historical buildings which were constructed during economical revolutions. The structures were constructed with peculiar technology, serviceability in its own environment and definite district, as the time passes the possibility to withstand changing environment conditions would become complicated. In this paper, historical residential buildings, constructed in 19th century in Fener – Balat Istanbul, Turkey, an important example of cultural heritage district, will be analysed in terms of three different views. First part is devoted to traditional construction techniques, materials and performances of them in building and urban scale in Fener ‐ Balat , the buildings were counted as hybrid structures due to its various materials and techniques during late 19th century, the streets were designed for pedestrians and coaches. The renovation and intervention strategies on performances will be discussed under this title. Second part is the obstacles and solutions for preservation of the area in order to have continuity of historical structure. Consistency of material, shape, architectural details of structures in broad sense urban tissue has been changing by new constructions in the area, occupying the old tissue of district like cancer cell. Besides physical destruction the area has faced another problem, social aspect caused by gentrification. Finally, rehabilitation and sustainability projects to preserve the historical area and consolidate buildings have been done until now are the third issue which will be analysed. Besides, the performances of structural and pathological intervention will be elucidated. In conclusion, possible sustainable suggestion in building and area scale will be listed for the area. 1 Papers 1. INTRODUCTION In 18th century, the entire world have been affected by “Industrial Revolution”, which have continued to 19th and to 20th century with alterations on technological, economical, social and political dimensions of cities. Like every city, Istanbul, capital city of Ottoman Empire underwent an intense phase of economic, socio‐political and urban transformation aimed at the modernization of the old system. Ottoman Government had followed what was happening about the international industry developments and decided to bring the new technologies to country. Especially in the 19th century, many industrial buildings in almost all working branches were constructed in the Ottoman Empire by the government and the private sector (1). As a result of industrial revolution, economic and political developments marked important turning points in the history of the empire. Without any doubt first and important rearrangement law, is done by sultan not by public, unlike in French revolution (2). Political, social and economic changes in Istanbul inevitably result in demographic growth and different urbanisation methodology opposite to vernacular one. Construction methods were carefully detailed in order to reduce the possibility of fires; in 1864, the government decreed that henceforth all construction in the capital was to be in stone or brick and with 1875 regulation divided the capital into primary and secondary zones. In the primary zones, timber construction was forbidden, while in the secondary zones, it was occasionally allowed provided that masonry fire walls were built (2). The 19th century residential buildings, constructed during the reforms to adopt European practices, show different construction techniques, use of functions, material and also bring a new concept of row‐ houses to country, in other words in 19th century residential building constructed with different way: row houses, multi‐storey masonry apartments and multi‐houses around a closed courtyard. In Istanbul, it can be observed that in many districts masonry residential buildings were constructed in 19th century. These construction systems showing minor differences of architecture style and details could be observed in Kuzguncuk, Üsküdar, Kadiköy (Yeldeğirmeni) in Asian part of Istanbul, Fatih (Fener – Balat – Ayvansaray), Galata, Beyoglu, Ortaköy, Şişli in European part of city. Among these districts aforementioned, Fener – Balat region and historic structures were chosen for research on sustainable renovation due to several reasons. First of all, among the districts of Istanbul where 19th century masonry residential buildings are observed, Fener – Balat is the special district in terms of many aspects. In the area, homogenous architectural tissue have been preserved better than the other areas though these 19th century housings had been faced to be destroyed due to fast economic, social and politic changes like in other districts. Second reason of going ahead the research with case of studies from Fener – Balat Rehabilitation Programme is that all interventions were elaborated to be done carefully according to international charters. Next, choosing case studies from Fener – Balat ensure to analyze the conditions of residential buildings before and after rehabilitation programme. Buildings may show different behaviours after they had been undergone structural interventions compared to previous state which provides good occasion to propose future suggestions of sustainable development. Therefore, Fener – Balat, an important example of cultural heritage district, will be analysed in terms of three different views. First part is devoted to traditional construction techniques, materials and performances of them in building and urban scale in Fener ‐ Balat. Second part is the obstacles and solutions for preservation of the area in order to have continuity of historical structure with possible green habitats. Finally, rehabilitation and sustainability projects to preserve the historical area and consolidate buildings have been done until now are the third issue which will be analysed. 2 Papers 2. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT AREA 2.1 Brief History The area had been an important residential and place of resort by Genoese, Venetians and Europeans traders before 1453 when Istanbul was concurred by Fatih Sultan Mehmet. During the first years of Ottoman Empire, demographic changes can be observed in the area that some of local inhabitants left area whereas owing to settlement policy followed by Ottoman Empire in 15th century, Muslim Ottomans and Ottoman minorities such as Armenians and especially Greeks were settled in Fener area (3). The 17th century brought the Hagios Georgios Church, seat of the Greek patriarchy, which results in development and changes in terms of economy and architecture; as for Balat, the neighbourhood was inhabited by Jews to a large extent and by Venetians, Genoese and Armenians to a small extent in that period (4). Moreover, 19th century residential buildings constructed during the reforms for adopting European practices, show different construction techniques, use of functions, material and bring a new concept of row‐houses (2). Therefore, the residential buildings as row housings in Fener – Balat were constructed in th th 19 century with technique of masonry, yet floors designed with timber materials. In 20 century, the most influential migration however occurred after the establishment of the state of Israel; one fourth of the Balat population left the neighbourhood. Despite the move of the prosperous families from the site, Fener preserved its character as a Greek neighbourhood until the 1960s when most of the Greek inhabitants left Istanbul in large numbers due to political reasons. Because of job prospects and low rents, the site became an important destination for new immigrants, mainly the people from the Black Sea region settled down in the area (4). 2.2 Characteristics and Rehabilitation of Area Fener – Balat area, located in historical peninsula are surrounded by Golden Horn, transit road and Byzantine city walls in north; the buildings which were built recently in south; Greek Orthodox patriarch and important monuments of historical peninsula such as Bulgarian church in east; the church, mosque and recent building in west. During last twenty years, recent developments decision have been taken to improve the social and physical