Conservation-Based Methodology for Suleymaniye World Heritage and Renewal Site Project: ‘Living Suleymaniye’ Approach

Istanbul, a city celebrated for its deep historical roots and cultural diversity, reflects the confluence of numerous civilizations. This essay examines the preservation methodologies designed for the Suleymaniye District, a significant World Heritage Site on Istanbul's historic peninsula. Istanbul's geographical location has positioned it as a crossroads of various eras, from ancient hunter-gatherer societies to the present. This has endowed the city with a complex tapestry of cultural layers, both above and below ground. To ensure the preservation of this heritage for future generations, conservation-focused strategies are integral to the city's planning. The Historic Peninsula, Sarayburnu, the Suleymaniye Ottoman Residential Fabric, and the Zeyrek Traditional Neighborhood Fabric with its Black Walls are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Yet, beyond recognition, these areas require robust conservation efforts to fulfill both national and international commitments. Since being designated a renewal area in 2006, the Suleymaniye District has undergone significant changes, shifting from individual to collective ownership. This transition has led to considerable heritage losses. To counter these challenges, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) launched a conservation study in 2020, led by its Cultural Heritage Department. The study focuses on a 9-hectare area of timber housing, where much of the original fabric has been lost. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the project delves into the city's layers, developing strategies that address both above-ground and underground cultural assets. The study's uniqueness lies in its scalable methodology, integrating historical sources and oral histories to reconstruct the district's lost texture and "authenticity." The research identifies potential underground cultural assets and proposes priority actions for their conservation. In conclusion, the study seeks to rejuvenate the Suleymaniye District, transforming it into a "living" area that meets modern needs while preserving its historical essence. In this paper, we will introduce the current conditions of the Suleymaniye District with a special focus on their historical narratives. Later, we will explain in detail the methodology established for inter-scale and multidisciplinary evaluation of the data gathered for the site. Further, we will describe the approaches established for the preservation of the World Heritage Site. Finally, we will discuss the results of these methodologies through cases within the designated area.

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Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa nr POPUL/SP/0154/2024/02 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki II" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2025).