An architectural evaluation method for conservation of traditional dwellings Basak Ipekoglu

Historical urban conservation Historical urban sites and traditional houses are remains of the history. The main aim of conservation is to keep existence of cultural properties and historical environment by connecting the remains from the past with future. Besides physical characteristics cultural, social and economic measures are very important in conservation. The user groups should also be considered in conservation plans because they will be suffered if the plan is in limited vision considering only physical appearances. The economical and cultural measures should be considered in a detailed way to give comfort to social factors.

For example, in Samanbahce project only the physical conditions were changed; the façades and the exterior landscape arrangements. How will a limited vision of this kind conservation can effect lives of the inhabitants?

Architectural values of study area The study took place in Odunpazari District, Eskisehir in Turkey. Eskisehir is in central Anatolia. The researched area is a historic site with large and small-sized mansions constructed in timber- framed, mud-brick in-fill. Odunpazari is the only area in Eskisehir that traditional neighborhood relations still go on. Because of new developments and establishment of new universities new projects started to satisfy the new increased student population. The historic houses began to be renovated for new public and this had very negative effects on the historic fabric.

Architectural values of study area Houses built with timber-framed construction system are in majority and they have traditional architectural characteristics in their façade orders and architectural elements.

Architectural values of study area Houses with projections in street corners increase the value of the streets.

Architectural values of study area Some houses in gardens are separated from the streets by garden walls but their upper floors contribute to the street façade. Garden walls are mostly constructed with mud-brick.

Architectural values of study area Squares have important values that the streets open to and surrounded by traditional houses.

Methodology used in gradation of traditional houses This study is a technical evaluation of architectural characteristics of traditional dwellings. It is an architectural evaluation of traditional houses with a different methodology. Every valuable house is evaluated one by one in a very detailed way. 2 types of methods are involved; exterior and interior evaluations.

External evaluation In the external evaluation the degree of alteration, façade types, façade elements and location of the houses in the streets were evaluated under different circumstances. A formula generated for giving degrees to the houses with their architectural components: External evaluation=(Ca x Cf x Pe) + 10 Environmental value due to location Coefficient of alteration Point of façade elements Coefficient of façade types

This table shows the evaluation criteria for external properties grades values

There are 4 main subjects and they are all classified to other subtitles: External alteration 1. Unaltered houses 2. Slightly altered houses 3. Seriously altered houses Façade type 1. Types which keep their original façade order 2. Types which keep their façade order with some alteration 3. Types which have lost their façade characteristics

Some examples for unaltered and altered houses

The point of façade elements 1. Timber detailed door 2. Timber detailed garden gate 3. Segmental arched window 4. Decorated iron bar 5. Lattices 6. Chamfer at corner 7. Decorated timber element above window 8. Detailed timber wall molding 9. Pediment 10. Profile below pediment 11. Curved molding under projection 12. Detailed buttresses 13. Decorated eaves 14. Balcony 15. Sineklik 16. Simple garden gate 17. Decorated timber element below window 18. Simple timber molding below window 19. Console 20.Pilaster 21. Concave eaves 22. Simple type door 23. Rectangular window 24. Simple wall molding

Some examples for decorated iron bars and timber doors

Location (If a house is having a important characteristic with its location 10 points is added to its gradation.) 1. At the corner of a street 2. At the end of a street 3. Around a square 4. In narrow street with shadow of projection giving a special character to street

High grades are given to the elements which are found very rarely and low grades are given to the elements which exist more. By applying the data in the table to the formula a final grade and a value can be obtained for all of the dwellings. The houses are grouped from A-D. If the final grade is between; 0-15 its in group D 16-50 its in group C 51-105 its in group B 106-270 its in group A in external architectural value.

An example in group `D`. An example in group `C`.

Examples in group `B`

Examples in group `A`

Internal evaluation In the internal evaluation, coefficient of alteration, point of plan type and points of plan elements are evaluated with different subtitles of each. A formula generated for internal evaluation also in the same manner with the external evaluation: Internal evaluation=(Ca+Pt)Pe Point of plan elements Coefficient of alteration Point of plan type

This table shows the evaluation criteria for internal properties grades values

There are 3 main subjects and they are all classified to other subtitles: Internal alteration 1. Unaltered houses 2. Slightly altered houses 3. Seriously altered houses The point of plan type(if a house has classical plan type 10 points, if plan type is in corridor form 5 points is added to the gradation.) 1. Types with outer hall and its alternative 2. Types with inner hall and its alternative 3. Types in which hall becomes corridor 4. Types without any plan type

The points of plan elements 1.Decorated door 2. Kiosk 3. Old staircase 4. Decorated cupboard 5. Lambalik 6. Sedir(Divan) 7. Decorated ceiling 8. Yukluk 9. Gusulhane 10. Fireplace 11. Simple cupboard

All the traditional plan elements are graded All the traditional plan elements are graded. Higher grades are given to the plan elements which are few houses and lower grades are given to the plan elements which seen more. This approach seems very logical since the traditional elements are reducing day by day. The houses are grouped from A-D. If the final grade is between; 0-15 its in group D 16-50 its in group C 51-90 its in group B 91-204 its in group A in internal architectural value.

Examples for internal evaluations

Example of sedir and decorated roof

Age of buildings and structural conditions are not mentioned in this article. The age of buildings may not be true because there isn`t any exact information about construction dates. It is assumed that the buildings with simpler elements are older and the ones with rich façade elements are of later times. Being historically older is mentioned as a positive factor. Structural conditions are not in evaluation matter also because it is mentioned that traditional houses don`t have severe structural problems only the materials have to be repaired. But if the structural problems were so bad that would be a negative factor in evaluation.

Conclusion In this paper the main aim is to produce an alternative method for architectural evaluation of traditional houses in historical sites subjected to conservation. The potentials can be observed easily by this kind of grouping of buildings. Also, if any implementation is going to be made it will help the procedure. This is an systematic, proper study for grouping and giving data for certain architectural approaches in the conservation plans. All the data and information about all units are supplied and the grouping is already made in this kind of systematic method for using in further implementations.