IN-PERSON ISTANBUL HERITAGE(S)

Abstract

Industrial buildings are structures located in designated industrial zones where production activities are carried out to meet the needs of the city. However, it is observed that these large scale industrial complexes within cities have become abandoned due to technological advancements and socio-economic changes over time. Since these buildings are important heritage structures reflecting the industrial history of the city, their preservation is crucial. At the same time, they have the potential to be adaptively reused in line with contemporary urban needs and reintegrated into the city. This study focuses on industrial heritage buildings in Istanbul that have undergone art and culture oriented adaptive reuse projects. Within the scope of the study, three industrial heritage buildings that were recently adaptively reused and opened to the public were examined: Cendere Art Museum (2022), Artİstanbul Feshane (2023), and Beykoz Çubuklu Silos (2024). It is believed that this study will contribute to the literature on industrial heritage and increase the visibility of adaptive reuse practices. The buildings, restored and adaptively reused under the initiative of Directorate of Cultural Heritage Protection of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB Miras), were analyzed under three main headings: historical and industrial context, restoration approach and spatial transformation. The study evaluates how these buildings were preserved, the methods of adaptive reuse employed, and the contributions of their new functions to both the city and society. It aims to enhance the visibility of the selected examples in the literature and contribute to the discourse on industrial heritage preservation and sustainable adaptive reuse approaches.