IN-PERSON: Prague – Section A

Abstract

The monuments and artifacts created by the different peoples living in present day Turkey have greatly contributed to the creation of common values. They all generated added value to our cultural heritage. In this context, the architectural products of different ethnic groups throughout history on Anatolian soil prove to be quite significant. It is important that these items of architectural heritage currently facing oblivion, unprotected and endangered by nature and by human intervention be documented and protected, and that the future survival of these cultural products be ensured for shedding light upon historical development and architectural history. Thus, with the aim of protecting these artifacts and ensuring that they reach future generations, it is first and foremost necessary to raise the awareness of the people, draw the attention of local and national authorities to the matter, and create public awareness regarding the protection of cultural heritage. The historical Port City ‘İzmir’ has been an important city with its its geographical location and rich soil and hosted different ethnic groups for many centuries. Among them the Greeks and the Jewish people played an important role with their potentiality of creating different architectural buildings such as schools, religious and public spaces. However, unfortunately, the tangible heritage embodied by spaces that were built and once actively used by the mentioned communities have been gradually disappearing day by day. The paper argues by referring to examples of architectural heritage of the Jewish and Greek societies and showing their present conditions indicates the necessity of emergency interventions at risk, facilitate decision-making processes for the authorities. Representing these structures in İzmir as sites of world’s cultural inheritance, the research will also discuss future scenarios and seek answers for how to promote a sustainable conservation.