The conservation problems of railway settlements as industrial heritage: İzmir-Aydın railway line settlements example

Industrial revolution is one of the most important developments that has influenced the humankind history after the agricultural development which has caused mankind to start living settled life and establish the first cities. Industrial revolution is defined as the transition away from agriculture-based economy towards machine-based manufacturing. The revolution has started towards the end of the 18th century and continued during the 19th century and has developed incrementally with the discovery of machines and the use of steam power. As a consequence of industrial revolution, besides the innovations seen in different industrial fields, important progress was established in transportation.Ottomans were unable to participate in industrial revolution, but has become the market for raw material with wide range of products and manifactured goods. This situation has resulted in the development of transportation and accordingly railway construction has been established by foreign capital. However the constructed railways turned out to be a branch pattern, which is the typical for semi-colonial countries. Each important port was constructed so that it could form an economical integrity between its hinterland and the world economy.İzmir-Aydın railway line, was built with the influence of industrialized countries that wanted to take advantage of wide variety of raw products of Western Anatolia in 1854 and it is the first an important example of railway transportation within the Anatolian borders. Apart from economic and commercial revival, the railway line, has numerous social influences in the region. It also has a variety of railway structure dating back to 19 th century in the region with conserved architectural properties.Therefore in order to conserve this railway heritage, current identification and conservation proposals should be made to transfer it to future generations.