Conservation of water heritage in Istanbul: A research on Elmalı dam, pumping station, filtration plant and Bağlarbaşı water reservoir

Industrial heritage is a subject that has attracted attention and has been studied in recent years. However, many buildings are still not protected legally and are in danger of being damaged. Documenting and preparing conservation projects is an essential first step for these buildings, which will be demolished rapidly if the necessary precautions are not taken. This idea constitutes the aim of the thesis. The city that has the most industrial heritage buildings in Turkey is Istanbul, but the abundance of the lost buildings compared to historical records shows how urgent and inevitable the intervention is for those still standing. In this thesis, the water problems in Istanbul at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century and the heritage of the water industry are focused. Both in the world and in Turkey, industrialization movements were researched by making comparisons and the concept of industrial heritage was emphasized. As case studies, the water industry structures built in the world and in Turkey in the time period that the study focuses on and the conservation plans created for these structures were examined. Emphasizing the Elmalı Plant and Bağlarbaşı Water Reservoir, which were built in 1893, the cultural and historical significance of these structures, their architectural qualifications, heritage values, and their current conservation status were analyzed. This study aims to propose an integrated conversation approach for the restoration works to be carried out for the facility and, additionally, to define principles for site management.