Documentation of Kozacıoğlu Mansion in the context of conservation in Tarsus district, Mersin province

One of the elements that shape and reflect the cultural values of a society is the houses and environments we live in. Turkey, which has hosted many civilizations, is adorned with these architectural environments, and Tarsus is one of the good examples of these. According to TÜİK's 2023 data, Tarsus, with a population of 353.469, is the largest district of Mersin. Tarsus, an important crossroads of the Mediterranean, has hosted many civilizations and therefore has a rich cultural heritage. This heritage consists of elements such as houses, commercial establishments, and various remnants from the Roman period. This valuable cultural heritage needs to be preserved. There are protected areas in the center of Tarsus, where traditional houses are concentrated. Traditional houses are concentrated in the Kızılmurat neighborhood within these protected areas. The traditional houses of Tarsus exhibit a unique structure within the city with their courtyard gardens, bay windows, uniquely decorated brackets, multi-story structures, and stone walls. Although each structure has its own unique architecture, they are considered as parts of a whole. However, a large part of these structures has not been able to maintain their solidity and has become unusable. The structures that are in use generally function as hotels or commercial establishments. Kozacıoğlu Mansion stands out as one of the important structures in this neighborhood. Despite being exposed to wear and deterioration over the years, this mansion has managed to remain standing and will set an example for other structures in terms of contributing to the city and cultural memory. The mansion's unique courtyard garden, ornamental pool, and arch systems on the ground floor are features that distinguish this structure from others. Its stone walls, bay window, and workshop section share common features with other houses. This study aims to propose a function for the preservation and interpretation of Kozacıoğlu Mansion within its historical process. For this purpose, a literature review was conducted and summarized to research the city and traditional houses of Tarsus. Information about the history of Kozacıoğlu Mansion was provided, and its contribution to the traditional texture was presented. The architectural transfer of the structure and laser scanning method were used for the survey, restitution drawings, and restoration, conservation, and new function projects.