An investigation of methodology for the conservation of the traditional spatial syntax formed by the cultural diversity in the province of Midyat

III AN INVESTIGATION OF METHODOLOGY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE TRADITIONAL SPATIAL SYNTAX FORMED BY THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE PROVINCE OF MİDYAT (Ph.D. Thesis) Neslihan DALKILIÇ GAZI UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF SCHCNCE AND TECHNOLOGY June 2004 ABSTRACT Almost all regions of Turkey have dense areas of traditional houses this creates a problem of an accurate determination, investigation and evaluation process. Midyat, which is examined in the scope of this thesis, is a province of Mardin, located in the southeastern part of Anatolia, and reflects the cultural diversity of the region to a great extent. The town has a dense house potential. The main hypothesis of this thesis is that the architectural and social structures should be conserved together in Midyat to maintain the traditional housing units created by cultural diversity. In the theoretical framework of the study, the relationship between these two structures has been examined. During the research process, investigation-observation, interview, and documentation studies have been performed. The thesis contains seven chapters: In the first chapter, the problem has been clarified and the purpose, scope and methodology of the thesis are presented. In Chapter 2, the theoretical framework of the thesis has been formed. In Section 2.1, the concept of conservation has been examined and it has been discussed that historical surroundings should be conserved with respect to their architectural and social values, along with their cultural richness. In Section 2.2, a theoretical framework, necessary for investigating the traditional housing unit, examined in this thesis from social and architectural perspectives, has been presented.IV In the third chapter, Midyat, the province selected for the application of the foregoing methods, has been examined with regard to its significance in the architecture of region, and its physical, historical and settlement characteristics. In the fourth chapter, the results of the questionnaires and interviews concerning the social structure, the information acquired from the original sources by means of observations and the literature review have been presented with tables and graphics. In Chapter 5, some information has been proposed about the architectural characteristics of the houses. That information has been prepared in detail so that it can provide data for a conservation project, which may be prepared in the future. The sixth chapter evaluates the social and physical changes that the houses have been faced to fulfill the requirements of contemporary life styles. In Chapter 7, the results of the evaluation of the above mentioned researches, pertaining to the Midyat traditional housing unit, have been discussed, and some proposals for future have been presented to conserve the area according to the restoration and conservation theories. Science Code : 601.04.00 Key Words : Midyat, Conservation, the Architecture of Traditional Houses, Family Page Number: 393 Adviser : Associate Prof. Dr. B. Işık AKSULU