The Problems of reusing monuments which cannot keep their original usage

Up to last century, a building had to have importance in urban scale in order to be defined as a monument. However today any building which is considered important within it's artistic, historic and social values and context can be defined as a monument. In this country, the classification methods and criteria of cultural properties are determined by the Law No. 2863/ 1983 called, "The Protection Law of Cultural and Natural Heritage". The interventions related to the restoration of historic buildings are determined by the principle decisions No. 598/ 14.07.1998 which were taken by High Council for the Preservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage. Legislation and the establishment of inventories and catalogues of the cultural property are not enough to protect them. If a monument abandoned, because it's original usage cannot continue, it would be destroyed partly or completely by the time. It would therefore be better to maintain the original usage if possible. If this is impossible, it would be necessary to reuse it with a new function. These efforts could save the monument from demolition. Unfortunately some of the rehabilitation work which has been carried out in this country, has affected negatively the monument's authenticity and character such as;. starting the rehabilitation work without making any research and without completing projects,VII. the construction of new additions and large interventions following the establishment new usage which is not compatible with the monument's character,. the application of negative interventions to the monument because of wrong decisions made by an inexperienced team,. not comforming with the principles of national and international charters and conventions,. insufficient finance,. faults of contract systems,. lack of awareness and sensibility in the field of conservation and protection of cultural property. History has shown us that reusing monuments which are in good condition with new purposes is part of natural development. A good example of this, which has considered is the Castel Sant' Angelo which dates back to Roman period in Rome, Italy. It has been used for various extremely different functions; it began as the tomb of Emperor Hadrian and was subsequently altered to a fortified castle, the Papal apartments and finally, The National Museum of Castel Sant' Angelo. The evidences of different uses of the monument can be seen during the museum tour. Another example is one of the largest monument in the antiquity, The Bath of Diocletian in Rome, Italy. This has also been used for different purposes throughout it's history. For instance, octagonal hall which is a part of the baths, was used as warehouse, gymnasium, exhibition room and planetarium. In 1983, it was decided to reuse the monument as a museum and rehabilitation works started in order to adopt it to it's new function. During the rehabilitation process, the dome of the planetarium's projection screen was retained in the hall as a significant historical structure.Another example is late 19th century building from Antalya, Turkey. While the offices of the Antalya Preservation Council for Cultural and Natural Haritage was being restored in 1991- 1993, three layers of pebble mosaic were found, one on top of the other in the courtyard. It is obvious that, the user of the monument preferred to cover ground with pebble mosaic without destroying previous one. A decision was taken to conserve all the architectural compenents of the monument such as the Hellenistic wall, pebble mosaic, cistern, door etc. by consolidating them. This components are documents of use of the monument through more than 2000 years of history. During the process of rehabilitation work, while adopting monuments to new usage, it is essential to protect their authenticity and values; more over by respecting valid contrubitions of all additions and interventions which were applied in the past it can also help to keep alive national cultural identity.