A approach of new methodology desing of the historical environments: a case study of Van Minua (Shamram) channel

The fact that landscape design is oriented towards a historical work requires many different applications, partnership with different scientific fields and a holistic perspective towards specific fields. Historical value, geographical value, social value of the work and the 'future' value should be evaluated simultaneously and to the extent with the landscape program to be implemented. Moving through all these dynamics: Minua (Shamram) Channel landscape programming is the subject of this study. Built during the Urartian Period and approximately 2,800 years ago, the Minua (Shamram) Canal is historically important for the city of Van.This historic importance; it also allows irrigation through the canal, thus generating a social value in terms of productivity. In the study, these values were constantly taken into consideration and firstly a comprehensive archaeological survey was carried out. In these examinations, documentation studies were made for the current status of the historical channel. These investigations are very important for a good integration of the planned landscape with the historical monument. Following the documentation studies, the restoration projects of the historical canal were examined; in this context, the material details to be used for the work were determined. Therefore, it was paid attention that the landscape applications around the historic canal are compatible with the original materials of the canal. Subsequently, the study was directed towards the habitat around the historic canal: Plant diversity, living life, cultural atmosphere of people around the canal. As a complementary step, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 100 people. Thus, data on what the historical channel means for the people living in that region were obtained.