Examination of function-space relationship in refunctioning of Istanbul madrassas

Refunctioning; when done in accordance with appropriate decisions in terms of structure, space and function, can be seen as an opportunity for the preservation of historical buildings. The compatibility of the selected new function with the space is important both for the structure and for the operations program of the new function. In the historical process, it is observed that madrassas are used with many different functions. This functional diversity; can be classified as educational, healthcare, culture and tourism, trade and other functions. When madrassas that are used in the fields of education and culture & tourism are examined; it has been seen that these uses benefiting the society, constitute correct results in terms of space-function relationship. The correctness of the conservation approach here is due to the fact that the new function is compatible with the original function of the structure. When madrassas that are used in the fields of healthcare and trade; it has been found out that the space-function relationship has not been able to be achieved and the new function has resulted yielding inadequate consequences in terms of conservation, since spatial potential of the structures are obtruded to meet with the operational needs of the new function. As a result; it is necessary to ensure the space-function relationship so that the refunctioning can be a correct approach for the preservation of the madrassas. When the selection of the right function is done by a conscious conservation approach, and by paying regard to the space-function relationship, historic buildings can be properly preserved and used.