A research on conservation problems and conservation practices in Büyükada Hacopoulos Mansion

Istanbul, in addition to being a crucial crossroads in world history, has served as a host to various empires, thereby embodying a rich cultural heritage. Beyond this historical and cultural wealth, the Princes' Islands, particularly Büyükada, in the city's vicinity, stand out as a region distinguished by its natural beauty and historical legacy. Since the early 19th century, Büyükada, evolving into a summer retreat for the affluent residents of Istanbul, has transformed into an architectural spectacle with the construction of mansions from that era. One of the important architectural works of this period is the Hacopoulos Mansion. This study aims to examine and record in detail the conservation problems and implementation process of this historical building. At the beginning of the study, the history of Büyükada and its architectural evolution throughout this history are discussed. Focusing on the beginning of the 19th century, it was examined how the island became a summer resort and how it was shaped in line with the preferences of the wealthy. It is known that the architectural choices made during this period shaped the silhouette of the island and important works such as the Hacopulos Mansion were built. Then, focusing on the Hacopoulos Mansion, the architectural features, original details and historical significance of the mansion were examined in detail. Then, in line with the main objective of the study, the conservation problems of the Hacopoulos Mansion were examined in detail and the conservation applications performed for these problems were examined. In this context, the difficulties encountered during the ongoing restoration process, the techniques used and the precautions taken are discussed in detail. In addition, how the restoration process of the mansion was carried out within the framework of international conservation principles and local legislation was also examined. Within the scope of the study, the conservation implementation process of the mansion was looked at from a broad perspective, and the prepared conservation projects, implementation stages and interventions were discussed in detail. Recording the restoration process and the difficulties encountered will provide important guidance for similar applications. As a result, the Hacopoulos Mansion Restoration constitutes an important example of preserving traditional wooden architecture and transferring it to future generations. Additionally, it opens the subject to professional and academic evaluation by providing information on the evaluation of conservation practices within the framework of international conservation principles.