Effects of legal and institutional changes on historical environment in urban conservation sites – case of Karakoy Persembe Bazaar area

It is observed that historical centers, which are taken under protection by conservation site decisions fail to protect properly and prevent value lost. Inefficiency in succeeding a comprehensive and sustainable way of conservation planning, dealing with planning system in a holistic way and maintaining coherence among city plans and conservation plans are main reasons for such failure. Urban areas and urban conservation areas are planned under separate legal regulations and organization structures. In such, spatial plans are prepared and approved to support urban growth regarding social and physical change. Besides regular processes, on the other hand, conservation plans are prepared and approved under unique constitutional structure, considering main conservation criterion independent of basic decisions of related spatial plans. This dual existence of two planning processes cause differentiated and incoherent implications across the urban space. Moreover, neither urban conservation areas are dealt with a holistic approach. Incoherence of renewal site proclamations and project designs in conservation sites by the law no. 5366 on "Usage of Timeworn Historical and Cultural Real Property with Restoration and Protection" with related conservation plans approaches, principles and processes reproduces aforementioned problems derive from separate preparation of urban plans and conservation plans. This study primarily surveys the literature to set relating conceptual base, then examines legal and administrative aspects of conservation of urban historical spaces in order to evaluate effects of legislative changes and multiple legal and constitutional arrangements in urban conservation sites, in focus of Perşembe Bazaar Site in Karaköy, Istanbul.