Evaluating the post-earthquake conservation status of traditional Antakya houses adaptively reused as hospitality facilities through case examples

Traditional architecture represents a significant cultural heritage, reflecting the culture, lifestyle, and values of societies, with vernacular architecture forming its most fundamental component. Within this context, Antakya, with its multi-layered cultural structure, has developed a distinctive typology characterized by courtyard houses. These dwellings, which bear traces of the Prehistoric Period but acquired their principal formal characteristics during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, offered unique solutions in terms of both climatic adaptation and social life. However, over time, these structures lost their functionality and have faced the risk of abandonment and loss of value. In recent years, adaptive reuse methods have gained prominence as a strategy to ensure their sustainability. The aim of this study is to examine the condition of Antakya's traditional houses, which suffered extensive damage during the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, and to evaluate their seismic performance in relation to adaptive reuse processes. Ten houses located in the historic center of Antakya were analyzed through a four-stage process: location and environmental context; architectural design and functionality; restoration and adaptive reuse practices; and post-earthquake damage assessment. This investigation was supported by field studies, photographs, drone footage, and technical reports. The findings reveal that conservation and adaptive reuse interventions were largely inadequate in terms of seismic performance. In buildings where reinforced concrete additions and inappropriate interventions were present, severe damage or complete collapse occurred. Furthermore, the contiguous building layout contributed to a chain reaction of destruction, as the collapse of adjacent structures intensified the overall damage. Weak soil conditions in the region, combined with the high magnitude of the earthquake, also significantly exacerbated the extent of the destruction. In conclusion, the preservation of Antakya's traditional houses can only be achieved through comprehensive conservation policies that go beyond individual restorations, prioritize the safeguarding of authentic values, and integrate disaster risk mitigation strategies.