Scrutinising the problematics of conservation in rural settlements and development of a model

Rural settlements are not evaluated only with traditional buildings, but also with local features such as relation with nature, production techniques and way of life. Rural areas that consist of tangible and intangible cultural heritage are under the influence of global changes. Agricultural policies and industrialization of food production effects the economics of rural areas while advancement in communication technologies effects social and cultural structure. Therefore, conservation of rural settlements has taken place in literature of several disciplines with the concept of 'problematics'. The aim of this study is, to reveal the problems of conservation of rural settlements, scrutunize the reasons, evaluate through the discourse and legislation and, to develop a model. Within this scope, two rural settlements in İzmir, which are registrated as Conservation Areas, are selected for field studies. The data gained from the analysis of buildings and questionnaires in Foça, Kozbeyli and Ödemiş, Bademli, are compared with the results of previous studies at the same areas. In this way, the change of architectural features, economic, social and demographic structure of areas are identified with the relation of local factors and conservation. These studies has led to the examination of problematics and evaluation of the cause and effect relationship. Regulations and applications on the conservation of rural heritage at different countries and, several projects in Turkey are also searched within this study and evaluated by their contribution to the field. The basic principles of the model has been determined through these mentioned studies. The model for rural conservation, suggested in this study, aims to provide the conservation of local heritage features of rural settlements and determination of future strategies putting forward the idea of participation, having regard to the inevitable effects of global change.