The determination of the effect of usage level on the conservation of rural architectural heritage: Çimi, Sarıhacılar, Emiraşıklar villages (Akseki, Antalya)

The rural settlements that are shaped by the physical conditions of the environment, that contain the cultural values of the society that produces it and their heritage buildings in these areas are considered to be the values that should be carry into future. These cultural values are nowadays faced with many conservation problems. This study aims to examine the effect of usage level on the conservation of cultural assets in rural areas. The study was carried out within the context of the Çimi, Sarıhacılar and Emiraşıklar Villages of Akseki District. The buildings in the settlement areas were examined in their places and the general results were reached for each village. Akseki bearing the traces of many civilizations that existed from the first Age to the present, created its own unique architectural character in the context of the physical conditions of the geography, the traditions of the society. Çimi, Sarıhacılar and Emiraşıklar villages, which have been consisted of by the architectural character of the region but have different usage levels, were chosen as the field of study. Study of analysis were carried out on the present state of all three rural settlements and cultural assets. The effect of the use level on the protection was evaluated by the results of the analysis. According to the evaluation data obtained from rural settlements with different usage levels; it has been observed that, in Çimi Village that used continuously and Emiraşıklar Village that used periodically, rural pattern and buildings continue to exist but they cannot maintain their authentic character. It was observed that, in the abandoned Sarıhacılar Village the rural settlement pattern and buildings preserved their authentic but most of them were destroyed today. In order to ensure the preservation of the settlements and cultural values in the rural areas, these areas should be seen as a cultural value by the users. In the case of continuous and periodical use, cultural assets in rural areas should be included in today's life without losing their original characteristics. It is concluded that life should be reconstructed in the abandoned rural settlements and buildings. KEYWORDS: Conservation, Çimi, Emiraşıklar, Rural Cultural Heritage, Sarıhacılar, Usage Level