Identification of cultural heritage criteria for modern residential architecture in the framework of a proposal for a multidimensional conservation approach: Antalya (1923–1980)

The conceptual boundaries of heritage conservation have evolved from a narrowly defined, tangible-focused framework toward a more inclusive paradigm that incorporates intangible values and broader environmental and cultural data. This expansion has brought modern architectural heritage into the purview of conservation practices, especially since the late 20th century. Conventional assessment systems developed for traditional architecture have been reviewed, and new evaluation frameworks specifically adapted to the characteristics of modern cultural heritage have been proposed. Despite efforts aiming for a more inclusive and diversified approach, current conservation practices tend to prioritize canonical examples—structures associated with prominent architects, technological or technical innovation, or distinctive design ideologies. Beyond this selective orientation, existing conservation legislation often lacks the clarity and specificity needed to define and evaluate modern architectural works as heritage, failing to adequately articulate their quality of heritage. This thesis departs from the question of how to overcome the above-mentioned selective perspective, the legislative gaps and the lack of criteria regarding the protection of modern residential architecture as cultural heritage. Firstly, it examines existing value and criterion systems employed in assessing modern architectural heritage at both national and international scales. Accordingly, the thesis emphasizes the development of a new perspective based on the concepts of aesthetics and experience, and focuses on the proposal of a criteria system that encompasses modern residential architecture. This study argues that the conservation challenges of modern residential architecture can be overcome by employing an evaluation framework that integrates the tangible and intangible qualities of human-building-environment interaction—uniting sensory, cognitive, emotional, semantic, temporal, and spatial dimensions. This approach emphasizes aesthetic experience as a prerequisite for understanding the holistic relationship between inhabitants and the environment, particularly for residential buildings in peripheral urban areas that are often perceived as anonymous or ordinary. Through aesthetic experience, the reciprocal relationship between people and place is analyzed, revealing the physical, cultural, and affective values embedded within the built environment. The low-rise residential buildings constructed in the city centre of Antalya (Türkiye) between 1923 and 1980 constitute the case study of this thesis. The thesis is based on the idea that the conservation of modern residential architecture depends on its recognition and internalization by residents and the public. Therefore, the study first identifies distinct urban data reflective of the modern layer and proposes experiential routes. The architectural character of these low-rise buildings is then analyzed to articulate the experiential qualities they afford. These structures, as integral components that shape both the lived environment and urban identity, are subsequently assessed through the proposed "Aesthetic Experience Criterion" to discuss their cultural significance and heritage value. Low-rise residential examples with modern design approaches, which exhibit diversity in terms of quality and quantity and vary by culture, history, geography, and lifestyle, should be evaluated in relation to the physical, conceptual, intellectual, and emotional elements of the place. Instead of a selective perspective, this study addresses modern residential buildings within the context of their tangible and intangible values and presents a conservation approach applicable to varied instances of modern residential architecture. KEYWORDS: Aesthetic experience, Conservation value system, Modern Heritage, Modern housing architecture, Phenomenology, Residential architecture of Antalya