Investigation on indoor-functional transformation restoration projects

The old term of restoration can be defined in the clearest way as `doing the least intervention and the best maintenance to historical buildings which have had cultural worth and have reflected those values?. The idea of sustaining and protecting enrolled historical buildings can be traced back to the time of Violette-Le Duc. The following generations developed the concept rapidly in 19th century. At the beginning, the aim of restoration was to sustain the old, but in the following period, this was not deemed enough. In order to prolong the life of old historical buildings the idea of adding new functions was suggested. This was approved by the next generations. In this dissertation, doing the least interventions and the best maintenance is considered valuable in restoration projects in order to protect the originality of the buildings and prolong their life. This study investigated the historical buildings such as IV. Vakif Han (known as Legacy Ottoman Hotel), Silahtarağa Electric Station (known as Santralistanbul), Lengerhane and Haskoy Dock (known as Rahmi M. Koç Industry Museum), Ottoman Bank (known as Salt Galata), number 4 Custom Storehouse (known as İstanbul Modern Art Museum), Esma Sultan Waterside Residence (known as The Marmara Esma Sultan), Galata Tower, Sant Francesc Abbey (known as Sant Francesc Cultural Center, Spain), Big Inn (known as Big Inn Cultural Centre, Cyprus) and house/library (knowns as Gloria Jean's Coffees, Cyprus) respectively. The aim of the study was to investigate the outcome of different approaches to functional transformation of these buildings and depict the creative startegies and tactics in restorartin and transformation and contrast the concervative and innovative approaches and argue the creative principles so that they may pave the path to creative transformations. The research is divided into six chapters and method of dissertation is rendered in the introduction. In the second part of the research, the history and development of restoration is presented. The definition of restoration and the development process of it in Turkey are thoroughly explanined. The terms of architectural plan, restitution and renovation, which are related with the restoration are defined and the protection and its development in Turkey are mentioned. In the third part which is titled as the principles of interior design in restoration projects, the definition of restoration project is defined and the method and technics of restoration are explained. Later, the term of design and the principles of interior design are described and the importance of products and equipment used in the restored are underlined in tandem with the function. In the forth part, the definition of function and its importance in the organization of interiors is emphasized and later on, the suitability of the present space to the proposed function is elaborated. The fifth comprehends the building studied in Turkey and the worldwide. At the end of each building investigated, the general assessment is made. In the conclusion, the general assessment of the dissertation is evaluated and the comparison of local and worldwide samples are presented. The differences and similarities of those samples are clarified and the common point of the successful examples are categorized under the classic and the creative ways; and especially the creative tactics are highlighed in order to shed light on the future applications. Key Words: Restoration, transformation, new function, creativity