Risk management in historical areas: The case of Ankara castle

Throughout history, there have been efforts to protect our cultural heritage. However, we have encountered various risks, especially in areas affected by floods, fires and earthquakes. History has witnessed the loss of valuable and important cultural resources due to numerous natural and human-made hazards. Our cultural heritage is not only at risk of disasters but also in the stages of emergency, post-disaster recovery and reconstruction. In addition to these, factors such as tourism, population increase, urbanization and development pressure, zoning regulations, poverty, vandalism, imprudence, damage to the carrying system and misuse also pose a risk to cultural heritage. Threatening factors are not limited to monumental structures; they include cultural heritage structures and building groups in urban areas as well. The lack of adequate inventory studies on structures in urban heritage areas of Turkey has strengthened the assessment of the effects of elements posing a threat. It should be noted that the threat elements are moving towards urban areas. The structures, which are exposed to various processes of change and transformation without remaining true to the original, become difficult to control over time and are left to their fate because of misapplications and failing to take the necessary precautions. Within the scope of this thesis, a series of analysis of the Castle and surrounding structures of Ankara, the capital of Anatolia, were evaluated. After the Byzantine and Seljuk periods, Ankara was a city that consisted of traditional small residences which were initially separated and located in the Castle and its surroundings in the 1920s. The region, which has developed over time, has also hosted many civilizations. In this study, the risk analysis of the changing and developing historical buildings in this region was made and the primary risks were determined. Finally, suggestions were made for the management of these risks.