Investigating the loss of authenticity in re-functionalization applications: The example of traditional Alanya houses

Nowadays, the tendency to give tourism and commercial functions to historical buildings is increasing due to the significant increase in the rent margin of historical buildings in urban areas. Re-functionalization practices are actually a conservation method developed to transfer abandoned buildings or buildings that cannot maintain their original functions to future generations by giving them new functions. However, this method is currently used as a design model and causes too much loss of the authenticity of the historic building. Due to the flexibility of the conservation law, numerical volume, and personal ownership, traditional houses are the buildings that have suffered the most loss of authenticity among the historic buildings that have been re-functionalized. Historic buildings and the historic environment created by these buildings are examples of traditional architecture that are the result of the physical and cultural characteristics inherent in the region. Especially traditional houses are historical documents that provide important data about the daily life and culture of the region. For this reason, it is important to preserve the authenticity of traditional residential buildings as well as other historical buildings and to transfer them to future generations. Identifying the loss of authenticity in traditional houses that have been restored through re-functionalization is the most important step to preserve these buildings as more authentic in future restorations. However, since authenticity is a relative and subjective concept, it is necessary to work with more concrete methods to define and analyze it. For this reason, this study aims to design an authenticity analysis system with MATLAB program using fuzzy logic and AHP method. With the designed authenticity analysis system, evaluations are made measurable and objective. With the designed system, the authenticity values of traditional residential buildings after restoration can be determined numerically, and it is aimed that this system can be adapted and used in different buildings in different regions. In order to design the authenticity analysis system, the concepts of architectural conservation-restoration, re-functioning and authenticity were researched and the authenticity criteria to be used in the system were determined. The authenticity analysis system was designed in consultation with restorer architects and art historian experts who know the region in accordance with the re-functionalized traditional houses in Alanya, one of the important historical and tourism centers of Antalya. For authenticity analysis, the authenticity criteria included in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention Implementation Guide were adapted to the inputs of the Authenticity Analysis System created in the thesis study. The main criteria evaluated in this direction are environment, form, material, technique, intangible cultural heritage and the spirit of the building. The main criterion of form was evaluated as the sub-criteria of massing, space organization and façade layout. Afterwards, the re-functionalized traditional Alanya residences selected as the research area were evaluated through the system and the positive and negative aspects of the applications in the region were discussed. As a result, in all the examples examined, it was seen that the more concrete and generally valid criteria, referred to as the main criteria, were given importance, while the more abstract criteria, referred to as reinforcing and complementary criteria, were not taken into consideration. While the authenticity values of the traditional Alanya houses restored with their original function in the re-functionalization applications were high, the function that decreased the authenticity value of the traditional Alanya houses the most was determined as the hotel function. However, according to the system, although some examples were restored with the same functions, their authenticity values are at different degrees. This reveals the importance of criteria other than function in preserving authenticity. In efforts to preserve traditional houses by re-functionalizing them or preserving them with their original function, tangible and intangible links should be assimilated and locally specific solutions should be developed. In this way, it is thought that restoration projects, which are decided by considering all criteria, will contribute to the preservation of traditional housing architecture with its original qualities in a holistic manner and its transfer to future generations.