Functional Transformation and Searches in Apartment Buildings in Historical City Centre of Konya

Abstract

Konya, which is a historical residential area, is a city of civilization. Since Seljuk Dynasty, the development of city has centered on Aladdin Hill. Aladdin Hill, which is a historical mound, has maintained its triangulation point characteristics. During Seljuks period (XIII century), settlement texture had focused on Aladdin hill. During Karamanids Period, it is known that in XV and XVIII centuries settlement texture had focused on Eastern and North-South sections; in XVIII and XIX centuries, it had focused around south and southeastern sections. Industrial revolution has brought about changes in technical, economic, social and cultural structure. Industrialization movement has begun to emerge after the foundation of republic (1923). The fact that the immigrations from rural areas to urban areas have gained speed, resulted in building problem in cities. Physical structure of the city has undergone changes with the new structural changes and it became a necessity to create construction plans. Innovation movements experienced during post-republican period countrywide began to appear in Konya. Technological and economical changes have reflected on city spaces. The first movements of change in Konya city center have begun with the construction of first apartment buildings. Hayat Apartment, constructed in 1937 is the first structure erected with the sense of apartment. Hayat apartment was planned within Tomb neighborhood (around Mevlana Museum), which was the most popular neighborhood on Aladdin Street. The owner called the building after himself/herself in almost all of the apartments constructed before Property Ownership Law. In this way, the owner has gained economical power and prestige. After 1950s, for the apartments, which are modern buildings, Aladdin Hill and its neighborhood and Atatürk Street and Ferid Paşa Streets functioning as a connection between the hill and the station have gained significance. Until 1967 these roads and their close neighborhoods have become the most prestigious quarters of the city. In 1967 “Property Ownership Law” was enacted and this law helped the construction of apartment building gain acceleration. The city has begun to grow rapidly and there emerged more than one city center. Introducing new lands for use as building areas help new centers come into being. Therefore, Konya has made steps forward to become a multi-centered city. In 21 century, in addition to functioning as a tool for fulfilling accommodation needs of people, houses have some functions like investment tool, social status indication, and property for economic assurance. During the course of time, the change of the society and therefore the location is inevitable. Every value undergoing a change should include internalizing the previous accumulation by the society and renewing and improving them with the aim of developing. Change is the state of reinterpretation, which enables the continuity of the cultural identity. Every value handed down from the past in line with the requirements of the time includes updating. In this sense, the houses are the basic elements of both continuity and the changes experienced within this continuity. What enables the continuity of the change is experience created by the people integrated with itself and it’s surrounding rather than the physical identifiability of the house. Spatial priorities changing from the perspective of historical context have a role in shaping functional and sociocultural organization of the urban space. The changes in economical activities, social behavior ways and urban cultural patterns have a direct effect on the changes in the spaces. Today, urban spaces undergo change under the influence of social, economic, environmental, administrative and planning factors and need transformation in time. The apartments located in the historical city center of Konya have been affected by this change. The function of apartment buildings designed as dwellings has changed and they turned in commercial spaces in time. In this study, within historical process, the change and transformation experienced in house texture in historical city center of Konya will be analyzed. The apartment structure on Aladdin Street in the historical city center of Konya constitutes the material of this research. Within this framework, the plans, historical and current pictures, reports, restoration projects and the interviews performed with the relevant people regarding the structures within the neighborhood constitute the basic material of the research. Urban and spatial change is inevitable in time. However, when the general characteristic of the area where the change occurs is changed, urban identity problems emerge. For the success of these applications, permanent, high quality and livable solutions are needed. Because these spaces should be helped preserve their historical characteristics on one hand and helped catch up with the modern requirements on the other hand. From this perspective, it is aimed that this study will be helpful for city administrators and planner in decision-making and implementing process.