Restoration of an historic kulliye in Turkey: Traditional techniques- steel interventions and sustainability approach

Abstract

In this paper the restoration of Kursunlu Kulliye (a building complex) in Turkey by using steel members and traditional constructional systems is presented. Kulliyes refer to the building groups which constitute different number and type of buildings that are gathered around a mosque to serve for the public demands as state or foundation (wag properties. Kursunlu Kulliye being the subject of reference of the present paper is located in the historical town of Odunpazari in Eskisehir in the central region of Turkey. It is a 16th century Ottoman kulliye which was designed and built at one hand constituting a madrasah an alms house two caravanserais and a library around a mosque. The aim of the present paper is to describe the structural and material based problems of the buildings along with the coherent interventions that were implemented within the extent of the restoration of the kulliye. The whole restoration concept was based on application of both traditional restoration techniques and reversible implementations which focused on steel based interventions in order to solve the triggering causes of the problems. Accordingly an emphasis has been given on the reversible features of the interventions satisfying the principles of restoration in historical structures that take into account both structural and environmental sustainability. On the whole useful conclusions about the integration of sustainability criteria and modern practices in restoration operations have been reached.