The impact of politics and ideology in transformation of heritage values: Hacı Bayram District in Ankara, Turkey

The interpretation of cultural heritage is often influenced by politics and ideology. Depending on prevailing ideology, ways of intervening on cultural heritage places can change. Today, in Turkey heritage places are subject to interventions through urban transformation projects. These interventions may lead to changes, even destructions of socio-cultural values due to the emphasis on political, economic, ideological and religious motivations of decision makers. “Hacı Bayram District” in Ankara is representative case that demonstrates the impact of politics and ideology on the changing values of heritage places. The district has unique values due to the co-existence of the Hacı Bayram Mosque and the Augustus Temple. “Hacı Bayram Square Urban Design Project” was implemented in 2012 and values of heritage site were drastically transformed. The aim of this paper is to discuss transformation and possible misrepresentation of existing values in urban design project and changes in values following the implementation of projects