An Alternative Approach for the Regeneration of Cultural Heritage in Turkey: İzmir History Project

In recent years, cultural heritage in Turkey has been subject to various forms of interventions for its regeneration. While regulations for intervening in registered heritage places are considerably strict in Turkey, these interventions are realized under the Renewal Law. Renewal Law specifically enacted in 2005 for the regeneration of registered heritage places and the aim of the law is defined as valorizing and preserving timeworn heritage places, through ‘renewal projects’. Renewal law develops “new standards” for urban regeneration to overcome existing strict regulations by giving extensive rights to local authorities, for instance expropriation, which may result in the demolishment of heritage buildings and the displacement of local residents. In Konak/İzmir, a central heritage place with residential, commercial, administrative and religious buildings, Izmir Municipality develops an alternative approach to renewal law with History İzmir Project. In the project, a bottom-up approach has been adopted and holistic strategies have been developed considering both the values of the heritage place and needs of residents, who are mostly immigrants from eastern cities of Turkey and Syria. The paper aims to explain the approach of the History İzmir Project, which aims to preserve the tangible and intangible values of the heritage place