An Integrated Approach to Conservation Based on the Interrelations of Tangible and Intangible Cultural Properties

Abstract

Studies for the conservation of historic environments have evolved from the conservation of only physical properties to an inclusive conservation approach concerning cultural properties. The significance of the cultural aspects of historic environments has been realized and discussed especially since 1950-1960s. Despite of an increasing awareness of the subject, the studies on the identification and the documentation of intangible cultural properties are still less advanced than those on tangible cultural properties. Today, conservation practices within historic environments mainly focus on the discussions on preserving and continuing “cultural identity”. In this respect, beside tangible cultural properties, intangible values embodied within the components of built environments, their identification, analysis and conservation also gain importance. This paper presents a holistic approach for analyzing historic built environments as an entity of tangible and intangible cultural properties. It mainly puts forward the assumption that intangible and tangible cultural properties need to be conserved together in historic environments. In this sense, it presents a conceptual model for analyzing the interrelations between tangible and intangible cultural properties, in other words, built environment and culture. Then, it applies this model on the Ibrahimpasa Village. As a conclusion, it puts forward possible conservation approaches for the sustainability of the integrity of interrelations between tangible and intangible cultural properties in the village.