The Repair, Maintenance, and Restoration of Traditional Housing and the Related Legal Framework

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the challenges faced by the residents of traditional housing units during their repair, maintenance, and restoration, and the related legal framework in Turkey. Its focus is the current housing stock in the Kılınçaslan neighbourhood of the Antalya Kaleiçi Historic Urban Landscape. To begin, the challenges faced by the residents of housing units that are listed as a cultural property are discussed, with particular focus on the current legal framework, and the repair, maintenance, and restoration process in terms of the available financial support. The chapter continues with a discussion of the changes in the number of housing units in Kaleiçi over time, and the intervention applications made to the Antalya Regional Conservation Council. Following this, the traditional housing stock in the Kılınçaslan neighbourhood is discussed with an analysis of the vacant and used housing units in the neighbourhood, with details of their condition and the applications made to the Conservation, Implementation, and Control Office for repair. The study data, including that detailing the condition of the current housing stock and vacant units in the neighbourhood, were gathered during two site surveys. The findings show that legal limitations and bureaucratic hurdles affect the use and condition of housing units in traditional areas, and the high costs of repair, maintenance, and restoration necessitate greater financial support. In the Kılınçaslan neighbourhood, different categories of housing units that are in good, adequate, and poor condition, whether in use or vacant, are investigated. More financial support, easing the bureaucratic process, and reducing legal limitations may increase the use of traditional housing stock and contribute to the sustainability of traditional areas.