Abstract

 

Due to evolving economical, technological, social and cultural conditions, buildings may lose their functionality and become obsolete even if they preserve their physical structure. However, these functionally old structures are concrete reflections of the architectural, cultural, technical, social and economic properties of their era. These functionally old but physically everlasting buildings need to be evaluated in terms of “adaptive re-use” in order to convey their incorporeal values to the future.

Like many other countries, Ottoman Empire was also influenced by Industrial Revolution. Appearance of factories in Istanbul can not only be seen as a technological milestone for the country. Their physical existence caused social, cultural and economic changes which affect the whole social life and memory. Besides these impacts on society, factories were also an introduction to a new building type with their specific forms and space characteristics. Considering their diverse importance in the history, the reuse of abandoned industrial buildings is a necessity in terms of keeping acquired information of their era. However, to preserve the properties of the industrial buildings from dilapidation, possible interventions during “re-use” process should be undertaken very carefully.

The aim of the paper is to offer an analysis method used by designers working with existing structure and buildings.  Within the context of this study, an analysis method that aims to determine interior intervention sensitivity and to give decisions before the interior intervention process is executed. The parameters of the intervention process that are considered in this method  are  documentation and restitution studies, spatial and functional relations, architectural language, structural elements, volumetric relations, circulation elements and interior atmosphere of the building. The intervention process at SantralIstanbul Energy Museum, which was Silahtaraga Power Plant at the beginning of 20th century, is examined as a case study for the proposed analysis method.