Urban Conservation Proposal: The Case of Şile Balibey District

Abstract

The Balıbey district, analyzed in the scope of this paper, is one of theimportant surviving districts of the area. This district of importance withits plan schemes, building materials, construction techniques andbeautiful large vegetable gardens, was approved as the Şile CentralUrban Site and a 1st and 2nd degree natural conservation site area by theSecond Board for the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage ofIstanbul with its resolution dated 01.28.1992 and numbered 2796.Urban space analyses were made through field surveys in order todocument the present situation, identify the problems, assess thepotentials and recommendations were also developed to reveal thesepotentials. All the buildings in Balibey district of the urban conservationsite were examined, the analysis maps prepared in 1/1000 scale weresynthesized and proposal maps were prepared. The present situationhas been documented, and recommendations have been presented bysilhouette studies plans in 1/200 scale conducted on ‘Cami Street’ themost well-preserved axis of the district. The plans, façade and buildingmaterials of the buildings that preserved their originality wereconsidered on a single building scale and classified according to theirtypology. By mentioning the legal process, suggestions were developed in order toresolve the problems which arise from interaction between the wholedistrict and the work area in Şile, where conservation plan andreconstruction plan do not coalesce. In this work, the aim was to identifythe path to be followed for the gentrification of the Balibey District UrbanSite Area integrated with the city as a whole, keeping its characteristicsand original inhabitants to be handed to future generations.