Restoration techniques using reinforced concrete in Turkey reinterpreted through the lens of the Venice Charter

The use of reinforced concrete (RC) in the field of restoration was accepted with the Athens Charter for the Restoration of Historic Monuments in 1931 and remained popular through the end of the twentieth century with the further support of the Venice Charter of 1964. The Venice Charter states that in situations where traditional techniques prove inadequate, modern methods can be employed to consolidate monuments. Turkey, having followed European developments closely since the nineteenth century, incorporated RC into its conservation practices and integrated it into national legal frameworks. This study examines a key period in Turkey’s conservation history, encompassing the years leading up to and following the adoption of the Venice Charter. It explores the practical use of RC for the consolidation and reintegration of historic monuments, analysing how the principles of the Venice Charter were interpreted and implemented in the Turkish context. The broader implications of these practices are addressed while questioning the charter’s influence on both conservation techniques and the evolution of restoration approaches in Turkey. It explores the technical and ethical considerations shaping the use of modern materials in conservation, concluding with an overview of the evolution of techniques and approaches in conservation in Turkey.