Assessment of historic civil buildings in Istanbul for their sustainable conservation

Purpose Similar to monumental historic structures, civil historic buildings should also be paid great attention since they form the historic environment and reflect the historically dynamic nature of a city. However, these buildings are gradually disappearing in Istanbul. This study aims to examine the current situation of civil historic buildings in Istanbul and determine the reasons for their gradual disappearance. Design/methodology/approach Two extensive site surveys have been performed in the Üsküdar district of Istanbul. The first survey was based on the visual inspection of the buildings, while the second one contained detailed questionnaires performed with the owners of the historic buildings. Findings The performed surveys revealed the conservation status of the examined historical buildings. The details on their structural systems, construction materials, initial and current functions were quantified. The contentment of the owners and financial support given by the governmental agencies were revealed. The effective sources of the damage seen in the studied historic buildings were also evaluated. Finally, the evaluation of the principles of sustainability showed that the adaptive reuse strategy has not been successfully implemented in Istanbul, and it can promote the conservation of historic buildings in Üsküdar. Research limitations/implications The first survey covered all historic civil buildings in Üsküdar, while in total 206 of them out of 1,034 have been studied extensively in the second survey. Practical implications The obtained results give an insight and/or understanding of historic civil buildings in Istanbul. Social implications The results of the study are important for the conservation of historic buildings. Originality/value The performed study not only reveals the current situation of the historic civil buildings in Üsküdar, Istanbul, but also analyses the attitudes of their owners. The effectiveness of the given governmental supports to the owners was also evaluated.