Istanbul heritage at risk, says report
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Milliyet
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 25, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - A report prepared by inspectors from UNESCO that is being debated currently by the body’s world cultural heritage committee states the government’s policies are putting Istanbul’s rich heritage at risk and the city is in danger of being removed from the list of heritage sites.
A report has been submitted to UNESCO’s world cultural heritage committee that puts Istanbul in a very bad light when it comes to preserving its heritage and threatens the city’s status as a world heritage site.
The report especially criticized the gentrification project in the ancient Roma neighborhood of Sulukule and the constructions of the Four Seasons Hotel and the metro near the Golden Horn. The Turkish government was heavily criticized at the ongoing general meeting of the world cultural heritage committee of UNESCO in Seville, Spain. During discussions for a draft for the World Cultural Heritage report it was mentioned that Sulukule, the lack of efforts to preserve wooden buildings from the Ottoman era, the construction of an additional area for the Four Seasons Hotel in Sultanahmet, the metro bridge construction near the Golden Horn and the traffic master plan for Istanbul are threatening the cultural heritage of the city. It is also stated that inspection reports presented to the government have been disregarded.
If the report, featuring the observations of the UNESCO commission that visited Istanbul in April, is accepted at the end of the meeting on June 30, the risk of Istanbul being removed from the World Cultural Heritage list is high. According to Viki Çiprut, one of the spokespersons of the Sulukule platform, the best-case scenario is the committee giving the government one year to take required measures.
The report of the commission especially indicates that law number 5366 in Turkey, which pertains to the renovation of historical sites, does not support preservation activities but clears the path for demolitions and the destruction of historic values. The report suggests the law be amended.
The draft report of UNESCO features each of the situations that threaten the cultural heritage of Istanbul under separate titles. The titles are: The committee declared its worries on the negative effects of the traffic plan on the historic peninsula if it is put into practice. Especially concerning the Marmaray Project tunnel to pass under the Bosphorus to join Harem with Kumkapı, which is expected to bring a very heavy traffic load to the east side of the Bosphorus because it will pass from the west of Sultanahmet. For this reason, the commission has asked the government to have an independent environment report prepared before the plan is put into practice.
Additional construction for Four Seasons Hotel
The committee said an Istanbul regional administrative court has revoked the construction permit for an additional building for the Four Seasons Hotel over archaeological remains. However, due to this decision, all archeological works and works of preservation for the remains have also stopped. Due to this, these important archaeological remains are still under the risk of being exposed to adverse weather conditions for a long time.
"The committee expressed concern that the construction of a new metro bridge on the Golden Horn, plans for which have already been drawn, will have negative effects on the surrounding buildings, especially the Süleymaniye Mosque due to its high towered, suspension bridge structure. The committee has warned the government to avoid this project or to develop alternative suggestions.
The committee pointed to the danger faced to the old wooden houses from the Ottoman era. It was mentioned that most of those houses are abandoned and there has been no effort to preserve them.
The report indicates Sulukule has proved how destructive law number 5366 can be. In its observations on Sulukule, the committee said, "Alongside the demolitions of registered buildings as a result of the gentrification program practiced by local administrators, the local communities have been disbanded and the physical and nonphysical values of the area have been destroyed in an unacceptable manner." It was also mentioned that now the area is being zoned for housing and therefore cannot be considered a preservation plan at all.
The commission stated its worries on urban transformation projects that are for rebuilding rather than preserving. The suggestions made to the government in 2006 and 2008 were repeated and the committee strongly urges the preservation of standing historical buildings. The report states that the implementation of law number 5366 is a potential threat to the existence and unity of Istanbul’s important areas on the world heritage list.
The report especially criticized the gentrification project in the ancient Roma neighborhood of Sulukule and the constructions of the Four Seasons Hotel and the metro near the Golden Horn. The Turkish government was heavily criticized at the ongoing general meeting of the world cultural heritage committee of UNESCO in Seville, Spain. During discussions for a draft for the World Cultural Heritage report it was mentioned that Sulukule, the lack of efforts to preserve wooden buildings from the Ottoman era, the construction of an additional area for the Four Seasons Hotel in Sultanahmet, the metro bridge construction near the Golden Horn and the traffic master plan for Istanbul are threatening the cultural heritage of the city. It is also stated that inspection reports presented to the government have been disregarded.
If the report, featuring the observations of the UNESCO commission that visited Istanbul in April, is accepted at the end of the meeting on June 30, the risk of Istanbul being removed from the World Cultural Heritage list is high. According to Viki Çiprut, one of the spokespersons of the Sulukule platform, the best-case scenario is the committee giving the government one year to take required measures.
The report of the commission especially indicates that law number 5366 in Turkey, which pertains to the renovation of historical sites, does not support preservation activities but clears the path for demolitions and the destruction of historic values. The report suggests the law be amended.
The draft report of UNESCO features each of the situations that threaten the cultural heritage of Istanbul under separate titles. The titles are: The committee declared its worries on the negative effects of the traffic plan on the historic peninsula if it is put into practice. Especially concerning the Marmaray Project tunnel to pass under the Bosphorus to join Harem with Kumkapı, which is expected to bring a very heavy traffic load to the east side of the Bosphorus because it will pass from the west of Sultanahmet. For this reason, the commission has asked the government to have an independent environment report prepared before the plan is put into practice.
Additional construction for Four Seasons Hotel
The committee said an Istanbul regional administrative court has revoked the construction permit for an additional building for the Four Seasons Hotel over archaeological remains. However, due to this decision, all archeological works and works of preservation for the remains have also stopped. Due to this, these important archaeological remains are still under the risk of being exposed to adverse weather conditions for a long time.
"The committee expressed concern that the construction of a new metro bridge on the Golden Horn, plans for which have already been drawn, will have negative effects on the surrounding buildings, especially the Süleymaniye Mosque due to its high towered, suspension bridge structure. The committee has warned the government to avoid this project or to develop alternative suggestions.
The committee pointed to the danger faced to the old wooden houses from the Ottoman era. It was mentioned that most of those houses are abandoned and there has been no effort to preserve them.
The report indicates Sulukule has proved how destructive law number 5366 can be. In its observations on Sulukule, the committee said, "Alongside the demolitions of registered buildings as a result of the gentrification program practiced by local administrators, the local communities have been disbanded and the physical and nonphysical values of the area have been destroyed in an unacceptable manner." It was also mentioned that now the area is being zoned for housing and therefore cannot be considered a preservation plan at all.
The commission stated its worries on urban transformation projects that are for rebuilding rather than preserving. The suggestions made to the government in 2006 and 2008 were repeated and the committee strongly urges the preservation of standing historical buildings. The report states that the implementation of law number 5366 is a potential threat to the existence and unity of Istanbul’s important areas on the world heritage list.