Preservation of 20th-Century Residential Areas and a Proposal for Karabük Yenişehir Settlement

Modern heritage, especially post-war housing estates, is facing the problems of appreciation and preservation. These buildings are interpreted in different ways by decision-makers because of questions relating to their identification. Accordingly, this research aims to better understand the heritage attributes and significance of post-war housing estates, in particular in the Yenişehir settlement—a neighborhood in Karabük, Türkiye. Within the framework of cultural significance and heritage values (values of DOCOMOMO), an assessment was conducted by using expert interviews for data collection. The AHP (analytical hierarchy process) method, one of the decision support systems, was used to contribute to the subjective decision process. The experts determined significance levels for the studied buildings based on whether they needed to be preserved. Comparisons with the AHP created essential data that showed different views, especially regarding intangible values. Through the process, the attributes and values of buildings were made visible. According to experts, the significance of the buildings has changed. This study consists of 5 stages: authenticity analysis of the buildings in the area, classification of the buildings, application of the AHP on buildings of greater significance, determining of cultural significance ranking, and making suggestions according to the ranking.

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