The AK Party is marking 25 years of a cultural heritage strategy centered on restoration and adaptive reuse across Türkiye. Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the government has shifted toward reviving a diverse array of historical sites, ranging from ancient ruins to industrial plants.
From 1950s Urbanization to 6,000 Restored Properties
The current drive to preserve Türkiye's architectural landscape is a direct response to the rapid, often chaotic urbanization that defined the mid-20th century. Starting in the 1950s, the expansion of road networks and the rise of reinforced concrete development put immense pressure on the historic fabric of cities like Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who served as the metropolitan mayor of Istanbul starting in 1994, witnessed this erosion of heritage firsthand before ascending to national leadership.
Since the AK Party took power in 2002, the scale of intervention has grown significantly. According to the report, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated in July 2024 that approximately 6,000 foundation-owned cultural properties have been repaired or restored. This represents a systemic shift from the previous era's neglect, moving toward a model where the state actively manages the intersection of urban growth and historical preservation.
The Adaptive Reuse of Hagia Sophia and Rami Barracks
A cornerstone of the current policy is "adaptive reuse," a philosophy that seeks to maintain a building's original function when possible or assign it a new, compatible purpose. The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque serves as the most prominent example of this approach; the site remains open to both visitors and worshippers while a scientific committee oversees ongoing structural reinforcement and conservation work.
This strategy extends beyond religious landmarks to include military and civic sites. In Istanbul, the restoration of the Rami Barracks and the reopening of the Yildiz Palace are highlighted as efforts to return "places of memory" to the public. As the report says, the goal for Yildiz Palace was not merely to fix the walls and gardens but to transform long-inaccessible buildings into museums for future generations. Other key Istanbul projects include the Galata Tower,the Maiden's Tower, and the tombs of Mustafa III and Selim III.
TIKA's 120 Restoration Projects Beyond Turkish Borders
Türkiye's heritage ambitions are not confined to its own borders. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, known as TIKA, has expanded the government's restoration footprint globally, completing more than 120 projects abroad. This international outreach mirrors the domestic effort to embrace a wide spectrum of history, including the industrial heritage seen in the restoration of the former Adana Mensucat Factory.
By funding projects abroad and dievrsifying domestic efforts—such as work at the ancient city of Ani and Alanya Castle—the AK Party is positioning Türkiye as a guardian of a broader, multi-civilizational memory. This approach suggests that the government views cultural heritage as a tool for both domestic identity building and international diplomacy.
The Scientific Balance at Yildiz Palace and Hagia Sophia
Despite the volume of completed works, several specific questions remain regarding the long-term sustainability of these sites.. While the report mentions a "scientific committee" supervising the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, it does not detail the specific conservation standards being used or how the government balances high visitor traffic with the fragility of the structure.
Furthermore, the cirteria for what constitutes an "appropriate new use" in adaptive reuse projects remain opaque. it is unclear whether the transition of sites like the Yildiz Palace into museums is driven primarily by academic preservation or by the economic demands of tourism. the source provides the government's perspective on these achievements but does not include commentary from independent architects or heriatge watchdogs regarding the authenticity of these restorations.
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