Abstract:
Cultural Tourism Potential and Sustainability of Historical Bartin Houses
By the effect of transportation and communication technologies, popular culture spreads world-wide and enforces local culture elements to survive . Traditional buildings are important reflections of culture on the landscape, however, they are rapidly replaced by concrete -so-called modern- constructions.. So, they need to be protected in order to transfer cultural assets to new generations. In addition to the cultural importance, they should be considered as tourism attraction and contribute to local economy.
80% of the Bartin's local landscape was composed of timbered structures until the 1970s. By the effects of rapid urbanization most of them replaced by so-called modern ones. Today, there are over 260 historical houses in the city. But most of them are neglected and subject to decomposition.
Historical Bartin Houses are worth seeing and investigating because they carry the ottoman civil architectural features of Tanzimat (Reform) era. They also alike to traditional Uskudar houses in terms of architecture and symbolize outward life. For example, doors are opening to the street instead of having inner court and therefore offer freedom of going out rather than staying inside to Bartin women. Such structures could find their place among the alternative tourism resources when proper, restoration, adjustment and advertisement are planned and applied.
This study investigates the historical Bartin houses' characteristics which are spatially declined and left to their own destiny. We will shed light on these houses and make some proposals on their protection, sustainability and contribution to local tourism.
