Investigation of the Relationship Between Authentic Structural System, Conservation Condition and Earthquake Damage in Residential Buildings: The Case of Bıçakçı Neighbourhood, Eyyübiye, Şanlıurfa

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the conservation condition of authentic residential structures in a portion of Bıçakçı Neighbourhood (Eyyübiye, Şanlıurfa), which was affected by the February 6, 2023, earthquake, and to reveal the relationship between the conservation state of the authentic structural system of the residential buildings and earthquake damage. The condition of 27 residential buildings in October 2023 were documented by inventory sheets including drawings and photos. Building system analysis, which examined the structural system of the buildings, and conservation condition analysis, which was based on the adaptation of conservation condition classes in the “EN 16096 Conservation survey and report of built cultural heritage” standard, were prepared. The classes used in conservation condition analysis are “good” with no structural damage, moderate with widespread material deterioration and/or local structural damage, and “bad” with loss of structural integrity. The relationship between structural authenticity and conservation condition is discussed by the overlap of the analyses. The authentic structural system of the residential buildings in the neighbourhood is masonry, constituted of double-leafed walls with local ashlar stone-faced rubble infill and barrel or cross vaults. The analysis results demonstrate that residential buildings either conserved their authentic structural system (15/27) or had inappropriate reinforced concrete interventions, including the removal of vault coverings (7/27) or storey additions (5/27). The vast majority of residential buildings in “good” condition (7/8) and half of the residential buildings with local structural damage (4/8) conserve their original structural system. The majority of residential buildings with widespread material deteriorations had inappropriate reinforced concrete interventions (7/10). Although the structural damage in residential buildings that conserve their original structural system reveals the insufficiency of conservation and restoration practices, the rarity of widespread material deterioration among these buildings, and their constituting the vast majority of “good” condition residential buildings, demonstrates the resilience of residential buildings that conserve their authentic structural system.

Keywords: Şanlıurfa, Traditional Residential Building, Structural System, Conservation Condition, Earthquake