Risk Altındaki Tarihi Yapıların Yeniden İşlevlendirilerek Hayata Döndürülmesi Astley Castle Örneği

Abstract

The erosive effect of time which is hard to stop, has impacts of different scale on historic buildings. It becomes even more difficult to protect historic structures when there is a severe destruction caused by a disaster. In this regard, recording these cultural heritage assets on national or international registers, raising public’s awareness through campaigns are significant ways to bring these buildings back to life. Buildings at risk lists record buildings under threat and are examples to efforts for keeping the nation’s memory alive and enabling the common values to be shared throughout the country. However, these lists are not enough. In order to safeguard their future, new functions should be given to these decaying historic buildings. England, a country with a rooted tradition in architectural conservation, is manages different lists for historic buildings at risk with the aim of rescuing them from demolition. Astley Castle, located in Warwickshire, England is a building which was included in a buildings at risk list for a long time. It was devastated by fire in 1978 and left deserted until 2000’s when the building was restored and given a new function as a weekend accommodation. The much praised adaptive re-use project designed by WWM Architects was awarded with RIBA Stirling Prize in 2013. This article aims to introduce this project and the story of Astley Castle being brought back to life. At the same time it evaluates the significance of buildings at risk lists in decision-making processes for the conervation of historic buildings.