The characteristics of büyükada as a cultural landscape

This paper addresses the cultural landscape characteristics of Büyükada, the largest of Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands, with regard to the universal definition of the content and extent of the cultural landscape, to provide background to the site’s history and its socio-cultural and urban development. It focuses on the relationship between the built and natural environment in terms of vernacular architecture and organic landscape, and is based on survey studies and research conducted as part of a PhD Thesis. The paper’s aim is to give an overview of the cultural and natural values that are the characteristics of Büyükada, which merits nomination as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape. The overview is constructed in line with the criteria and indicators identified by UNESCO and ICOMOS. It outlines the qualities Büyükada possesses with respect to the supplementary questions prepared by specialists. The Introduction chronologically summarizes the transformation of the island throughout history. The Materials and Methods section presents the definition of the landscape characteristics according to the UNESCO criteria and indicators together with the cultural landscape identity of Büyükada, which is put forward by the authors by means of the supplementary questions. In the Results and Discussion section, characteristics of the cultural landscape are judged through the criteria and indicators within the context of Authenticity, and the supplementary questions are validated. Finally, it is concluded that Büyükada meets the selection criteria for nomination; therefore, we declare that Büyükada be eligible for inclusion as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape. The cultural landscape of Büyükada has been formed throughout the centuries by hosting Christians, other non-Muslim communities, and Muslim Turks. During the Byzantine Empire, the vernacular settlement was known to have been a place of exile, consisting of fisherman huts, fields, and monasteries. The Island was then inhabited by Greek fisherman chiefs during the Ottoman period, followed by the settlement of Ottoman non-Muslim communities in the 19th century. With the habitation of permanent users, characteristics of the urban fabric, such as Neo-Classic, Neo-Gothic, Neo-Baroque, and Art Nouveau architecture become visible within the organic landscape. It is the blending with the landscape of the unique wooden and masonry structures, which are individual masterpieces of a distinctive architectural style that gives Büyükada its outstanding universal value and makes it authentic as a cultural site together with the picturesque character of the hills, ridges, pine woods, lush greeneries, and shorelines of an exceptional scenic quality as a natural site. In Büyükada, this harmonious interaction between people and nature represents a cultural landscape as an artistic whole.