Cultural Soundscape Evaluation on Re-Functionalized Historical Sites with Adaptive Reuse Approach: Ankara Citadel Case

Abstract

Cultural soundscaping is a research field that aims preservation and evaluation of the cultural heritage sites’ sound environments, as they are the intangible values that act as a crucial part of the place identity. Different aspects of sounds’ interaction with humans and places have provided that value of soundscape has become significant in heritage sites. The semantic values hidden in the intricate content of soundscapes within an urban context and their cultural values are in the scope of this study. In this sense, a methodological framework is introduced that is merged from the studies on cultural soundscape that are present in the literature. Accordingly, a pilot study was conducted as a case study based on the presented framework. The old city centre of Ankara, where new functions have been assigned with restoration projects in an adaptive reuse approach, and its heritage value from the perspective of its lost and changed soundscape, especially during and after the restoration were considered. Soundwalks and listening points on the pre-identified routes and semantic sound analysis were conducted as a pilot study in order to evaluate the restoration process during construction and after construction period of the sound environment at Ankara Citadel region. The importance of observing, surveying, managing, and preserving the historic sound environment of such historic heritage sites and its importance for the urban habitual life and society are discussed.