The Importance of Re-Evaluting the Cultural Richness of İstanbul

We are witnessing in Turkey, a desertion of environmental and cultural values with an ever increasing intensity since the middle decades of the 20 th century.

No doubt, such a development must have reasons of many dimensions. A part of these stems from the unability of fully following the rapid developments taking place in the world. As for hotly persuing the mistakes that have been clearly put foıward, this is related to some peculia traits of our society.

This fact, as is well known, again brings forward multi-dimensional problems of insoluble nature. This is so because we are living the years in which there is the gratest need of revealing the cultural identity of societies in a sufficiently powerful manner. The basic indication of this explanation of cultural identity is measured by our approach to cultural and environmental values. The possession of the natural values and the level of evaluation of the culture which is taking shape in this environment, is becoming the measure of respectability for societies in our world, which is rapidly losing many of its natural belongings and its joy of life.

Looking very carefully to our past, in order to see the values flowing to our day, we see that our society has never had so many resources since the 16 th century. While the world is entering an impasse with its environmental problems, and when the powers of industrialized countries are being discussed, and when our past cultural traces in various parts of the world are awaiting new evaluations, the fact that we are unable to look through are vicious discussions and catch the importance of the event brings foıth these unbelivable problems.

One of the basic reasons, or maybe the most important reason for this is that, our cultural identity has always had to develop itself in a closed and conservative environment. In such a medium, the natural and cultural values cannot become a factor of im- portance in our lives, being the “reason detre” which makes us ourselves.

As a natural result of this development, we must reach a healthy decisio for thes lands carrying the traces of the great cultures of the world civilisation with its special nature giving life to four seasons; and again prove our national being as a democratic country of increasing respectability, which has a strong cultural richness and bases its existance on human rights. This decision to be taken with the unprejudiced participation of all institutions, establishments and persons, far from a thought for protecting petty benefıts, shall enable the correction of many visable mistakes and make the future more worth living.

The importance of concrete examples are obvious for establishing the mediums that shall lead to such decisions. If the various social groups shall fınd the opportunity of benefiting from the mediums in which the natural and cultural values are protected and conveyed to the future in a healthy manner, the unhealthy progress may lose its speed and we may witness the formation of new power groups.

From this aspect, I believe, that the world city of Istanbul is one of the few examples for explaining the right ways, creating an extensive participation and debating its results in global dimensions. No doubt, this example comprising all positive and negative developments is a focus of interest for Turkey and the world from the aspects of natural and cultural identity. İstanbul, a city at the cross point of cultures in all eras of history, a city in which great empires have proved their existance and also carried and materialised their results, is a phonemenon which must be taken into hand without wasting any time.

The first step is to lead all parties in this troubled world to think and debate on İstanbul, and to lead them into performing concrete attempts. In order to enable a consistent and perma-nant organisation all powers may be brought together around. such a global source as İstanbul. This will in the same time lessen the mistakes of our country and will enable its refiection on a scale pertinent to its irreplacable cultural greatness.

When we look at the issue from this point of view, in order to prevent the erosion that Istanbul has faced and to make it a cultural capital while extending the establishments of the civil society to arts, environment and the communuties and to fumish the city and its citizens with a permanent organisation, the programme of “Decade of İstanbul in World Heritage/1993-2003” must be supported and put into effect disregarding all adverse conditions and must be made more comprehensive. This effort of the Ministry of Culture will also be an example of extensive participation and a national unity. These developments which will give the chance of quick conveyance of information to intemational establishments and persons with the support of UNESCO, must be concentrated on some basic targets, as we have stated before.

First among these efforts is the completion of an inventory of places and persons for the city of İstanbul. This must begin with listing the historical buildings used by state establishments with an eye of re-evaluating their situation under changing conditions. Such an approach may lead to the introduction of new functions and new centres of culture and may enable us to provide a cultural continuity from the past to the future.

The compilation of information about prominent persons who are knowledgeable, have certain expertise and are experienced is a task of priority not only for Istanbul but for the whole country. Such an effort to begin in Istanbul and extend to the whole country and abroad will put into action the reevaluation of a resource not given the importance it deserves.

A second basic point is reviewing the environmental and cultural values of İstanbul and setting priorities for their restoration works. In this respect, the discussions to enable a new multi- dimensional plan -including the historical peninsula in the Topkapı Palace- which will be extended to date and which is to reflect the development and growth principles of İstanbul, should be started without any further delay. The taking into hand of the palace-museum at fırst place and equipping these places of administration, and the residences of past administrators and the environments with cultural effects to reach the 21 st century, simultaneously with concrete results may be great incentive for efforts to improve the historical peninsula. This may extend in a short time to e.g. the Gazhane Building in Yedikule, thus bringing unconceivable facilities for displaying the identity of all eras in the history of İstanbul.

The Golden Hom with its near surroundings must be first among the other places to be taken into hand. Despite all adds the Aynalıkavak Palace the Slaughterhouse of Sütlüce, Eyüp and its envoiıments the Galata Bridge, Feshane and other buildings must be opened to the use of the lstanbul citizens under the title of “Golden Hom”. All persons and establishments, who have not been able to communicate so far must be brought together in order to discuss the priorities for the Golden Hom in the context of Istanbul as a whole.

This may strenghten some developments and unwanted developments may be prevented at an early stage. Especially the negative and positive results of the projects and developments for the Golden Hom after 1985'make the establishment of a permanent unit a certain necessity. This is one of the cultural focal points to be evaluated towards the future of İstanbul. Thus it awaits a multi- disciplinary effort.

As for Bosphorus where the green texture is rapidly destroyed, it is a special section of Istanbul where all enterprises must be stopped for a while for the sake of the world culture. Here, every tree that is cut, every curve that is changed and every building that is erected without consideration is in a position to effect not only our day, but all our future. Bosphorus is a prece of land that should embody mainly the Turkish people and all the peoples of the world in various dimensions and densities in its life. No law or implementation may be in a nature which impedes its development process, harm its special balances and destroy it. If we can not create such a resistance or some sort of civil solidarity, it is obvious that our sorrow shall grow with Bosphorus coming to an end day by day.

As in other major areas of Istanbul, we can create concrete areas of hope from the valuable posessions in Bosphorus. If we can take the interval between the Nusretiye and Ortaköy Mosques as another focal area together with the proirities of Bosphorus, we may add strenght to the search for new resources in this area as a whole. The developments and changes in the transition process of the Sultan's lying on the “sedir”s in Topkapı to the chairs in the Dolmabahçe Palace may be followed in a right way, and the stages of the cities development may be made concrete.

If the medium created and the values developed by the Palaces of Dolmabahçe, Çırağan and Yıldız are supported with the desires of the 21 st century, this region may reach a character never to be created again with its green envoirment. The efforts to provide the integration of Dolmabahçe Palaçe and putting it to life önce again has ensured the sufficient universal reflection in spite of all difficulties. The efforts of stretching this development to Ortaköy is leading, even if partially, to positive results. The effort of transforming the Feriye Police Station in the extreme end of the district of the palaces, into a cultural center in which the world youth shall meet and discuss, is a fact proving that the dreams are tuming into reality.

On the other hand, the Yıldız Palace is getting ready for its second life as a palace-museum despite difficulties. With the “Museum of the City”and the “International Aıt Gallery” already in existence, and with the museums in the fields of Folk Arts, Ceramic Arts, History of Theatre, Graphic Design and History of Literature to be opened in intervals, the history laden spaces of the Yıldız Palace is becoming a place answering the expectations of the 21 st century. Here, the green environment full of finesse forms another dimension of our day.

Without doubt, starting with the Palace of Beylerbeyi, if the small palaces of Ihlamur, Küçüksu, Beykoz Ayazağa and Maslak can be united with the Forest of Belgrat and others wooded areas as a second belt, Istanbul can carry to future an urban texture in which the natural and cultural environments shall complement each other.

It's already time to begin discussing programmes of different scales for Istanbul and find the methods to implement them. We must enforce the limits of narrow debates between persons and establishments and if we can do it by reaching a permanent organisation comprising of qualified experts, Istanbul may save itself from the meaningless mistakes of the past and form an example for the future.

In fact, if between the years of 1993 and 2003, the cultural activities can be carried from Anatolia to Istanbul and vica versa, and also from Istanbul to intemational mediums, the developments in todays world shall be correctly appraised by our country. The fact that Istanbul is a point of intersection between eastern and western cultures neccessisates the correet use of every corner of Istanbul in order to focus the national and international cultural and artistic events to this city. If the rich heritage of the past shall be conveyed to future in a manner furnished with new powers, starting with lstanbul,Turkey may have many points of attraction for new and different cultures from all over the world.

On one hand when the developments in the Turkish world and other the new developments such as the Black Sea Economic Union etc. are considered, Istanbul already is likely to be the subject of new evaluations.

In brief, every moming that we are awake we must see different dreams and write scenarios on Istanbul which are possible to realise despite the loss of identity in large paıts of the city and all the problems that are so hard to solve. By pressing against the hardships, Istanbul will become a part of our posession, and that of the peoples of the world. I belive that if we stand erect in this city whose resources are being destroyed, and if we can create centers of civilian power, İstanbul can again tum back into a world city which may feed our hapiness. Because there is no absolute death.

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