Assesment of Historical Kars Stone Bridge in Terms of Sustainability of Historical Heritage

Abstract

Due to its geographical location, Anatolian lands which was home to many various civilizations in centuries, when examined in terms of Turkish history, includes many historical structures in the term from ancient ages until our day. Protecting historical structures is an inevitable input in terms of; continuity of functionality; development of the society and cities and improvement. Besides housing which is the most basic need, bridges connecting the two sides of lands in order to provide transportation and communication requirements, have an important place in terms of cultural heritage. While most bridges in Anatolia managed to stay alive over time, most of the took severed damages and even came to the point of destruction due to intense natural hazards like earthquakes, floods, wars and many other more external factors. Everyone is responsible for ensuring the protection, livelihood and sustainability of these structures, which are common to all people. The sustainability concept exploring the harmony/ balance between the preservation and use of historical and cultural assets was discussed in Taşköprü (Karahanoğlu Bridge), which connects the northern side to the south side in the center of Kars. The arched stone bridge belonging to the Ottoman period is a rare cultural asset of the city. Within the scope of the study, the repairs, the interventions and the current situation of the historical stone bridge were examined. In order to ensure the preservation of the building and the continuity of its function, the evaluation of the historical touch around the bridge, the continuity of the surrounding green areas, and the transfer of the bridge to the future are emphasized. As a result, this work will be a source for both the building itself and other buildings with similar characteristics, contributing to the preservation of the historical heritage and its transfer to future generations.