Urban Conservation Case Study: Istanbul

Laura DiPasquale
HSPV621 Spring 2011

LauraDiPasquale HSPV621UrbanConservationSeminar ProfessorMason Spring2011 UrbanConservationCaseStudy:Istanbul Duringthepastcentury,theconceptofurbanconservationinIstanbulhaschanged considerably,muchasithasinotherpartsoftheWesternworld.Whilemanyoftheissuesithas facedareencounteredbycitiesandculturesaroundtheworldgentrificationanddisplacement, increasedheritagetourism,difficultieswithintegratedurbanconservationpolicies,etctheway inwhichithasdealtwiththemhasmuchtodowiththehistoryandnatureofitsgovernmental structure.AlthoughfourdifferentdistrictsinthehistoricareasofIstanbulwereplacedonthe UNESCOWorldHeritagelistin1985,erraticconservationpoliciesandlackofenforcementledtothe threatin2003thatIstanbulsheritageareaswouldbedelisted.Sincethattime,therehasbeen increasedoversightandworktowardsaddressingtheissuesthatcausedthethreat. HistoryofIstanbulandEarlyPlanning FoundedbyConstantineinthe4thcentury,Istanbulhasgrownfromasmall,fortified

settlementtoasprawling,metropolitanregionandculturalcenterofTurkey.Fromthe4thto15th centuriesA.D.,Istanbul(Constantinople)wasthecapitaloftheEasternRomanEmpireandtheheart ofByzantinecivilization.1TheByzantinesfilledthefortifiedcitywithmagnificentartand architecture,andsuccessfullydefendedagainstnumerousattacks.Inthe15thcentury,however,it wasconqueredbytheOttomanEmpireandconvertedtoIslam.Insteadofdestroyingmanyofthe

M.RifatAkbulut,HistoricPreservationinIstanbul,Turkey(lecture,19thInternationalFellowsConference fromJohnsHopkinsUniversityandtheMiddleEastTechnicalUniversityofTurkey,Istanbul,Turkey,November 20,1990):1.

elegantchurchesofConstantinople,theOttomansassertedtheirpowerbyconvertingthechurches tomosquesbyaddingminarets,definingtheskylinethatisstillevidenttoday.2 The19thcenturyinTurkeysawaseriesofprogressivereforms,knownasTanzimat,which alteredtheEasternmannerismsofthecity,andsetitonapathtowardsmodernizationand Westernization.Thesereformsanddevelopmentsincludedtheintroductionoffactories,the railroad,StockExchange,newspapers,postalservice,universitiesandschoolsofartandmedicine.In 1836,aPrimeMinisterreplacedtheGrandVizier,andin1856,thecountrypassedIstahat,which guaranteedequalrightsforallpeopleintheempire,regardlessofethnicorreligiousbackground. Theseprogressivemovements,coupledwiththeopeningoftheGalataportif1909,madewayfor increasedworldlyinfluenceinIstanbul.3 In1923,theEmpirefell,andAtaturkmovedthecapitalofTurkeytoAnkara,destroyingthe politicalpowerofIstanbulovernight.Forthenextdecade,littleurbanplanningoccurred.Inthe early1930s,Ataturkcommissionedareportontransportationgrowth,historicpreservationand zoning,whichwasneverimplemented.4In1936,AtaturkinvitedHenriProsttoIstanbultodevelopa MasterPlantobebasedontheModernistphilosophy,whichwouldmodernizeandsecularizethe cityandadaptittotheautomobile.5Thisplan,whichwasincrementallyimplementedbetween 19361950,separatedthecityintousezones:Industrial,CulturalandTourist,whichremaininplace today.InhisTouristzone,Prostcreatedanarchaeologicalpark,whichisolatedbuildingssuchas HagiaSophia,YeniCami,SultanahmetandtheTopkapiPalace,butpreservedthecityshistoric silhouette.6

SeeAppendix1.1 JamesSteele,TensionsandTransformationsintheMasterPlanningProcessofIstanbul(lecture,Urban Transformation:Controversies,ContrastsandChallengesfromthe14thIPHSConference,Istanbul,Turkey,July 12,2010),3. 4 Ibid. 5 ProsthadpreviouslybeentoIstanbultoconsultontherestorationofHagiaSophiain1902.Steele:4. 6 Ibid.SeeAppendix2.

3 2

Allsubsequentplansthrough1980focusedaroundtheModernistidealsputforwardin Prostsplan,namelythecreationofwiderconcretestreetsandtheestablishmentofasocial museum,whileissuessuchasthecitysrelationshipwiththewaterorthehistoricsignificanceofits largerhistorywerelargelyignored.7 1980s:PlanninginIstanbul PoliticalandeconomicupheavalinTurkeyduringthe1970sledtoanumberofchangesin

thecountrywhichultimatelyimpactedthefieldofconservationinIstanbul.In1980,the InternationalMonetaryFundfinancedastabilizationprograminIstanbul,liberalizingtheeconomy. This,coupledwithapopulationboominthecityledtoashifttoexportorientedindustrializationand thedevelopmentofthetouristtrade.Duringthemid1980s,Turkeyalsosawareturntodemocracy andarestructuringoflocalgovernmentintoatwotiermetropolitanadministration.The decentralizationoffunctionswassupposedtoallowthemetropolitanmunicipalitiestodelivermore effectivepublicservices,butinreality,theplanningsystemandculturewasunabletocopewiththe hugegrowthofthecityanditssubsequentdevelopmentprocesses.8 Between1955and1990,thepopulationofIstanbulgrewfrom1.5millionto7.3million. Muchofthispopulationformedgecekondu,orillegalsquattersettlements,builtovernightwithout planningapproval.Theseinformal,illegaldevelopmentscreatedinfillbetweenthestreetsof traditionalOttomanhousesinhistoricneighborhoodsonthepeninsula.Thedevelopmentsrequired infrastructurethathadnotbeenplannedfor,andoftenresultedinthedestructionofhistorichomes tomakewayforadditionalfacilitiestocopewiththeincreasedpopulation.AlthoughIstanbulhad thepublictransportationled,conservationoriented1980IstanbulMetropolitanAreaMasterPlanin

Ibid. ArzuKocabas,UrbanConservationinIstanbul:EvaluationandReconceptualization,HabitatInternational30 (2006):115(HereaftercitedasKocabas(2006)).

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placeatthistime,politicalpressuresawthatthesedevelopmentswereretrospectivelyregularized bymodifyingtheapprovedMasterPlan,thuseffectivelynegatingitalltogether.9 In1983,Istanbulpassedthe1983ConservationAct,whichintheorystrengthenedthe conservationcomponentofthestatutoryplanningsystem,butinpracticewaslargelyineffective. TheConservationActembodiedthegoalsoftheUNESCOWorldHeritageConvention,andin1985, theHistoricPeninsulaandfourConservationAreaswereinscribedaspartofaUNESCOWorld HeritageSite.Intheory,thisdesignationstrengthenedproceduresforlistingbuildingsand conservationareas(CAs),andrequiredthatthemetropolitanmunicipalityproducestatutory ConservationOrientedDevelopmentPlans(CODPs);however,thezoneswerenotactually designatedasCAsuntil1995,andtheCODPwasnotprepareduntil2003.10 Duetothenewmunicipalstructure,theprioritiesoftheMayorplayedanimportantrolein

determiningwhichpoliciesandplanswereactuallyenactedandsupported.Duringtheearly80s, developmentorientedMayorDalansoughttomodernizetheurbaninfrastructurethroughprivate transportationsolutionsaimedatdecreasingcongestionthroughadditionalurbanmotorways.He replacedthe1980MasterPlanwiththeinformal,privatetransportationanddevelopmentcentered 198486IstanbulTransportMasterPlan.11 Whilehisintentionsweretosolvetheissuesofcongestion,MayorDalansplans,which

mirroredtheurbanrenewaleffortsofmuchoftheWesternworld,hadnumerousimplicationsfor theheritageareasofIstanbul.HisprojectreplacedthehistoricfabricoftheGoldenHornwitha greenareaanddestroyedmanycharacteristicOttomanhousesalongtheriverwithatwolane elevatedroad,displacingthepoorerresidentsinitspath.Theimplementationofanotherinformal,

Ibid.,114. ArzuKocabas,Towards'green'ConservationPlanninginIstanbul'sHistoricPeninsula(lecture,WOCMES Secretariat,EuropeanInstituteoftheMediterranean,Barcelona,Spain,July20,2010):2(Hereaftercitedas Kocabas(2010)). 11 Kocabas(2006):116.SeeAppendix1.2

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illegalinfrastructureinvestmentplan,knownastheEssenPlan,constructedafourlanehighway throughthehistoricBeyogluarea,demolishingelevenhundred19thcenturybuildingsanddisplacing fivethousandpeople.Thisplanwasadoptedafteranalternativeplan,whichwouldhavehadfewer negativeconsequences,wasdisregardedbecauseitwouldhavetakenlongertoimplement.12 1980s:HeritageTourismandtheLocalEconomy Atthesametime,inthe1980s,tourismbegantogrowinIstanbul.Astheeconomicneedto findnewusesforbuildingsincreased,manyformerlyresidentialstructuresinhistoricneighborhoods wereconvertedintoboutiqueshopsorsmallhotels.Whiletheissueofthedisplacementofthepoor remained,localjobcreationhelpedtosomewhatcounteractthiseffect.Conservation,whichhad previouslybeenseensolelyasanelitepastime,wasshowntohaveapositiveimpactonurban economicdevelopment.13 Nonetheless,therewasstillnotafullrecognitionofthevalueofheritageresources,and manyhistoricstructureswerelosttothedevelopmentofthetourismindustry.TurkeysTourism PromotionActof1982createdstatesupportforthedevelopmentoftouristfacilitiesandheritage tourism,buthadtheunintendedconsequenceofallowinghighriseandskyscraperredevelopment projectswithinthehistoricareaofthecity.14Dalansplanalsoinvolvedtheclearanceofsporadic andirregularurbanareasonthehistoricpeninsulaneartheimportantheritagestructuresHagia SophiaandtheBlueMosquetomakewayforunobstructedviewsandpleasantplazas,courtsand publicparks,thusfurtherisolatingthehistoricareasfromtherestoftheurbancenter.15

12 13

Ibid.,117. Kocabas(2010):2. 14 Kocabas(2006):116. 15 Akbulut:3.

1990s:Globalization,TourismandGentrification GlobalizationandtourismacceleratedinIstanbulinthe1990s,afterthebreakdownofthe SovietUnionin1989.Inthesameyear,thecenterleftSocialDemocraticpartywoncontrolin Turkey,andanewMayorwasappointedwithnewpriorities.MayorSozenhaltedtheEssenplanand preventedlargescalecommercialredevelopmentinthehistoricareasofIstanbul.Findingitdifficult toadapttheexistingbuildingstocktomodernofficesbasedontheenforcementofstrictguidelines, manylargescaleinvestorswentnorthandacrosstheBosphorustobuildtheirnewcomplexes. Smallscaleprivateinvestors,ontheotherhand,wereattractedtothecitystraditionalCBD,and tookupresidencybothinhistoricallycommercialandinmanytraditionallyresidential neighborhoods.16 ThedemographicsofIstanbulalsochangedduringthistime,withthegrowthofthemiddle

class.Whileperipheralexpansionofthecitycontinuedwithgecekondudevelopments,theshiftin theeconomicbasefromoneofmanufacturingtotheservice/financesectorscreatedanewmiddle classwithconsumptionpatternsandincomelevelssimilartothoseinotherpartsoftheworld.17 Theirhousingaspirationsledtosignificantprivatelyfundedrenovationoftheexistinghousingstock, whichwasgoodforthehistoricfabric,butoftendisplacedthepoorresidents.Inhistoric neighborhoods,mansionsandspacioushomesthathadoriginallybeenbuiltbywealthyresidents andsubsequentlysubdividedintosmaller,overcrowdedapartments,begantogentrify,pushingout theexisting,poorerresidents.Conflictaroseoverthenatureofthisdisplacement;ontheonehand, someoftheexistingresidentswerebeingdisplaced,whichwasbad,butontheother,thehistoric fabricwasbeingmaintained,whichwasgood.18

16 17

Kocabas(2006):118. Ibid. 18 Kocabas(2010):1.

ThisgentrificationtookplaceprimarilyintheneighborhoodsofCihangirandGalata,butless sointhedistrictsoftheHistoricPeninsula,whichpeopledidnotbelieveweremovingupinthe market.ManybuildingownersintheHistoricPeninsula,believingtheycouldntfindeconomicuses fortheirbuildings,razedthemforparkinglots.19 In1995,anewIstanbulMetropolitanAreaMasterPlanwasdeveloped,whichadvocated boththedecentralizationofindustryintheCBDsandCAs,andtheneedtoinvestinpublic transportation.ThisMasterPlanwasnotapprovedbytheMinistryhowever,sothecitycontinuedto developoninformal,localinvestmentplans.Despitethis,MayorSozensinterestinandemphasison environmentalsustainabilityandlongterminvestmentprogramsremovedthethreatonhistoric areasfrompublicsectorfundedinfrastructureprojects.HedevelopedtheMetroproject,apublic transportationprogramtohelpreducetrafficcongestion,andtheNaturalGasprojecttohelpreduce airpollution.UnderSozen,conservationplanningturnedtothepreparationofaCODPforthe historicpeninsula,whichwasnotcompleteduntil2003.20 DespitetheMayorsbestefforts,however,authentic,woodenOttomanhousesinhistoric neighborhoodscontinuedtodeteriorate;manyofthoseprotectedbytheHighCouncilwere subjecttoarsontomakewayforprofitableparkinglots,dismantledbypoorinhabitantstoactas fuel,orlefttorotbecauseownerscouldnotaffordtoabidebythestrictrestorationguidelines.21 21 CenturyUrbanConservation
st

OneissuefacingIstanbulimmediatelyattheturnofthe20thcenturywasthe1999Marmara

earthquake,whichdestroyed300,000buildingsandkilled17,000people.Intheaftermathofthe disaster,manyhistoricareasinIstanbulweredeterminedtobeparticularlydangerous,makingthem ahigherpriorityforseismicretrofitting.TheEarthquakeMasterPlanofIstanbul,developedafterthe

19 20

Ibid. Kocabas(2006):119. 21 Ibid.SeeAppendix4.

earthquake,specificallyaddresseshistoricandculturalheritagebuildings,promotestheprotectionof historicandculturalvalues,andtheneedtocreateaprioritizedlistofregisteredbuildings;however, surveysofthehistoricresourcesinIstanbularestillnotcomprehensive.22 DespitethestrengtheningofconservationpowersinIstanbulinthelastdecade,much

erosionofhistoricfabrichascontinued,andissuesofsocialexclusionanddisplacementstillloom. ThedeterioratingconditionsandlackofcommitmenttoconservationbyTurkishauthoritiescameto theforefrontin2003whenUNESCOthreatenedtomoveIstanbultothelistofWorldCultural HeritageinDanger.23 In2004,UNESCO,inconjunctionwiththeIstanbulTechnicalUniversity,conductedthe

IstanbulHistoricPeninsulaConservationStudy(knownsimplyastheIstanbulProject),whichaimed togeneratecomprehensiveplanningandconservationstrategiesfortheHistoricPeninsula,focusing ontheZeyrek,SuleymaniyeandYenikapiareas.Theirmethodologyincludedanalysisofthehistory oftheareas,goalsandobjectivesofconservationanddevelopment(includingaphysicalanalysisof transportation,landandbuildinguseandcondition,constructionmaterial,andharmonywith architecturalcharacter),andsurveyswiththeareasresidentstogaugetheirlevelofunderstanding ofurbanconservationanditsgoals.Theirultimateaimwastoprotecttheauthentic,intacthistoric environmentandemphasizerehabilitationinsteadofthedecentralizationofjobsorresidential redevelopment,andtoimprovehousingconditionsfortheexistingresidents.24 Thethreatofdelistingprovidedamuchneededwakeupcalltoauthorities,andinJuly 2010,TurkishofficialsfromtheIstanbulGreaterMunicipalityandtheMinistryofCultureandTourism

MuratBalamir,UrbanSeismicRiskManagement:TheEarthquakeMasterPlanofIstanbul(lecture,13th WorldConferenceonEarthquakeEngineering,Vancouver,B.C.,Canada,August1,2004). 23 JonathanHead,Istanbul'sUnescoWorldHeritageStatusunderThreat,BBCNews,August29,2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/worldeurope11095638(accessedApril1,2011). 24 NuranZerenGulersoy,IstanbulProject:IstanbulHistoricPeninsulaConservationStudy(Istanbul,Turkey: IstanbulTechnicalUniversity,FacultyofArchitecture,UrbanandEnvironmentalPlanningandResearchCenter, 2004),120,http://web.itu.edu.tr/...csuygar/docs/istanbul.pdf(accessedApril1,2011).

22

addressedtheUNESCOWorldHeritageCommittee,whoultimatelyrejectedtherequestthatIstanbul beremovedfromtheWorldHeritageList.WhileUNESCOpraisedTurkishofficialsfortheirdecision tohalttheconstructionofaFourSeasonsHotelonahistoricsite,andforaprojecttorenovate historicwoodenOttomanarchitecture,theyaskedthatIstanbulreconsidercertainproposed constructionprojects,suchasabridgeontheGoldenHornforthemetroandMarmarayproject. Theyalsorequestedthatanewmasterplanfortheprotectionofthecityshistoricresources evaluatetheeffectsofmajorinfrastructureprojectsthatmightimpacttheexistinghistoricfabric, andthewayinwhichtheyplantoprotecthistoricOttomanarchitecture.25 AlthoughtheIstanbulProjectaddressedmanyoftheseissuesintheory,theactual implementationofhowtoaddressthequalityofhousingissuesfacingthecitysnearlyhalfmillion (mostlypoor)residentsinhistoricneighborhoodsisstillasignificantproblem.Muchofthehistoric woodenarchitecturefromtheOttomanperiodislocatedoutsideofthegeneraltouristareasof Istanbul,andsoitsdeteriorationisnotaspublicallynoticeable.Thus,onechallengenowistofind waystoattracthigherlevelsofpublicandprivateinvestmentinhistoricneighborhoodsinwaysthat willmeettheneedsoftheresidentswhilealsopreservingthehistoricfabricandcontributingtothe cityseconomicdevelopment.26 ReformstoTurkeysplanningsystemandculturehavebeentakingplaceinconjunctionwith

politicalmodernizationandEUharmonization,especiallysinceitbeganaccessionnegotiationsinthe mid2000s.AccesstotheknowhowofEUstatesintermsofconservationhasprovidedatleasta frameworkforthedevelopmentoftheseplans.27Muchplanningfocushasbeenondeveloping

UnescoKeepsstanbulOnWorldHeritageList,TODAYSZAMAN,July31,2010. http://www.todayszaman.com/news217711101unescokeepsistanbulonworldheritagelist.html(accessed April1,2011). 26 Kocabas(2006):120. 27 ICOMOSprojectsinIstanbulalsohavehelpedprovideexamplesofpositiveconservationpolicy,especiallyin termsofthepreservationoftraditionalwoodenconstruction,theskillsforwhicharebeingrapidlylost.See

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informalstrategicplanningframeworkssuchastheJapaneseInternationalCooperationAgency,The IstanbulNeighborhoodRegenerationStrategyandInvestmentProgram,andthepreviously mentionedIstanbulEarthquakeMasterPlan.Theseframeworkslaythefoundationforlongterm sustainablestrategiesforthecity,andwouldbelargelyconsistentwiththeEUapproach.28Afterthe adoptionoftheIstanbulHistoricPeninsulaConservationOrientedDevelopmentPlan(IHPCODP)in 2003,PrimeMinisterErdoganallocated$300millionfortheimplementationofthreeprojectsin Istanbulwhichhighlightedthepotentialfortourismpoliciestopromoteconservation:Thehistoric peninsularwalledcity,BeyogluGalataport,andtheKilyoKumburgazmarine.Unfortunately, however,theIHPCODPwasannulledin2009,andasofearly2010,nolegallybindingconservation planexistedfortheHistoricPeninsula.29 Themostrecentplan,the2008IstanbulMasterplan,providesanumberofobjectivesto

balanceconservationanddevelopmentinIstanbul,includingafocusonpolycentrismandthe developmentofmultiplesubcentersthroughoutthemetropolitanarea.Currently,mostworkersin thehistoricareasoftheEuropeansideofIstanbulcommutefromtheAnatolianside,whichasofyet hasbeenlargelyundervaluedandunderutilized.Theneedsoftheseresidentsmustbetakeninto considerationinconjunctionwithplanningeffortstoconserveheritageareasonbothsidesofthe Bosphorus.30 Conclusion AlthoughIstanbulpassedaConservationActin1983,andfourdistrictsofthecitywere inscribedasaWorldHeritageSitein1985,littleconservationactivityactuallytookplaceinthe1970s

DavidMichelmore,AnalysisoftheStateofConservationoftheHistoricAreasofIstanbulWorldHeritageSite, ICOMOS/UNESCOReview(2006). 28 Ibid.,121. 29 Kocabas(2010):3. 30 IstanbulMetropolitanMunicipality,RequestForProposalsFortheFutureDevelopmentofHaydarpasa Istanbul,Turkey,April28,2009.SeeAppendix3.

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or80sduetothelackofresourcesorpoliticalsupport.Inthe1980s,Turkey,andIstanbulin particular,struggledwithaninefficientbureaucracyandaninadvertentlydualplanningsystem,in whichformal,statutorylanduseMasterplanswerecombinedwithorcounteractedbyinformal infrastructureinvestmentplans.TheconsequenceofthiswasthattheMasterplans,howevergood, hadonlyalimitedinfluenceintermsofimplementation,andchangesinadministrationresultedin fluctuatingpolicies.Theexpansionofthetourismindustrythroughthe1980sfocusedheavilyonthe preservationofmonumentalstructures,thebeautificationofthesurroundingareas,the developmentoftouristfacilities,andthedecongestionofmotorways,oftenattheexpenseof smaller,significanthistoricresourcesandthedisplacementofpoorresidents.Whilethegrowthof themiddleclassinthe1990shelpedtorehabilitatesomeofthehistoricresidentialOttoman architecture,itwasoftenachievedattheexpenseofthedisplacementoftheexistingresidents. Today,whilethemonumentalstructuresinthehistoricareasofIstanbulremainpopulartourist destinations,theyarelargelyisolatedfromtherestoftheurbancontext.

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Bibliography Akbulut,M.Rifat.HistoricPreservationinIstanbul,Turkey.Lecture,19thInternationalFellows ConferencefromJohnsHopkinsUniversityandtheMiddleEastTechnicalUniversityof Turkey,Istanbul,Turkey,November20,1990. Balamir,Murat.UrbanSeismicRiskManagement:TheEarthquakeMasterPlanofIstanbul.Lecture, 13thWorldConferenceonEarthquakeEngineering,Vancouver,B.C.,Canada,August1,2004. IstanbulMetropolitanMunicipality.RequestForProposalsFortheFutureDevelopmentof HaydarpasaIstanbul,Turkey.April28,2009. Keyder,alar,andAyencGlobalizationofaThirdWorldMetropolis:Istanbulinthe1980's. Review(FernandBraudelCenter)17,no.3(1994):328421. Kocabas,Arzu.UrbanConservationinIstanbul:EvaluationandReconceptualization.Habitat International30(2006):10726. Kocabas,Arzu.Towards'green'ConservationPlanninginIstanbul'sHistoricPeninsula.Lecture, WOCMESSecretariat,EuropeanInstituteoftheMediterranean,Barcelona,Spain,July20, 2010. Michelmore,David.AnalysisoftheStateofConservationoftheHistoricAreasofIstanbul WorldHeritageSite.ICOMOS/UNESCOReview(2006). NC,AYE.ThePoliticsofIstanbul'sOttomanHeritageintheEraofGlobalism:Refractions throughthePrismofaThemePark.(2007):23364. Steele,James.TensionsandTransformationsintheMasterPlanningProcessofIstanbul.Lecture, UrbanTransformation:Controversies,ContrastsandChallengesfromthe14thIPHS Conference,Istanbul,Turkey,July12,2010.

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Appendix 1

1.1 Istanbuls European skyline as viewed from the Anatolian side

1.2 Multi-lane highways along the edge of the Bosphorus on the European side

Appendix 2

2.1 and 2.2 Clearance of dense urban fabric has created large plazas and open space to make way for nice views of monuments such as Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, but isolated them from their context.

Appendix 3

3.1 The concrete waterfront of the Anatolian side facing the Bosphorus has been reclaimed as public space, used largely for cafes

3.2 The Anatolian side of Istanbul is still largely undervalued as a CBD.

Appendix 4

4.1 Wooden Ottoman architecture is being rapidly lost in many historic areas, such as the Zeyrek distrist (pictured above, photo courtesy of www.scoprireistanbul.com

4.2 In the tourist areas near the main historic monuments, some wooden architecture has been restored or recreated.