Abstract:

Historical buildings that bear the traces of the era in which they were constructed can lose their functionality over time when their current purpose becomes obsolete. In such cases, the preservation method for historical buildings is implemented through re-functioning practices within a new scope of use. The process of re-functioning historical buildings aims to preserve the physical and structural characteristics of the historical structure, safeguard its cultural and historical values, and simultaneously adapt it to contemporary needs. Re-functioning, as a preservation method, endeavors to make the building comfortable and safe according to the requirements of its new function without significantly altering its original character. In this context, many new functions have been applied to historical buildings, and one of these functions is Literature Museum Libraries. Literature Museum Libraries, as a new library concept, are institutions created within the typology of museums where rare literary works are exhibited, housing rare manuscripts, special editions, author letters, and other historical documents. Serving as specialized libraries, Literature Museum Libraries facilitate the examination of the historical evolution of literature, research, and easy access to relevant resources in the context of preserving intangible cultural heritage. In Turkey, as of 2011, Literature Museum Libraries have been established in 10 different locations and are affiliated with the Provincial Public Library of the respective city. These libraries are housed in historically significant buildings that reflect the architectural and cultural identity of their host cities, and they provide their services in various structures that have been planned to suit their intended purposes through the refunctioning method. The preference for distinguished structures for museum library placements, especially when a mansion is used for the new function of a Literature Museum Library, constitutes the primary research focus of this study. In this context, the study aims to document the transformation of refunctioning through the examination of “Alay Mansion”, “Tristramp Mansion” and “Haritonidis Mansion”, which have been repurposed into Literature Museum Libraries while retaining their original function as mansions. The methodology of the study consists of a review of current literature along with the visual and written documentation and examination of the original use and refunctioning processes of these mansions.

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