Üsküdar Electricity Factory - Nevmekan: Evaluation of The Structural System in The Context of Adaptive Reuse

Abstract

Buildings in Türkiye that reflect the impact of European industrialization in the 18th century and later are now considered industrial heritage. These buildings, which are worthy of preservation, can be brought back to the city with the understanding of adaptive reuse. However, in this case, seismic loads, which pose a great risk for industrial heritage buildings, are among the important issues that need to be discussed. Therefore, the adaptive reuse of such buildings focuses on structural system design, repair, and strengthening. In evaluating the structural system, efforts are also made to establish the link between the old identities of the buildings and their present identities. In the study, the adaptive reuse process of the Üsküdar Electricity Factory (Nevmekan), an industrial heritage building located in Istanbul, is evaluated by focusing on the original architectural and structural system and the architectural and structural system design after the adaptive reuse. In the research, the survey and restoration drawings were obtained from the Üsküdar Municipality, and the original and adaptive reused structural system of the building was evaluated according to the criteria in the current earthquake code. While the Nevmekan building constitutes a positive example of social, cultural, economic, and sustainability issues with its reuse approach, the evaluation of seismic effects and their application to the building has been limited. In Türkiye, which is an earthquake zone, to preserve buildings of such high historical and industrial value and to transfer them safely to future generations, it is necessary to give importance to the improvement of the structural system in adaptive reuse projects.