The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) Chamber of Civil Engineers (İMO) Diyarbakır and Ankara branches organised the 7th international symposium on ‘Strengthening Historical Buildings and Transferring them Safely to the Future’.

The two-day conference in the historical Surp Giragos Church is attended by many people, including Prof. Dr. İdris Bedirhanoğlu, Chamber of Civil Engineers Diyarbakır Branch Co-President Mahsum Çiya Korkmaz, Chamber of Civil Engineers Ankara Branch President Onur Özergene, Chamber of Civil Engineers General President Nusret Suna, Dicle University Civil Engineering Department Head Prof. Dr. Zeynel Fuat Toprak, Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DTSO) High Advisory Board member Burç Baysal, Sur Municipality Co-Mayor Fatma Gulan Önkol, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun.

Prof. Dr. İdris Bedirhanoğlu, chairman of the symposium organising committee, stated that the protection of historical heritage is a bridge between the past and the future and contributes to the preservation of intergenerational ties.

Noting that the first symposium was held nationally in Ankara in 2007 and the second in Diyarbakır in 2009 with international participation, Bedirhanoğlu said, “Thanks to these symposiums, the approaches to historical building restoration projects and implementation services have been improved. In this way, the static and dynamic behaviours of the structures have been questioned and the necessity for civil engineers to have more say about a healthier restoration process has come to fruition. The symposium was later held in Trabzon, Istanbul and Erzurum, and finally, the 7th symposium is being organised internationally in Diyarbakır by İMO Ankara and İMO Diyarbakır branches on behalf of our chamber.”

Noting that the modelling of historical buildings in accordance with reality has not been done sufficiently, Bedirhanoğlu said, “There are many uncertainties about the analysis, as well as many deficiencies and problems awaiting solution in terms of implementation. Especially in recent years, with the acceleration of the restoration of historical buildings, these question marks have become more evident and in order to respond to the problems to some extent, a commission established by the General Directorate of Foundations has prepared the ‘Management of Earthquake Risks for Historical Buildings’ guide. In addition to the earthquake regulations, such a guide has been an important source for engineers working on the analysis of historical buildings.”

Mahsum Çiya Korkmaz, President of IMO Diyarbakır Branch, stated that it was also important that the opening speech of the symposium was held in the Armenian church Surp Giragos and said: “The Ulu Mosque, which is right next to us, is the first mosque of Anatolia. The Virgin Mary Church, which was once the Assyrian Patriarchate, is not far from us. Amed is a city where religions, languages and cultures have left important traces. In 2015, Amed Castle and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape Area were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Protecting this ancient past and this cultural accumulation is a debt we, the people of Amed, and then the whole of humanity owe.”

Korkmaz continued, “But unfortunately, the conflict in Sur in 2016 caused irreversible damage to this ancient city. Restored in 2013, this church had to be restored again due to the damage it suffered during that period. The Four-Legged Minaret still has bullet marks on its feet. However, we have witnessed the demolition of many registered buildings. We have seen that re-construction has been carried out through an architecture that does not fit the texture of Sur. At the point reached today, Sur is far away from being Sur.”

Nusret Suna, Chairman of the Board of Directors of İMO, said: “As engineers, our most important duty is to leave such heritage to the next generations. It is important to protect historical buildings during strengtening. Intervention to historical buildings should be done in a way not to be seen and not to spoil the aesthetics. Historical artefacts are left to their fate in our country. We consider the symposium important in terms of carrying historical artefacts safely to the future.”

Dicle University Civil Engineering Department Head Zeynel Fuat Toprak said, “Historical buildings show the footprints of past civilisations. The historical building we are in now shows us that Christians were here before and worshipped here. We should carry historical buildings to the future with care. We consider this symposium important.”

Speaking on behalf of Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Burç Baysal said, “Our historical buildings were damaged after the conflict we experienced in 2016 and the earthquake. In this sense, I find it meaningful that the symposium is held here. We are based on protecting our cultural values. We have carried the Hevsel Gardens and Walls to UNESCO through serious work. We have historical buildings that have been damaged due to wrong operations. We can overcome all these through joint work.”

“I believe that this symposium will make an important contribution to the future of the historical buildings in our city,” said Fatma Gülan Önkol, Co-Mayor of Sur Municipality. “We are here today to protect the historical and cultural values of this ancient city, which is the common heritage not only of our Sur district but also of all peoples. Sur is at the centre of a centuries-long history, meeting between civilisations and cultural richness. Our district, which continues to keep the traces of the past alive today with its historical city walls, stone streets, centuries-old houses, mosques and churches, is not only a living space but also a treasure of culture and history. The city walls are not only a defence structure, but also an open-air museum that carries the traces of different civilisations and sheds light on the history of humanity.”

Lastly, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun said, “Sur has a different spirit for us. Tahir Elçi was murdered in front of the church we are in and the historical Four-Legged Minaret when he drew public attention to this place. Therefore, I will not go without remembering Tahir Elçi. Historical buildings that should have been washed with a toothbrush were demolished by diggers. We are calling out to UNESCO from here; as honourable as it is for us that Hevsel and the castle are included in UNESCO, it is just as honourable for the people here not to be left alone. Let's protect these places together.”

After the speeches, the first day of the symposium ended with a music concert by the Ma Music team.

The symposium will continue tomorrow with discussions on different topics.