Centuries-old city to get a new facade

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

Mardin will be freed of unsuitable structures and the new structures will be appropriate for Mardin’s characteristic terrace house architecture, according to officials. AA photo

The eastern Turkish province of Mardin, known as the “cradle of civilizations” where people from various cultures and religions have lived for centuries in peace and welfare, will have a facelift with a new urban transformation project.

The 7,000 year old city, which is on UNESCO’s temporary list of world heritage, will be freed of unsuitable structures and enter the permanent list. The Prime Ministry Housing Development (TOKİ) will build new structures suitable to the traditional architecture of the city. A plan for new low rise structures has already been prepared in the project area, in collaboration with the Mardin Governor’s Office and Mardin Municipality. The concrete masonry structures in the protected area, which is called “old Mardin” by locals, will be destroyed, along with other distorted structures on the edge of Mardin Castle, with new ones to be constructed.

The urban transformation area includes more than 5,000 structures in the nearby Saraçoğlu, Ensar and Istayon neighborhoods. Also, the restoration process of the historic houses in the city will be accelerated as part of the project. The additional concrete structures in these houses will be completely demolished. In this way, the city will be rebuilt.

The new structures will be appropriate for Mardin’s characteristic terrace house architecture, it is claimed.