Designing the Future of Cultural Heritage: From a Primary School and Mansion to the Towns' Memory Museum in Zara, Central Anatolia

The preservation of historical monuments is vital, especially in societies that do not have a rich written history. One method to ensure the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage is to reuse abandoned historical buildings. On-site documentation is fundamental for effective adaptive reuse. During this process, the plans and construction phases of many historical buildings are obtained for the first time. This study goes beyond theoretical boundaries and focuses on approaching the documentation, evaluation, reuse and preservation of cultural heritage from an operational perspective. The historical building in question was built as a primary school by Armenian craftsmen at the end of the 19th century in the town of Zara, Sivas. After changing hands, it became a mansion and is currently abandoned. This study discusses and proposes the buildings' reuse as an urban memory museum by means of CAD-supported on-site analytical surveys based on classical, laser, and total station measurements.