Protected site (sit area)

A protected site, known in Turkey as a sit alanı (sit area), is an officially registered area where cultural assets are concentrated, where significant historic events took place, or whose urban fabric must be protected as a whole. It protects not a single building but a district, including its buildings, streets, open spaces and archaeological remains. In Turkey, designating sit areas for cultural heritage and drawing their boundaries is done by decision of the regional heritage boards.

Types of sit area

• Archaeological site: areas containing remains of past civilisations above ground, below ground or under water.
• Urban site: parts of a settlement where listed buildings, the street pattern and the skyline are valuable as a whole.
• Historic site: areas protected because important historic events took place there.
• Urban archaeological site: areas where archaeological layers and the present-day city overlap.

Archaeological sites may be defined in different grades according to the level of protection, each permitting different building and use. Natural sites are handled within a separate protection framework.

Projects and works in a sit area

New construction, repair, demolition and even infrastructure work in a sit area follow a different process from general zoning rules. Until a conservation plan is prepared for the area, transitional conditions set by the board apply. Before starting work on a plot, its sit status, grade and current plan decisions should therefore always be checked. 3D context models showing how a new building relates to the skyline and street pattern are a strong tool in heritage board presentations.