Restitution

Restitution, restitüsyon in Turkish conservation practice, is the study that strips away later losses, changes and additions to show on paper how a historic building looked at an earlier time. A measured survey records the building today; a restitution answers the question of what it was like when first built, or during a particular period.

What restitution relies on

• Traces on the building itself: blocked openings, cut beams, older surfaces found under plaster
• Archive documents, old photographs, engravings and maps
• Comparison with similar buildings from the same period and region
• Archaeological excavation or trial pits where needed

Each proposal states the evidence behind it, separating what is known from what is inferred. A building with several significant phases may get a separate restitution for each.

Its place in conservation

For listed buildings in Turkey, measured survey, restitution and restoration projects are usually prepared together and submitted to the regional conservation council for approval. Restitution is the basis for deciding what to keep, what to remove and what to complete in a restoration.

3D visualization is a powerful way to share a restitution with a wider audience, but the image should stay honest about what is proven and what is assumed.