CIPA 2005 XX International Symposium, 26 September — 01 October. 2005, Torino, Italy 
1097 
2. BACKGROUND OF KUTAHYA 
The most ancient settlements in Kiitahya date back to the 
Chalcolithic Period as proved by excavation. There was a 
settlement in the area during Hittite, Phrygian, Cimmerian, and 
Lydian Period. During the Lydian period “Route of Kings” was 
established connecting the Aegean Region to the Black Sea 
Region (Yurt Ans., 1982). 
During the Roman period Kiitahya became an important centre 
of Christian world and a bishopric was established. After the 
division of the Roman Empire in 395, Kiitahya became an 
important commercial and religious center on the istanbul- 
iznik-Afyon-Konya route. The Byzantine rulers constructed the 
castle with a double citadel on Hisar Hill where the surrounding 
planes could be controlled (Eruzun, 1987). 
The castle of the city is the unique monument, which survives 
from the Byzantine Period. In the book of “Asia Minor” Texier 
talked about the wall paintings and decorations of a ruin of a 
church in the citadel and a cave where the Byzantine rulers were 
buried. But today there exist no trace of those buildings. The 
Byzantine settlement stayed only in the castle (Tanyeli). 
The northeast section of the city, which was surrounded by the 
citadel walls, was divided into two sections and an inner castle 
was obtained. In the inner castle section the settled population 
were mainly composed of chistians. But outside the castle many 
Turkish districts were established (Tanyeli). 
During the Ottoman period Kiitahya was ruled as a city in the 
state of “Anadolu Beylerbeyligi” but between the years of 1451 
to 1831 Kiitahya was became a city of “Hiidavendigar 
Province” at 1842. At that period Kiitahya became an important 
center in production of tiles. Besides, during the period of both 
Yavuz Sultan Selim and Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Kiitahya 
became an important and a safe meeting place and stop for the 
Ottoman army (Eruzun, 1987). 
When the city of Kiitahya was a province and was the 
commercial center of the surrounding towns and settlements, it 
was a rich city and population was growing but when the city 
lost its governmental authority and the population started to 
decline towards the middle of XIXth. Century, the rise and/ or 
decline of population effected the development of the city of 
Kiitahya (Aktiire, 1975). The main street during this time 
(Germiyan Street) is chosen as the study area of the paper 
(Figure 1-2). 
3. REVITALIZATION OF CBD OF KUTAHYA 
Conservation Plan of Kiitahya was prepared between 19801982 
and approved in 1987 by the Minister of Culture. Germiyan 
Street was proposed as one of the important streets to be restore 
and revitalize by the Minister of Culture (Figure 3). 
According to the conservation Plan, water system, electrical 
system and telephone systems were renewed and pavement of 
street was changed. Necessary installations were made to 
protect fire. At the same time, buildings were painted. 
Figure 2. Location of the Germiyan Street in Kiitahya 
However, some of the buildings started to disappear since no 
other action was taken until 2000. Thus, in other to preserve the 
buildings, the cultural department of the city prepared “A 
Restitution and Restoration Protect” for the Germiyan Street by 
using the funds of the city government. The project was 
prepared by the Eskisehir University and approved in 2002. 
Figure 3. Elevations of Part of the Germiyan Street 
According to this project 8 buildings were restored. New 
functions were given to these buildings such as cultural art 
center, a restaurant which will serve traditional kitchen, gift 
shop, and shop of embroideries, art gallery, cafe and guest 
house. As a result of this restoration, although housing continue 
to be the main function of the street, business activities started 
to develop in the northern part of the street (Figure 4-5-6).