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Monumental structures are certainly the most common public buildings in Islamic architecture, being second only to mosques. Eight such structures were recorded during the survey of Bijar County of eastern Kurdistan province. These monumental buildings tend to share common plans and building materials. Given their position on the routes linking northwestern and western Iran as well as their proximity to the major political centres of Maragheh, Soltaniyeh and Takht-e Soleyman, these buildings, apart from a memorial function, perhaps beaconed caravans along the regional routes. Yet, these structures largely remain unaddressed by any systematic work. The main objective of the present study is to publish these buildings so as to give a more refined picture of the regional route networks in the Islamic period. The comparisons and discrepancies detected between these structures in the study area and the nearby regions, notably the Zanjan plain, characterized by environmental and cultural settings almost identical to the Garrus region, can be of great help in this regard. Accordingly, the questions considered here are: 1) What factors played a role in the emergence of these monuments in the region? 2) How did previous architectural traditions affect their formation? And, 3) To what extent are these buildings effective in reconstructing the ancient routes, and where in the region do they find comparisons in form and building materials? Social, religious and political factors have informed the development of towers in the region during the Seljuk and Ilkhanid rules. Adjacency to major coeval political centres, safety of the routes thanks to vigorous local rulers, and favorable environmental conditions (access to water and the presence of numerous villages along the routes) are the most remarkable of such factors. Previous traditions and modeling on earlier standing towers from the historical (Sassanian) and Islamic periods played a notable part in the construction of the regional guidance towers. Affinities to the standing structures in the neighboring regions, including the Khoein Tower, the mausoleum of the Prophet Qeydar, the tomb tower at Kahriz Siah Mansur (Ijrud) in Zanjan province, and their comparisons with the monumental structures of the Bijar region, apart from contributing to the reconstruction of the past route networks, attest to their original function as navigational aid. The study adapts a historical-descriptive approach and builds on field surveys, documentation in photo, and looking up related information in historical texts and library documents.

Monumental structures are certainly the most common public buildings in Islamic architecture, being second only to mosques. Eight such structures were recorded during the survey of Bijar County of eastern Kurdistan province. These monumental buildings tend to share common plans and building materials. Given their position on the routes linking northwestern and western Iran as well as their proximity to the major political centres of Maragheh, Soltaniyeh and Takht-e Soleyman, these buildings, apart from a memorial function, perhaps beaconed caravans along the regional routes. Yet, these structures largely remain unaddressed by any systematic work. The main objective of the present study is to publish these buildings so as to give a more refined picture of the regional route networks in the Islamic period. The comparisons and discrepancies detected between these structures in the study area and the nearby regions, notably the Zanjan plain, characterized by environmental and cultural settings almost identical to the Garrus region, can be of great help in this regard. Accordingly, the questions considered here are: 1) What factors played a role in the emergence of these monuments in the region? 2) How did previous architectural traditions affect their formation? And, 3) To what extent are these buildings effective in reconstructing the ancient routes, and where in the region do they find comparisons in form and building materials? Social, religious and political factors have informed the development of towers in the region during the Seljuk and Ilkhanid rules. Adjacency to major coeval political centres, safety of the routes thanks to vigorous local rulers, and favorable environmental conditions (access to water and the presence of numerous villages along the routes) are the most remarkable of such factors. Previous traditions and modeling on earlier standing towers from the historical (Sassanian) and Islamic periods played a notable part in the construction of the regional guidance towers. Affinities to the standing structures in the neighboring regions, including the Khoein Tower, the mausoleum of the Prophet Qeydar, the tomb tower at Kahriz Siah Mansur (Ijrud) in Zanjan province, and their comparisons with the monumental structures of the Bijar region, apart from contributing to the reconstruction of the past route networks, attest to their original function as navigational aid. The study adapts a historical-descriptive approach and builds on field surveys, documentation in photo, and looking up related information in historical texts and library documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify tourism usage strategies for the protection and socioeconomic sustainable development of monumental structures that maintain their functional continuity. The results revealed that some strategies provide significant opportunities in socioeconomic terms if they maintain a structure's original function; however, some uses pose a significant threat in the case of functional continuity. The main contribution of this work is the definition of monumental structures in relation to adaptive reuse and strategic planning tools (SWOT). The spatial and functional change of the Hacı Ali Ağa Bath was examined chronologically in the first stage. An external expert group determined 41 factors consisting of functional, social, and economic return concepts revealed by the literature review in the second stage. These factors were then evaluated by internal experts using SWOT analyses. The structure's formation since 2006 was revealed through analysis. The cultural heritage significance of the hammam culture is the function determined as the strength, whereas the functional changes were determined as the weakness. The building became idle due to the pandemic, thus bringing this situation to light. The importance of the original function was placed on the agenda by the general administration, which is regarded as a prominent opportunity to conduct an assessment. The inability of all functions to establish a relationship with tourism has been recognized as a significant threat. Strong opportunities, strong threats, and usage strategies are provided for monumental structures that maintain their functional continuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This study aims to evaluate the reuse of monumental structures through sustainability components, with the aim of emphasizing the sustainability of re-functional monumental structures. Design/methodology/approach - In this study, which is based on situation analysis, urban inns in Samsun which is located in the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey, are discussed over the data obtained from archive and field studies in line with the environmental, social and economic sustainability criteria determined as a result of literature research. Findings - The sustainability of the sample in the environmental, social and economic context has been revealed and what should be done for the sustainability of monumental structures over environmental, social and economic components has been discussed. Social implications - It has increased awareness of the environmental, social and economic dimensions of adaptive reuse as well as increasing the awareness of the buildings. Originality/value - This study contributes to the literature in terms of evaluating monumental structures through the determined sustainability components. It is the first study on the sustainability of urban inns in the province of Samsun, the construction material of which is stone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]