Accessibility of privately owned industrial heritage sites: A multidimensional analysis of the Beykoz Kundura in Istanbul and the BaumwollSpinnerei in Leipzig

Abstract

The time-based characteristics of industrial heritage sites that are no longer useful for their original purposes make them important subjects of conflicting values through complex transformation processes. This complexity is further compounded when property ownership poses a challenge, as heritage ownership is often shared among various groups in society. People can experience and engage with shared ownership in several ways, including acquiring knowledge, visiting, enjoying, and inspiring. This research focuses on the concept of shared heritage ownership, specifically accessibility, and examines three subcategories: free access for wider public, semi-private, or semi-public uses for cultural visitors with admission charges, and private uses for tenants as new locals. This study examines two privately owned industrial heritage sites: the Beykoz Kundura in Istanbul, which was formerly a tannery, and the BaumwollSpinnerei in Leipzig, which was previously a cotton mill. Both sites have been transformed into cultural hubs and are recognised as exemplary models.