Diachronic assessment of cultural diversity in historic neighbourhoods using space syntax: Studies of three neighbourhoods in Istanbul

Ilgi Toprak, A. Ünlü, Akkelies Van Nes

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeConference contributionScientificpeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)
108 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper investigates the mutual effects of cultural diversity and neighbourhood change in three historic neighbourhoods in Istanbul. Through history, some neighbourhoods in Istanbul have been home for people from different cultural and religious backgrounds. In some of these neighbourhoods, cultural diversity still exists. Some other neighbourhoods lose cultural diversity over time. The main reasons of this loss are socio-economic and cultural change, due to gentrification, decay or renewal. The study puts forward a comparative diachronic analysis of the three neighbourhoods, inspecting the relations between cultural diversity and neighbourhood change using space syntax. The change takes place in three levels: the level of socio-economic change, the level of physical change and the level of cultural diversity. The results of the study show that historic neighbourhoods process continuity and change in their own ways. Samatya and Fener, undergo partial neighbourhood decay resulting in downgrading, decay on the built mass and segregation. They respond to cultural diversity differently. Kuzguncuk, is an example of neighbourhood gentrification, which maintains cultural diversity in a more balanced way due to high aesthetic qualities of the buildings, high local integration of the main street, and highly integrated main routes through the neighbourhood.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 11th International Space Syntax Symposium (SSS 2017)
Place of PublicationLisbon
PublisherInstituto Superior Técnico
Pages154.1-154.14
ISBN (Electronic)978-972-98994-4-7
Publication statusPublished - 2017
EventXI SSS: 11th International Space Syntax Symposium 2017 - University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Duration: 3 Jul 20177 Jul 2017

Conference

ConferenceXI SSS: 11th International Space Syntax Symposium 2017
Country/TerritoryPortugal
CityLisbon
Period3/07/177/07/17

Keywords

  • Cultural diversity
  • Diachronic research
  • Historic neighbourhoods
  • Space Syntax
  • Urban transformation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Diachronic assessment of cultural diversity in historic neighbourhoods using space syntax: Studies of three neighbourhoods in Istanbul'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this