Morphological analysis of the interaction transition zone in the context of urban conservation: The case of Seferpaşa Neigborhood, Gaziantep

The protection of the surroundings of conservation areas is a fundamental element of sustainable conservation efforts. Internationally referred to as "Buffer Zone" and defined in national legislation as "Interaction Transition Zone," these areas serve as tools for protecting heritage sites and cultural assets. However, planning and managing Interaction Transition Zones independently of conservation efforts negatively impact the conservation process. Deficiencies in the protection of Interaction Transition Zones, whose boundaries are required to be defined in Conservation-Oriented Development Plans under national laws and principles, lead to morphological changes in these areas. In this context, the thesis focuses on assessing the changes affecting the morphological transformations of these zones during the conservation and management processes. The study area is Seferpaşa Neighborhood, located partially within the Gaziantep Urban Conservation Area and partially within the Interaction Transition Zone (Buffer Zone). This neighborhood was selected due to increased urban pressure and the negative impact of the 25 Aralık Panorama Museum, constructed at the boundary of the Interaction Transition Zone, on the morphological characteristics of cul-de-sacs, which are among the region's protected heritage elements.The research process includes an examination of environmental-scale conservation, the concept of Interaction Transition Zones (Buffer Zones) in national and international contexts, literature review, analysis of Gaziantep's urban planning and Conservation-Oriented Development Plans, and evaluation of the changes affecting Seferpaşa Neighborhood. The thesis incorporates urban morphological analyses that demonstrate the morphological changes in Seferpaşa Neighborhood. Additionally, the fieldwork includes morphological analyses of two cul-de-sacs where morphological changes were identified, one of the causes of which is believed to be the 25 Aralık Panorama Museum. The findings of this thesis reveal that negative morphological changes in the surroundings of urban conservation areas lead to losses in conservation values. Recommendations have been developed to prevent these losses. Furthermore, it is expected that the study will have a positive impact on national laws and principles regarding the monitoring and protection of changes affecting the morphological transformations of Interaction Transition Zones in the context of urban conservation.