Places of memory: Artvin fiberboard factory

This study examines the Artvin Fiberboard Factory through its historical, social, and spatial dimensions, assessing its role as a site of memory within the formation of local collective consciousness. Established in line with state-centered industrialization policies of the Republican period, the factory functioned not only as a production facility but also as an institutional space that shaped Artvin's socio-economic structure, labor culture, and everyday life practices, thereby contributing to the construction of urban identity. The research is based on qualitative methods and supported by literature and archival analyses as well as oral history interviews. The narratives of former workers and their relatives reveal that the factory occupies a memory space beyond its economic functions, serving as a carrier of social relations, a sense of belonging, and shared experiences within the local community. The theoretical framework is grounded in Pierre Nora's concept of lieux de mémoire and Maurice Halbwachs' theory of collective memory. In this regard, the factory is evaluated not only in terms of its material existence but also through its symbolic and emotional dimensions. The findings demonstrate that the closure of the factory made its memory dimension more visible, leading to the reconstruction of a collective memory space shaped by themes of nostalgia, loss, and transformation. Accordingly, the study offers an interdisciplinary contribution by linking industrial history with memory studies.