An evaluation of cultural change and spatial reflections in Istiklal street

İstiklal Street is located in the district of Beyoğlu in the province of Istanbul. It is a street stretching 1400 meters long on the northeast-southwest axis. Taksim Square on the northeast end of the street, Şişhane Tunnel entrance and Tunnel Square on the southwestern end. While Istiklal Street was known as Grande Rue de Péra until the Ottoman Period, the Ottomans named it Cadde-i Kebir (Büyük Cadde). In the Republican period, the street has been named as Istiklal Street. The Galata-Pera region, which located in Istiklal Street, was a residential area where the foreign population were dense before the Ottoman domination and where they continued their commercial activities. The presence of the Galata Port, which was used with the increase in commercial activities in the Byzantine period, turned this part of the city into a cosmopolitan structure. With the conquest of Istanbul, the Galata Region has been integrated with the inner city of Istanbul. Galata became a neighborhood of Istanbul after this occurrence. However the fact that it has hosted people of different religions, languages and races throughout the history has made it different from other neighborhoods of Istanbul. This multi-layered texture continued for centuries on account of the concessions that Fatih Sultan Mehmet provided to the region. With the Tanzimat Edict declared in 1839, the Westernization process began in the Ottoman Empire. By virtue of new legal regulations and permits that given to non-muslims during the westernization process, the experts and ambassadors that came from west settled in Pera. Levantines were effective in the change of the city's texture and capital. In the 19th century, shops, hotels, tailors and boutiques serving high-income people were opened in Istiklal Street and Beyoğlu. In addition, there are ready-to-wear stores and European-style entertainment venues for low-income people. Also, the number of inns and passages on the street has increased. The influence of French culture is reflected in fashion, art, technology and architecture in Beyoğlu and Istiklal Street. From the 19th century, Istiklal Street (Cadde-i Kebir) started to gain its current texture. In the 20th century, the parts of Istiklal Street and Beyoğlu between Galatasaray and Taksim underwent physical and cultural change. The construction of the electric tram line between Taksim and Şişli in 1913 was effective in the development of the region. Beginning of the First World War, the activities of theaters and cinemas and entertainment venues where artistic activities were made for the first time in the 19th century have decreased or stopped completely. After the occupation forces left Istanbul in 1922, the name of the street was changed from Grand Rue de Pera-Cadde-i Kebir to Istiklal Street. Another factor causing the physical and cultural change of Istiklal Street and Beyoğlu was the Second World War. Arrangement of Wealth Tax to be collected from foreigners in 1942 caused foreigners who dominated Beyoğlu and Istiklal Street to leave the country. After the war, the commercial and cultural life of Istiklal Street has been disrupted, and the places with the richness indicator on the street have been closed. As a result of migration from rural to urban areas since 1950s, it ensured the settlements of those who migrated to Istiklal Street and its abandoned buildings. Political and administrative turmoil followed by the 1960 coup and 1980 coup. These occurances altogether changed the physical, economic and cultural structure of Beyoğlu, Taksim and İstiklal Street. One of the most important urban arrangement works carried out in the 1990s is the closure of Istiklal Street to vehicle traffic. In that way, cafes, bars, bookstores, galleries, which are the center of attraction of the young population, were opened on both sides of the street and on the side streets. The economic impacts that have changed around the world since 2000s have also been effective on Istiklal Street and changes have occurred in the street's venues. Due to the extension of the metro line to Levent, where the business centers are located, many shopping centers have been opened. This situation forced small-scale business owners with shops on the street to leave the region. The excessive increase in rents and the opening of chain stores in and around the street affected many operators negatively. Until 2000s, between Taksim and Galatasaray Square on Istiklal Street, between Galatasaray and Tunnel as of 2000s was affected by rent race. The effect of rent caused businesses or structures such as Emek Cinema, İnci Patisserie, Butterfly Corse, Tokatlıyan Hotel and Halep Business Center to either change their functions or completely eliminate them by demolishing them. Due to the Code of Obligations enacted in 2010, the places that have taken place in the urban memory have been closed or they have had to move from their existing places. The visitor profile of the street has changed due to the public reaction after 2010 and the explosions caused by terrorism. The migration experienced and the changes in visitor identity were reflected in the types and names of places. The existence of large-scale projects under construction in Taksim Square, Tarlabaşı Boulevard, Istiklal Street and its surroundings has also accelerated the disappearance of the historical identity of the street, which has been the place of culture, art, entertainment and small-scale iconic enterprises since the historical process. In the conclusion part of the thesis, it is highlighted to these problems and suggestions for the solution of these were presented.