Urban identity and lost urban identities

Cities are settlement units where the activities of sheltering, working, entertainment-resting and transportation necessary for people to live are carried out. The fact that man is a social creature has caused him to need a life outside of the house, and urban areas have been created. These urban spaces are equipped with many urban elements such as vegetation, covering materials, water and works of art, urban furniture to meet the common needs of people. Identity; It is the uniqueness of a thing that enables all parts of a thing to come together and distinguish it from similar ones, revealing its difference. Urban identity is everything that allows us to distinguish it easily from other cities. On the other hand, all urban components that contribute intangibly or tangibly to urban formation have positive or negative effects on the identity of the city. While the positive aspects of this contribution glorify the identity of the city and increase its visibility, the negative aspects appear as de-identification. In cities that are in the process of de-identification, the sense of belonging between the city and its inhabitants is damaged, the city's economy is negatively affected and the legacy desired to be left to future generations is deteriorated. From this point of view, in this study, it is aimed to examine the cities that have been de-identified within the framework of urban identity.