Towards the new types of representation in urban planning: The spatial distribution of commercial activities in Istanbul, historical and geographical analysis

This study, through the case of İstanbul, investigates the new types of representation forms in urban planning towards 21st century via the spatial development process of commercial activities.In the whole world, there are essential changes in the area of science and technology since 1980s; new quests are emerging in the comprehension and explanation forms of the world. The globalisation process pioneers the new economical, social, spatial structure, which arises as an extension of this change. Within this thesis, in order to understand the global city and city centres, various approaches are explored in a detailed fashion, which are developed during the globalisation process in the service and industry geography, and the new urban structure is discussed which emerges over the multi-centered structural transformation processes in the urban region and metropolitan area.Tracks of this new structure in the world are investigated on the İstanbul?s commercial landscape, the changes in the sectoral structure and commercial spatial distribution are explored in the direction of globalisation trends in the Istanbul metrolitan area by studying with the distinctive analytical database prepared by the author regarding the Istanbul?s commercial landscape.In this research, the sectoral profile of Istanbul is determined in district level according to Turkstat?s 1992 and 2002 data and Istanbul?s commercial landscape is analysed in district, neighbourhood and street level via 165 thousand records which has been registered to Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICC) between the years 1925 and 2006. In these analyses, a relational layered model with high illustrative grade is used that allows to read big databases in cognitive perception level. This thesis differs from the former studies in the new methods utilized in the model as correspondance analysis, maps and bertin tables.Eventually, apart from the deductions intended for Istanbul?s commercial landscape, with the effect of scientific changes experienced in the urban planning studies, the fact of how a new urban research program should become is demonstrated based on Istanbuls commercial geography.