Examining the phenomenon of family apartments from slums to urbanization: The case of Ümraniye district of İstanbul province

Urbanization is a concept that has been the subject of much debate and is defined in various ways. In Turkey during the 1950s, mechanization in agriculture led to significant mobility toward cities. With the emergence of housing problems, a rapid period of squatter settlement began, in which individuals attempted to solve their housing needs on their own. During this process, it was observed that within approximately ten years, the number of squatter houses increased thirtyfold. Accordingly, in order not to become detached from their values and to cope with the social and physical factors of urban life, the phenomenon of family apartments emerged. In this study, the increasingly widespread phenomenon of family apartments will be examined. The research will address the emergence processes of family apartments, which functioned as an intermediate stage in the transition from squatter housing to urban life, as well as family relations, perspectives on city life, and processes of adaptation to the urban environment. In the research process of this study, the in-depth interview technique was employed, and households were visited. Interviews were conducted with residents on each floor of the selected apartment buildings. While analyzing intra-family relations, separations were also considered, and the model of fragmented families was examined. In family apartments, which continue to exist actively on the peripheries of cities, the study seeks to explore family solidarity relations, family bonds, the positive and negative consequences of cohabitation, the emergence process of family apartments, and adaptation to urban life. In the first chapter of the study, the theoretical background is presented, including urban theories, basic concepts related to family apartments, and the historical framework. The second chapter discusses the methodology of the research. In the third and final chapter, the findings obtained in the field are compiled and analyzed.