Evaluation of spatial transformations in industrial buildings in Istanbul

Transformation is phenomenon that constantly changing and reorganizing in terms of global, political, social, economic contexts and shaping our daily lives in all sizes. Cities, as a dynamic structure in different sizes and shapes, being in chance and transformation constantly. Continuity of cities depend on in some sense of transformation. Cities are reshaped according to the changing conditions in accordance with its own different dynamics of each period. In this process of transformation is inevitable, the city has undergone chances in sense of physical, social, economic ans cultural size. The first transformation occured in the city is with the existence of the Industrial Revolution and the process of industrialization. Transition from agriculture and human force to machine production with the varying manufacturing models, industrial buildings began to exist in the city. After World War II restructuring process has began in the Europe cities together with accelerated industrialization yielded to began another transformation in cities. After 1950, occurring industrial zones in developing cities correspondingly increasing demand for labour led to upgrowth population and the city in this period. Beginning with globalization in 1970's and shaping our lives from economic, political and social structures to the our daily life style that occurs each level is the latest phase in the city transformation. Along with the transition from the national and modern industrial city to the global information system, cities being restructured according to the needs of the finance and service sector. After the second half of the 20th century, factors such as process of global chance, increased population in urban areas, changes in production and consumption types have affected the balance and created functional changes in urban usage areas. With the transition from modern city to post-modern city has taken off new spatial needs in the city and led to a variety of space transformations. In this context, industrial buildings are one of the group buildings that realizing transformation in today's city. In the period they were made standing outside the city industrial buildings are now located in downtown thereby industrial buildings are became one of the major potential areas in transformation. A large part of industrial building which has lost its function have been liquidated out of town, in other remaining part has began the process of transformation. In the transformation process of industrial buildings, resulting concepts such as 'industrial heritage' and 'conservation' in the last quarter of the 20th century has given a new dimension to transformation type. Thus in whole world especially in countries where the industrial revolution has affected, transformation has become more important in industrial buildings. Transformation projects about industrial buildings are included and integrated conservation mentality samples has accelerated in the last thirty years. In this period, changing balances in the world and the transformation process revealed similar results in Turkey. After 1970, effects such as globalization, decentralization and increasing population launched the industrial oriented transformation in metropole cities. Starting in 1980's and accelerated after 2000, transformation types such as urban transformation, conservation, adaptive reuse, renewal and gentrification by realizing at different scales, transformed the city in physical, social, economic contexts and shaped the new macro-form of the city. İstanbul is the city where the numerous industrial buildings existed belonging to Ottoman Empire period and the era of after Republic experienced the transformation process obviously and defined as the study area for thesis. The effects of transformation on urban space by converting city centers into business and commerce areas along with the transition from the production system to service and finance sector can be seen in İstanbul. Industrial buildings are located in the focal point of transformation process starting in 1990's and continuing at the present in İstanbul. As being investment areas for national and international capital, industrial buildings are redefining city's macro-form by creating major changes in the economic and social sense. The aim of the thesis is to analyze space transformations have occurred in industrial buildings and explicate ongoing transformation process in scale of building and the city. The samples selected in scope of thesis consist of industrial buildings belong to the Ottoman Empire and after Republic era. The method of thesis includes literature research with various source and thesis, analyzing periodical such as Arkitekt for post Republic era samples and photographing in situ. In the first part of the study, the subject of the thesis explained and mentioned about the purpose, scope and methods of the study. In the second chapter concepts such as industry, industrial heritage, conservation and transformation were defined as theoretical background. In addition to conceptual definitions, transformation periods and types that occur in the city were examined and effects on industrial buildings were discussed. In third chapter space transformations occur in industrial building are analyzed. In this context, qualified transformation projects examined in regional and world scale. Industrialized countries such as Germany, England, Spain and America have been selected for regional transformation application as Ruhr, Docklands, Poblenou and Pittsburgh. With the similar and different design approaches in transformation process, types of transformation and design principles have been discussed. In the fourth chapter, industrialization process of İstanbul is examined and mentioned about transformations and effects on space. Referring to the examples, it is seen that the transformation occured in industrial buildings at different scales and forms in Istanbul. Factors such as location, land value, potential annuity, registration status and decisions of the owners are determining type and quality of transformation. In the re-evaluation projects of the industrial buildings in İstanbul, conservation, restoration, adaptive reuse samples have seen as well as the renovation, demolition, gentrification. Adaptive reuse projects including conservation and renewal samples are predominantly existed in transformation projects. In the samples of re-function, cultural and educational uses stand out as function. It is observed that integrated conservation including building, original material and industrial landscape is inadequate. Additionally, analyzing of industrial building features by the meaning of choosing new function and adaptive reuse is not sufficient. In many of renewal projects, it is seen that industrial heritage is removed. Factors such as lack of legal protection and registration, oblivion about industrial heritage, privatization, annuity policies are stated general reasons of destruction projects. At the end of chapter, analysis of industrial buildings were shown in a table and was prepared Transformation Map of Istanbul. In the fifth and final part of the study, transformation phases and its effects on cities in world also in Turkey explained. Additionally, it is evaluated the results of the case study about the transformations of industrial buildings in Istanbul. Transformation types and features explained and compared with the samples in world.