The effects of coastal fillings on users' spatial perception / the case of Istanbul coastal filling areas

Dragos Hill and its shores were chosen as the research area as a place that have a unique structure with their natural beauties, location and settlement texture, and where a distinguished summer resort culture was experienced in the 1970s. The change in the spatial perception of the users is discussed on the ground of the end of the summer residence after the coastal landfill, which was giving identity to the place. The data obtained from various institutions were evaluated and physical changes, occurred between 1970 and 2021 were detected. In order to understand the change in spatial perception, surveys and interviews conducted with the former users. Meanwhile, the data obtained from the survey study was digitized and interpreted. The coastal landfill, which was built for reasons such as supporting the city's land transportation and meeting the recreation needs, caused a great change in the spatial perception of the former users. While the area appealed to a certain segment before the filling, it was opened to a variety of interest groups by providing various functions after the process. However, these functions do not appeal to permanent users for resort purposes, rather, it appeals to the users using the area for transportation and recreation purposes, daily or at certain times. While there are positive aspects of enabling more individuals to benefit from the area, negative aspects such as making the coast artificial with filling and causing ecological problems are more dominant. Findings reveal that overall impact of the filling negatively affected the rates of diversity of activities (24%), security perception (59%), and spatial perception (59%) of the former coastal users.