A study on revealing collective memory in the historical urban landscape of Istanbul-Yenikoy

The significance attributed to intangible values in the conservation of architectural heritage has concurrently elevated the discourse around the concept of memory. In this context, the examination of collective memory and spatial elements has become intertwined, extending beyond the boundaries of individual and collective memory concepts within the realm of psychology to encompass disciplines such as sociology, history, anthropology and various cultural research areas. The common thread binding all these disciplines is the concept of "space", prompting an inevitable exploration of the intangible connection between space and memory. The intrinsic value of "memory", seeking tangible references for its preservation, inherently necessitates robust and enduring carriers. Therefore, cultural heritage elements, structures and cities have evolved into not just bearers but also representatives of memory. Historical areas, architectural components and traditions have transcended being mere objects; they have become entities that need to be documented, elucidated and perpetuated over time. The concretization and documentation of individual and collective memory elements, coupled with an enhancement of visibility and the mitigation of the loss of values due to the changing user generation, are perceived as instrumental in advancing a more comprehensive and holistic preservation principle. Within the ambit of this thesis, areas enriched by the values of memory, collective memory and architectural heritage have been approached as a "historical urban landscape". The objective has been to unravel their intangible values and applicable methods for revealing these values have been meticulously framed. These methods include "written and visual archive research", "archaeological excavations and place names", "oral history studies", "participation" and "cognitive mapping". Examining these methods with case studies aimed to determine the benefits of use in this research. In the following stages of the thesis, the historical development of Yeniköy, a district located on the western shore of the Bosphorus explained. This narrative unfolds based on a synthesis of online and printed archival documents, travel notes and gathered from visual archives. Field studies conducted in the research area have analyzed the historical urban landscape layers of Yeniköy. This documentation has encompassed its topography, hydrology, geomorphology, natural formations and built environment. Pertinently, the development process of settlement morphology and historical road networks, open spaces such as parks, gardens and groves, various types of structures and infrastructure features have been comprehensively documented and analyzed to interpret the physical condition of the district. The acquired data has been mapped and interpreted, with a focused depiction of the silhouette from the Bosphorus, recording the view of the coastal strip from İstinye to Tarabya. The economic processes and sociocultural structure of the region have been scrutinized to draw nuanced conclusions about livelihoods and daily life, profiling the residents of the district and studying the impact of social conditions on urban development. Traditional occupations have been discerned and traces of past occupations in the present lifestyle of the community have been observed. In regions characterized by cultural diversity; the diversity and quality of architectural elements burgeon in tandem. Istanbul, with its historical and traditional settlements, is regarded as a perfect example of cities worldwide that enrich the spirit of a place with structures adorned with the cultural codes of their creators or owners. In this context, the identity of Yeniköy, documented to have a multicultural face, has been underscored and the physical reflections of social diversity on the neighborhood geography have been traced. As the final stage of written and visual archive review, a compilation of preservation and planning activities in the region has been assembled and the desires and participation of the community in these activities have been examined. In the fourth section of the study, the aim has been to reveal the memory of Yeniköy, determine the memory places and create a memory map by associating all these elements with "places". In the context of unraveling Yeniköy's memory, literary texts, biographies, memoirs, engravings, old maps, photographs, films and songs have been scrupulously compiled and qualitatively analyzed to record memory elements related to the "place". Various sources, including memories, travel writings, novels, biographies and similar literary texts, have been explored for traces of tangible or intangible values related to Yeniköy, establishing connections with spaces. Early engravings have been scrutinized to draw nuanced conclusions about the impressions of the region during the relevant period. Documents, ranging from the earliest maps of Yeniköy to current aerial photographs, have been chronologically examined, with a keen observation of the urbanization situation. Details of urban, street and road names have been evaluated to explore possible traces not found in archival documents. Photographs obtained from various archives have been analyzed, observing details about the lifestyle and landscape atmosphere through the clothing and activities of individuals in the visuals. Similarly, films shot in Yeniköy have been compiled as video recordings from a period when visual documentation facilities were not yet developed to modern standards and have been considered as significant documents. Songs and compositions related to the district have been judiciously gathered and added to memory elements as a compilation of emotions toward the "place". Through oral history studies conducted as part of the ethical committee approval, questions about significant events related to the district, traditions, important places, knowledge about places, preservation issues and the meaning of the district for its residents were meticulously prepared. The interviews with voluntary participants from different societal roles have measured the scope of Yeniköy's societal memory, determining the boundaries of the study area and memory places. In the final stage of the fourth section, compiled written and visual archive elements, shared events from interviews, traditions, notes on daily life and settlement, lost and living memory places, places that have historical and qualitative values but are not mentioned and places that have lost their physical existence and memory value over time have been associated with the "places" of the district to create a memory map. The map has been created and interpreted through qualitative examination with care. In the concluding section of the study, implications have been shared regarding the connection between users and the cultural heritage elements that need to be preserved, the impact of this relationship on the conservation process and the entirety of values that need to be considered. Data has been reviewed under the headings of revealing memory, methodology and Yeniköy's historical urban landscape.