Historical and contemporary approaches to urban form-transportation relation and a case study of İstanbul

Urbanization is an important consequence of social and economic change in developing countries. Urbanization of the population increased and cities sprawled into larger areas. As a result urban transportation problem grew. Actions taken to support the development is exhausting the nature and transforming it into an artificial environment. This situation which is a consequence of uncontrolled development of urban macroform (along with underdeveloped city transportation technology) creates problems such as populationaccessibility , sprawling of the city (without any step changes), insufficient mass transportation and time-space (location) relation dependency on distance. The purpose of the thesis is to discuss the future urban forms- especially related with the transportation system, and to generate data for planning by studying Istanbul as a case. The conclusion is drawn by studying how the city and its environment were affected by the developments in transportation system during history, by examining urban forms of some world cities and by putting together future scenarios for Istanbul. In the thesis, historical and modern approaches to the development of urban form are analyzed within a transportation factor frame (form-transportation interrelation.) Phases of urban form, from pedestrian scale to contemporary metropolis are discussed by examples from world cities. In the first section, the purpose and the substance of the thesis are stated. Hypothesis and subhypothesis are proposed. The context of the thesis and sections are explained. In the second section, form and urban form are defined conceptually in the light of historical approaches. Especially urban functions and in-city transportation factor, of all factors affecting urban form, are discussed. Public areas, urban form models, theoretical and nontheoretical settlements and their relation with in-city transportation are examined. Urban form and utopias are also discussed with in-city transportation relation. In the third section, modern approaches to urban form are discussed from an urban form- incity transportation interaction stand point. Transportation and its development during history are studied. The link between urban form and transportation is determined and the spatial effects of in-city transportation on urban form development are elaborated. The transportation input to the development of world cities, `highway systems development?, `sea transport systems development?, `railway systems development? and `locations (roles) of airports? are discussed. Cities standing out with in-city transportation systems are selected considering instances (turning points) effecting their urban developments. Fourth section is dedicated to studying the effects of transportation on Istanbul urban form development. The section starts with transportation input to urban development of Istanbul (especially mass transit systems) and the subject is covered on a historical basis by sea transport systems development, railway development and highway development. Focal effects of airports to in-city transportation are covered. Plans which were put on the table until today, applied completely or partially are studied from a transportation relation and urban form development stand point. In the fifth section of the thesis, future scenarios based on transportation are predicted for Istanbul?s macroform. In this thesis, it is accepted that studying some topics at macro level of urban form, without getting into details, is a rational method. Various variables and nonvariables are stated and useful data were generated for strategical planning of Istanbul. Keywords: Urban form, urban macroform, urban transport, city planning, stanbul.