An analysis of spatial effects of urban transformation projects in terms of geography (An example of Ataevler district in Nilüfer, Bursa)

Cities continue their development as living organisms in accordance with spatial change and transformation since their existence. This situation which results from the dynamic structure of the cities could be regarded as one of the main reasons for the human beings' efforts to change and shape the places they have lived for centuries in parallel with the components of geographical environment. With the population explosion and increase in the urban population in the 20th century, lack of enough planning studies, arising spatial problems and renewal of urban areas both spatially and socio-economically brought up the ideas of re-design and regeneration of the place. In general, it is possible to explain this process as the background of urban transformation practices. In addition to this process, spatial and socio-economic atmosphere that existed along with the globalization facilitated the emergence of urban transformation at present and a period that regarded urban places as an income started. This situation which could be understood with the capitalist landscaping in urban areas can be accepted as the gift of globalization to the urban areas. Eventually, this study discussed the urban renewal practices of residential areas in Ataevler District which depleted their economic life and lost their resistance to time and thus which were demolished and rebuilt. The research aims at revealing the spatial and socio-economic effects on the area in this process which started with the destruction of Umut Sitesi in 2016 in the district. This study which focuses on the change and regeneration that occurred in the area with urban renewal practices was designed with qualitative research method, one of the scientific research methods. In addition, the study aims at investigating urban transformation practices in the science world with urban morphological approach, a perspective which is brought to urban science by urban geography. Moreover, the study was led by field observations, semi-structured interview forms carried out with the neighbourhood residents, and literature review. Considering some results obtained in the study within this context, it is revealed that residential sites that were not earthquake-resistant with four or five floors and inward-looking were demolished and multi-storey, enclosed residential areas with eight or ten floors were built. It was found that with the population growth due to this situation, existing mature population had a tendency towards being replaced by young population and the number of commercial areas increased with the renewed buildings.On the other hand, it was revealed that there was not a development experienced in other urban equipment locations except for the residential areas as a result of urban renewal practices.