Evaluation of urban transformation applications through examples within the framework of landscape architecture

Since the 1950s, increasing migration and unplanned urbanization in Turkey have led to slum formation, infrastructure deficiencies, and environmental problems in major cities, negatively impacting the quality of life. To address these issues, urban regeneration projects have been implemented in line with sustainable urbanization goals. However, when analyzing urban regeneration projects globally and in Turkey, it is evident that most projects in Turkey prioritize physical transformation, fail to integrate sustainability effectively, and overlook the goal of improving quality of life. From a landscape architecture perspective, issues such as insufficient green spaces, limited inclusivity of social facilities, and inadequate sustainable design approaches emerge. These shortcomings negatively affect urban life quality, failing to ensure environmental sustainability and meet social needs. This research aims to emphasize the role of landscape architecture in improving urban sustainability and quality of life in regeneration projects, highlighting the necessity of incorporating landscape assessment criteria in planning and design processes. The study examines urban regeneration and landscape architecture in relation to sustainability, evaluating the importance of landscape assets in these projects. Urban regeneration projects worldwide and in Turkey are analyzed from a planning and design perspective, exploring the contribution of landscape values. Based on identified deficiencies, an evaluation system was developed and applied to the Kirazlıtepe and Locamahal Urban Regeneration Projects in Istanbul. The findings show that the proposed system effectively measures landscape values. Additionally, this system is expected to enhance existing practices and guide projects more effectively according to established criteria.