The effect of parcel based urban transformation on urban environment and perception of identity: The case of Bahcelievler

Parcel based changes have been experienced in different ways in various periods in Turkey's urbanization history. These; It started with the first apartment building process in the 1960s with the "Kat Mülkiyeti" law, and continued with the changing reconstruction plans, especially in the 80s and 90s. Finally, parcel based urban transformation has become increasingly widespread, especially in urban neighborhoods with aging building stock with the "Afet Riski Altındaki Alanların Dönüştürülmesi Hakkında Kanun " which entered into force in 2012. This transformation puts cities in danger of losing their original characteristics. This characteristics: unique place identity, unique urban, environmental, architectural and socio-cultural features. As a result of the transformation, emerges a uniform building stock. This study argues that parcel based transformation practices have significant effects on the urban environment and the perception of place identity. In this direction, the thesis study the effect examines on the urban environment and place identity perception of parcel-based urban transformation applications in Bahcelievler district of Ankara province. In the study, data were obtained through observation, field research, literature review and in-depth interviews with the residents of the neighborhood who lived in the neighborhood before the parcel-based transformation applications. This study is being examined What kind of changes does parcel based urban transformation in the urban environment and What are the changes in the perceptions of place identity of the interview participants about the neighborhood they live in and what are the factors that cause the changes in this perception. Bahçelievler district has been available since the proclamation of the republic. Bahçelievler was established in a planned manner. The district was established by the cooperative. It is the first garden-city application in Turkey. It has transformed from a unique garden house design to apartment type houses in Bahçelievler. Reasons for this situation: laws enacted over the years, housing needs and changing demands and needs of property owners. The transformation took place in a non-exhaustive way. The transformation took by small-scale contractors called build-sell. The transformation begin in different years, thus causing the district to have residences with four different building typologies. These four different building types observed in the Bahçelievler district today are: (1) the few residences with gardens have been preserved unchanged until today which have the characteristics of an architectural heritage, (2) partially preserved apartments, although the sections allocated to the garden have decreased compared to the past, (3) side and back gardens are reserved for garage, front garden is partially preserved in some, apartments, (4) side and back gardens are included in the construction area and front garden is used as a parking lot, apartments. District are experiencing physical transformation with parcel-based transformation applications. For this reason, district users district users is taking place change and transformation in place identity perception. Place identity is defined by the elements that separate a place from other places and make that place special and important for people. As a result of parcel-based transformation practices cause the perception of place identity to change and transform in Bahçelievler district. This is because, changing physical features and qualities, signs and structures seen as symbols. Transforming buildings have brought about changes in the memories, experiences, sense of belonging and attachment, emotions and feelings, and neighborhood relations in the memories of the users in the district. For this reason, the perception of place identity in Bahçelievler is in danger of losing its original values. Bahçelievler place identity has not completely disappeared. The original elements that creative the place identity are transforming and changing in the memories of the district users. A few of the houses with a garden have survived to the present day, which helped to form the name and identity of the district however, it has been determined partially preserved that the basic elements that affect the perception of place identity in the district. Conducted comprehensive interviews with residents of the district. As a result, it has been determined that the important elements to create the place identity in Bahçelievler. This elements: residential gardens, landscape elements, parks, streets, neighbourhood relationships, memories, sense of belonging and attachment, district users to feel comfortable and happy in the Bahcelievler. It is necessary to protect the Bahçelievler district so that the sense of place identity is not completely lost and ordinary. For this, it has been concluded that the landscape elements in the housing parcels and the landscape elements in the streets should be preserved. On the other hand, in the study, the importance of the development of holistic approaches including place identity in urban change and transformation processes is revealed.