Transformation of public area in post-modern period through gated communities: The case of Istanbul Göktürk

Public spaces, which form the backbone of urban patterns, the combination of different physical, social, economic and cultural layers to create space of social life, are seen as constantly changing and transforming places today, as they have been in the historical process. Gated communities that emerged as the extension of neoliberal reconstruction and one of the postmodern urbanization styles is an important spatial element that transforms the quality of public spaces in a modern city. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of gated communities on the changing quality of public spaces that is one of the basic elements of urban area. Conceptual framework of the study aims to put forward the effect of postmodern residential area on morphological features and usage value of urban public spaces. The basic assumption of the study is that, physical characteristics of gated communities which is one of the postmodern urban development and transformation models that improved in the period from 1980 up to now has direct effect on formation and use of public spaces and differed the quality of urban public spaces. In the scope of study, Göktürk Village that is located outside of Istanbul urban area was chosen for the case study. Conceptual framework and field work of the study were built on three basic scales which are macro, meso and micro. With this study, it was aimed to put forward an assessment model in order to explain the interaction between constantly increasing gated communities and public spaces around them. Research findings show that the public spaces that can be defined as public integrity has turned into a private urban area formed by the clusters of gated communities in Göktürk and detects those public spaces have turned into places that enable entrance-exit to gated communities and transition of goods that fulfill needs-demands of gated community residents.