The contribution of socio-spatial layers to urban identity: an examination of bursa hisar ramparts and their surrounding interaction zones

Bursa is one of Turkey's most historically rooted cities, characterized by a multilayered urban fabric that reflects the imprints of various civilizations. This multilayered character manifests not only in the physical environment but also in cultural, social, and spatial practices. In particular, the Hisar District, which constitutes the original settlement core of the city, and the surrounding fortification walls encompass a historical timeline marked by both discontinuities and continuities from the Roman and Byzantine periods to the Ottoman and Republican eras. The primary aim of this study is to examine the multilayered socio-spatial structure of the Bursa Hisar Walls and their surroundings and to reveal how these structures influence urban identity. The research adopts an interdisciplinary approach within the conceptual framework of the "palimpsest urban fabric" exploring historical continuity and transformation. The study traces the urban traces of five main historical periods (Bithynia, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Republican) analyzing the architectural, administrative, social, and spatial reflections of these periods through archival documents and on-site observations. In this context, archival research utilizing historical maps, old engravings, archaeological findings, and photographic records was conducted to reveal the temporal depth of the area. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews (with local residents, the neighborhood headman, art historians, municipal officials etc.) along with architectural observations, were carried out to analyze contemporary user experiences and social interactions within the area. The qualitative data collected during the fieldwork were processed digitally and supported by both textual outputs (interview transcripts, field notes) and visual materials (photographs, maps, sketches, and diagrams). In addition, the use of architectural photography enabled visual documentation of the current condition of the historical fabric, and interpretive analyses were conducted in relation to urban memory, spatial continuity, and cultural belonging. The multilayered analytical approach adopted in this study revealed not only the historical continuity but also the mutual interaction between contemporary socio-spatial patterns. In this way, the Hisar Walls of Bursa were interpreted not only as historical artifacts but also as living spaces shaped by current social practices. The unique contribution of this study lies in its approach to the Bursa Hisar Walls not merely as physical heritage to be preserved, but as dynamic socio-spatial components embedded within contemporary urban life. Thus, it emphasizes that the preservation of historical environments should not be limited to physical structures alone, but must also take into account collective memory, social relationships, everyday practices, and cultural continuity. The study offers recommendations concerning urban identity, historical heritage conservation policies, and participatory planning processes, thereby highlighting the importance of the relationship between spatial continuity and social belonging for contemporary urbanism. In conclusion, the Bursa Hisar Walls are interpreted not merely as physical boundaries, but as dynamic heritage areas that establish cultural, social, and spatial links between the past and the present. The study aims to provide original contributions to the re-interpretation of historical urban areas from the perspectives of urban identity, conservation approaches, and urban planning policies.