Effects of the urban change in historical environments on the identity of the city: Case of Karakoy Persembe Pazari

Cities change over time, not as though remaining the same as they were before, but responding to the demands of the elements that build them. Especially in historical environments, problems such as failure to respond to current demands, decay, depreciation, and the loss of readability of the identity or complete loss of identity may exist while passing through various stages of urban change. Methods such as the redefinition and functional adaptation of the urban space, old, obsolete urban fabric are being renovated and transformed to answer the current social and economic demands. Although Perşembe Pazarı has been in the center of trade and with its on-going traditional commercial activities throughout the history, nowadays the physical environment of Perşembe Pazarı is under decay with many empty buildings, and facing obsolescence. There are many urban projects taking place in Istanbul on a different scale within various design strategies and construction stages, nearby the Golden Horn and in Beyoğlu districts in particular. The region is in the midst of many urban transformation projects and therefore is an open, critical area for any intervention. Changes in the social, economic, cultural and physical environment in the region, disclose the need for urban renewal. With this study, it is aimed to analyze the urban change of Perşembe Pazarı in historical manner, and to identify the items of its identity, and finally to find out how urban identity can be preserved in urban renewal. The first section of the thesis involves the identification of the problem, the purpose, the scope and the importance, research questions and methodology of the thesis. "How does the change in the urban environment in historical environments affect the identity of the city?" is the main question of the research and from which sub-questions are developed as the study focuses on the traces of the urban change in historical development occurring from dwellings construction in Perşembe Pazarı. It is aimed to monitor the threshold effects in the region, to reveal how the changes in the region are perceived by the users and how it affects the identity of the region. The second section of the research includes the concepts of urban identity and the urban change. After the various definitions of identity, urban identity is discussed in the dimension of environment, as well as from the point of perception, image and meaning, which are followed by the place attachment, historical dimension and urban identity in historic urban quarters. In addition, the concept of urban change, dimensions of the change, the urban change models and analysis are also included. Revitalization strategies in the context of urban change processes in historical environments are the next topics to be discussed. The discussion of urban – identity – change relationship is also inserted in this section. Cities, as patterns of the complex systems, are in constant change and transformation. Obsolescent, decayed urban patterns formed over time, may need change and renewal. In this direction, additions to urban fabric in order to answer new needs may arise, while the obsolescent areas that have lost their function may need to be revitalized or transformed. Urban transformation is a process that exists in the nature of urban dynamics and yet it is possible to plan and take positive measures: it aims at improving the social, economic and spatial qualities of cities which have been distorted or lost due to various reasons. In the changing structure of the cities, the values of historical quarters, built heritage and urban identity are seen as the elements that should be taken into consideration. While urban identity is defined collectively as a meaningful whole with different layers over time, it can be changed by urban planning, conservation and similar practices. As concrete examples of cultural codes, architectural structures influence the identity of the individuals and societies who experience them, conversely, environmental information can also be affected and modified by the users. In parallel with the changes in the urban environment and the elements that make up the identity of the city as a specific structure, the existing values of the city and the integration of new data input make it possible for the identity to redefine, shape and transform itself. Historical environments are consistent structures, which are defined by their traditional character and architectural values thus have a special place among cultural and historical heritage. Cultural heritage, relatedly historical environments, are increasingly threatened – not only by the usual causes of corruption – by the changing social and economic conditions which can worsen the situation with damage or destruction that is more difficult to overcome. Therefore, urban identity with its physical, historical, socio-cultural, economic, and functional components must be assessed together with the meanings attributed to it through a process of development from the past to the future. The third section of the thesis is about the fieldwork which is conducted in Perşembe Pazarı. After the locational description of the study area, the historical process and the urban thresholds as an analysis method for tracing urban change, are addressed. Also the urban renewal project of Perşembe Pazarı is referred with the analysis, strategies and proposals derived from the documents of the municipalty in this section. Perşembe Pazarı was declared as a "protected area" in 1992 afterwards as a "renewal area" in 2010, following by the works performed by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), such as Perşembe Pazarı Cultural Heritage Development Strategic Plan (2016), Social Impact Assessment Report (2017) and Design Principles Guideline (2017), however, the areas renewal status has remained uncertain until today. Previous studies related to the subject or made in the same field were examined and the obtained data were evaluated. The aerial photographs, maps, photographs were examined as well as observations conducted in the area. Maps from the past and the daily maps and aerial photographs of the area, former and current situation photos from the site visits were also scanned and analyzed comparatively by making doble-exposure analysis in order to find out the traces of the urban change. Examinations of the environment were also executed with the visits for the study area. Furthermore, in order to shed light to the perception of the study area by the users and to the elements of it's urban identity and also to the effects of urban change on urban identity specific to the study area were designated by making depth interviews with tradesmen and artisans as the users of Perşembe Pazarı. It has become clear that, hosting commercial and industrial activities throughout the history and being the center of the learning business has importance in the urban identity of the Perşembe Pazarı, which was underlined constantly by the focus of tradesmen in manufacturing, in commercial activity, for those who perform these activities and on social environment during interviews. Perşembe Pazarı is defined as a place with full of historical values as the oldest commercial center of the city and this place is seen as an ecole where life itself – with all the aspects including the commercial life – is learned and it has become a hub for those who would like to discover the real life, and where they do not want to leave. The fourth and the last section is the conclusion part of the thesis. The general outcomes are summarized and negotiated. As it can be found in the theoretical framework of the study, perceptibility and comprehensibility, the ability to relate to the city and to establish attachment to the city, the elements that give meaning to the identity of a city, while the physical, historical, socio-cultural, economic, and functional components of urban identity, which should be considered in a process of development from the past towards the future. Historical urban quarters are the centers of social, economic and cultural life of the cities in which they exist. Historic buildings, as well as unique urban forms and urban textures, have a variety of possibilities for designating the identity, as well as having a particular characteristic attributed to the past experiences. It can be said that, historical quarters are rich in identity with their assets that show the qualities of accumulated experience and practices. The sustainability of urban environments can be ensured by the continuity of the identity in the change processes of the cities. If the intervention finds its place, it allows the existing one to be seen with another eye, but when the elements of the city and the requirements of the time are not integrated in the appropriate physical environments and the new data disrupts the sense of the place,which may also lead to the loss of identity. The urban environment may have a particular characteristic attributed to former experiences from the past, current events or existing facilities, and this becomes one of the basic dimensions of the identity of that place; in the case of the Perşembe Pazarı, this situation is the commercial activity. The tradesmen and artisans who are in the business of the hardware trading and manufacturing are the outstanding elements in this place. Today, in the context of the transformation of historical environments, identity has to be considered as a comprehensive subject and understanding for the creation of new places and built environments, and new consumption economies encourage areas such as Perşembe Pazarı especially for tourism-oriented marketing and branding. The historical and commercial identity of Perşembe Pazarı, should be considered as a comprehensive issue and should be perceived in terms of a new destinations intended to be created for the future; the references to the history of the area and the perception of the layers they include, the meanings of the people using it as well as the sustainability of the relationship they established, become very important in terms of the urban identity of the Perşembe Pazarı.