Evaluating the effects of historical urban landscape on the Van city identity

Urbanization pressure poses a threat to historical urban landscapes, which are important determinants of urban identity. These landscapes are important cultural landscapes that are common works of nature and human. Historical urban landscapes (HUL) give the city a unique identity and memory. According to European Landscape Convention, the sustainability of urban identity is made by evaluating the historical landscape character, with the management, protection and planning of the historical cultural heritage sites, it is possible to transfer the city to the future. According to the UNESCO Recommendation Landscape Decision, it is said that these landscapes should be evaluated with a holistic approachwith its environment. In this way, historical urban landscapes can be adopted and considered in urban identity. In this study, is aimed to investigate the effects of historical urban landscapes on the urban identity, in Van citywhich hosted various civilizations such as Urartu, Seljuk and Ottoman. In the research, literature review survey was conducted, and after the expert assessment historical urban landscape areas was selected and used in the survey.The survey was conducted with 410 people by a user-oriented approach andinterviewed with the local families of Van over 60 years old. In this way images of city, identity places and memory places collected from participants. From holistic point of view, historical urban landscapes are dominant elements in Van city's urban identity. In this sense some suggestions have been developed for the purpose of conservation and development for sustainability of HUL elements tie past to the future.