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Analysis of Urban Identity of a Palimpsest City: Bursa City Center as a Case

Year 2017, Volume:13 Special Issue:1, 1 - 14, 20.11.2017

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Urban identity,  as a distinctive characteristic of
each city, can be defined as the sum of tangible and intangible values of the
city. Globalization and economic concerns increased the emphasis on the concept
of urban identity by promoting the unique cultural values of the city. In
recent years, local governments have been carrying out studies in order to
uncover the distinctive urban environments symbolizing the different periods of
the city. As a result of these studies, the concept of urban identity is often
on the agenda.

Bursa, as the fourth biggest city in Turkey, is among
the cities that preserved its palimpsest structure. The city witnessed several
civilizations such as Bithynian, Roman and Byzantine, until it was conquered by
Ottomans in 1326. During Ottoman period, with a unique urban settlement idea,
the boundaries of the city began to be shaped and the city preserved its
pattern until the 19th century. In the second half of the 20th century
depending on industrialization, immigration and globalization urban areas began
to increase towards peripheries. While Bursa was affected from these
developments, historic city center sustained its location and character with
minor changes until now. Depending on its tangible values, the city has been
included in UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.







The historical urban layers that continue to exist in
the city center still have a strong influence in the definition of urban
identity of Bursa. The aim of the study is to evaluate the transformation of
urban identity in the historical city center of Bursa under the forces of
various thresholds. In the content of this study, in order to understand how
these thresholds affected the city center, a comparative study is carried out
by using city maps, planning notes and visual materials. The findings of the
study have revealed that urban environments shaping the collective memory of the
city are still part of the urban daily life, although the city center has been
subjected to several transformations throughout history.   

References

  • Alver, K. (2011). Apartman; Yeni Ev, Yeni Hayat (Apartment: New house, new life). Mostar Aylık Kültür ve Aktüalite Dergisi, 74.
  • Cakici, S. (2009). 100 Yıllık Planlama Sürecinde Bursa Ticaret Merkezi’nin Değişimi ve Koru(N)Ma Kararları (1890-1990) (Preservation decisions and changing of the trade center of Bursa in planning process of a hundred years (1890-1990)). Dosya 2009, 14, p.21-28.
  • Dostoğlu, N. (1999). Bursa’da Orhangazi Meydanı ve Arolatlar’ın Katkısı (Orhangazi Square in Bursa and the Contribution of Arolats), Mimar-Anlam-Beğeni, Ed. G. Güvenç, YEM Yayınları, İstanbul, p.86-95.
  • Dostoğlu, N., Vural, T. 2002. “The Role of Western Planners in the Transformation of Bursa from a Traditional Ottoman City to a Metropolitan Center of the Turkish Republic”, Turgut, H. ve Kellett, P. (eds.) Traditional Environments in a New Millenium: Second International Symposium of IAPS-CSBE Network; 20-23 June 2001 Amasya: 239-245.
  • Dostoğlu, N., Vural, T. (2004) “Lörcher, Prost ve Piccinato’nun Bursa’daki Kentsel Gelişime Katkıları” (The Contribution of Lorcher, Prost and Piccinato to the urban development of Bursa), Bursa’da Yaşam Journal: 122-126.
  • Erder, L. (1975). Factory Districts in Bursa during the 1860's. METU Journal of Architecture, 1(1), 85-96.
  • Kağıtçıbaşı, E., & Yaşar, E. (2016). Bursa'nın ekonomi tarihi, 1960-2014 (The History of Economy in Bursa 1960-2014) Bursa Ticaret ve Sanayi Odası Publications, Bursa.
  • Kaprol, T. (2002). Cumhuriyet Sonrası 1930-1950 Yılları Arasında Bursa’da Mimari Gelişim (Architectural Development in Bursa after the establishment of Turkish Republic from 1930 to 1950). Journal of Uludağ University Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, 7(1), p.171-184.
  • Koo, Y. M. 2009. An Analogy Of Palimpsest as a Strategy Transforming Urban Structure Into Architectural Discourse - Focused On Dominique Perrault’s Architecture of Strata,The 4th International Conference of the International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU) 2009 Amsterdam
  • Shakur, T., Hafiz, R., Vural Arslan, T., & Cahantimur, A. (2012). Economy and Culture in Transitions: A Comparative Study of Two Architectural Heritage Sites of Bazaars and Hans of Bursa and Dhakka. ArchNet-IJAR: ınternational Journal of Architectural research, 6(3): 91-108.
  • Tekeli, İ. (2011). Geleneksel Değerler Evlerde de Apartmanlarda da Üretilebilir (Traditional values can be produced in both traditional houses and new apartments). Mostar Aylık Kültür ve Aktüalite Dergisi, 74.
  • Vural, T. (2007). Tarihsel Sureklilik Icinde Bursa Kapalicarsi ve Hanlar Bolgesi (Bursa Covered Bazaar and Khan's District in Historical Continuity). In: C. Ciftci, Bursa'nin Kentsel ve Mimari Gelisimi (Urban and Architectural Develeopment of Bursa) (s. 289-309). Bursa: Gaye Publications.

ANALYSIS OF URBAN IDENTITY OF A PALIMPSEST CITY: BURSA CITY CENTER AS A CASE

Year 2017, Volume:13 Special Issue:1, 1 - 14, 20.11.2017

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Urban identity, as a distinctive characteristic of
each city, can be defined as the sum of tangible and intangible values of the
city. Globalization and economic concerns increased the emphasis on the concept
of urban identity by promoting the unique cultural values of the city. In
recent years, local governments have been carrying out studies in order to
uncover the distinctive urban environments symbolizing the different periods of
the city. As a result of these studies, the concept of urban identity is often
on the agenda.

Bursa, as the fourth biggest city in Turkey, is among
the cities that preserved its palimpsest structure. The city witnessed several
civilizations such as Bithynian, Roman and Byzantine, until it was conquered by
Ottomans in 1326. During Ottoman period, with a unique urban settlement idea,
the boundaries of the city began to be shaped and the city preserved its
pattern until the 19th century. In the second half of the 20th century
depending on industrialization, immigration and globalization urban areas began
to increase towards peripheries. While Bursa was affected from these
developments, historic city center sustained its location and character with
minor changes until now. Depending on its tangible values, the city has been
included in UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.







The historical urban layers that continue to exist in
the city center still have a strong influence in the definition of urban
identity of Bursa. The aim of the study is to evaluate the transformation of
urban identity in the historical city center of Bursa under the forces of
various thresholds. In the content of this study, in order to understand how
these thresholds affected the city center, a comparative study is carried out
by using city maps, planning notes and visual materials. The findings of the
study have revealed that urban environments shaping the collective memory of the
city are still part of the urban daily life, although the city center has been
subjected to several transformations throughout history.

References

  • Alver, K. (2011). Apartman; Yeni Ev, Yeni Hayat (Apartment: New house, new life). Mostar Aylık Kültür ve Aktüalite Dergisi, 74.
  • Cakici, S. (2009). 100 Yıllık Planlama Sürecinde Bursa Ticaret Merkezi’nin Değişimi ve Koru(N)Ma Kararları (1890-1990) (Preservation decisions and changing of the trade center of Bursa in planning process of a hundred years (1890-1990)). Dosya 2009, 14, p.21-28.
  • Dostoğlu, N. (1999). Bursa’da Orhangazi Meydanı ve Arolatlar’ın Katkısı (Orhangazi Square in Bursa and the Contribution of Arolats), Mimar-Anlam-Beğeni, Ed. G. Güvenç, YEM Yayınları, İstanbul, p.86-95.
  • Dostoğlu, N., Vural, T. 2002. “The Role of Western Planners in the Transformation of Bursa from a Traditional Ottoman City to a Metropolitan Center of the Turkish Republic”, Turgut, H. ve Kellett, P. (eds.) Traditional Environments in a New Millenium: Second International Symposium of IAPS-CSBE Network; 20-23 June 2001 Amasya: 239-245.
  • Dostoğlu, N., Vural, T. (2004) “Lörcher, Prost ve Piccinato’nun Bursa’daki Kentsel Gelişime Katkıları” (The Contribution of Lorcher, Prost and Piccinato to the urban development of Bursa), Bursa’da Yaşam Journal: 122-126.
  • Erder, L. (1975). Factory Districts in Bursa during the 1860's. METU Journal of Architecture, 1(1), 85-96.
  • Kağıtçıbaşı, E., & Yaşar, E. (2016). Bursa'nın ekonomi tarihi, 1960-2014 (The History of Economy in Bursa 1960-2014) Bursa Ticaret ve Sanayi Odası Publications, Bursa.
  • Kaprol, T. (2002). Cumhuriyet Sonrası 1930-1950 Yılları Arasında Bursa’da Mimari Gelişim (Architectural Development in Bursa after the establishment of Turkish Republic from 1930 to 1950). Journal of Uludağ University Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, 7(1), p.171-184.
  • Koo, Y. M. 2009. An Analogy Of Palimpsest as a Strategy Transforming Urban Structure Into Architectural Discourse - Focused On Dominique Perrault’s Architecture of Strata,The 4th International Conference of the International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU) 2009 Amsterdam
  • Shakur, T., Hafiz, R., Vural Arslan, T., & Cahantimur, A. (2012). Economy and Culture in Transitions: A Comparative Study of Two Architectural Heritage Sites of Bazaars and Hans of Bursa and Dhakka. ArchNet-IJAR: ınternational Journal of Architectural research, 6(3): 91-108.
  • Tekeli, İ. (2011). Geleneksel Değerler Evlerde de Apartmanlarda da Üretilebilir (Traditional values can be produced in both traditional houses and new apartments). Mostar Aylık Kültür ve Aktüalite Dergisi, 74.
  • Vural, T. (2007). Tarihsel Sureklilik Icinde Bursa Kapalicarsi ve Hanlar Bolgesi (Bursa Covered Bazaar and Khan's District in Historical Continuity). In: C. Ciftci, Bursa'nin Kentsel ve Mimari Gelisimi (Urban and Architectural Develeopment of Bursa) (s. 289-309). Bursa: Gaye Publications.
There are 12 citations in total.

Details

Journal Section Articles
Authors

Alper Gönül

Selen Durak

Tülin Vural Arslan

Publication Date November 20, 2017
Published in Issue Year 2017 Volume:13 Special Issue:1

Cite

APA Gönül, A., Durak, S., & Vural Arslan, T. (2017). ANALYSIS OF URBAN IDENTITY OF A PALIMPSEST CITY: BURSA CITY CENTER AS A CASE. Paradoks Ekonomi Sosyoloji Ve Politika Dergisi1-14.