Case Study Istanbul 2011

The study area is located between Haliç Bridge (Golden Horn Bridge) and Unkapani Bridge. It includes the Northern and Southern shores of the estuary of Beyoglu and Fatih district, which at the present do not have a common planning and development strategy. The case study area is located in the area that corresponds with the ferry stops of Fener and Hasköy, and the former ferry stop of Balat.

 

 

Balat, today belongs to Fatih’s district, in the southern shore of Golden Horn, with once grand but now narrow impoverished streets. It is believed that the name Balat is probably derived from Greek word palation (palace). It was formerly a centre of Istanbul’s Jewish population. Following the earthquake of 1894 and a series of fires that affected not only the neighbourhood but the entire city of Istanbul, the social structure of Balat underwent significant changes: The wealthiest section of the inhabitants left the district and moved to Galata. Emigration continued and one fourth of the population of Balat left for Israel after its establishment. After this period, the Jewish population was reduced to a minority, and a new wave of immigrants arrived from the towns of the Northern Anatolian region, especially from Kastamonu. After the 1960s, Balat suffered a transformation of the urban structure due to the heavy influx of newcomers, especially a further group of working class people who were attracted by job prospects of the industry and the rather low rent. Not only Sephardi Jews, but also Greeks and Muslims lived together in Balat for years. Although Jewish and Greeks still live there, their population is quite few compared with Muslim population. All neighbourhoods are listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Sites. Ahrida and Yanbol Synagogues, Ferruh Kethüda Mosque, Balatkapi Taksiarhes Church are some examples of Balat’s architectural heritage. After the beginning of negotiation between Turkey and EU, unfortunately some houses in Balat were sold to EU citizens mostly from England and Germany. As a consequence, the price of houses increased suddenly and the local people began to leave their neighbourhood.

 

Fener is situated near Balat. Its name is derived from the Greek word phanar, fanari. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is located here. It was formerly one of the major centres of Istanbul’s Greek population, known as Phanariotes. The settlement structure changed in the 19th century. Prominent Greek families of Fener left the neighbourhood and moved to villages along the Bosphorus, such as Tarabya, Kuruçe?me and Arnavutköy. Until the 1960s, Fener preserved its identity as a Greek neighbourhood. At the end of the 19th century, the population structure started to change radically with the first wave of inhabitants immigrating to the bourgeois neighbourhoods of Istanbul (the Prince’s Islands, Kadiköy and Sisli). In the 1960s, a second emigration wave occurred, when the Greeks left Istanbul in large numbers. The deterioration of the characteristic waterfront as a result of industrialization had an impact on Fener as well. Following the 1960s, new inhabitants arriving from the Black Sea region started to settle in the area in large numbers. Today, mostly low-income families are living in here. Bulgarian Iron (St. Stephan) Church, Church of St. Mary of the Mongols and Fener Greek Orthodox College are among Fener’s architectural heritage.

 

Today, Fener and Balat are squeezed between city walls dating from the Byzantine period and hills surrounding the region in the other directions. Both quarters are not attractive because of the low visibility seen from the transit road and a lack of parking facilities. Fener and Balat are designed according to a unique road plan where a continuing array of streets intersect one another at perpendicular angles. The urban structure of the district is rather peculiar and can be traced to the division of plots following the fires that damaged the districts. The architectural uniqueness of the districts can be traced from the religious buildings and the facades projecting a harmonious view because of the bow windows. The height of buildings in the district varies between one and four storeys. Over half of the buildings date to the pre-1930 period and give the area its characteristic atmosphere. Following these buildings in the order of importance, are those built between 1930 and 1950, which continue this architectural characteristic but at the same time reflect the interesting features of the time period.

 

Hasköy, is a neighbourhood on the northern side of the Golden Horn in Beyo?lu district. The word Has-köy means “imperial village”. In the late 15th century, Sephardi Jews also settled in this quarter. The neighbourhood at one time also had many Armenian and Greek residents. Hasköy was a trading center for ages with dockyards and warehouses. The first Armenian theater company in Istanbul was opened there in 1858. Today, Taskizak Dockyard is located in Hasköy and many local people work here. Although it is an important place for Istanbul’s history, dwellers of Istanbul know very little about this neighbourhood. Aynalikavak Palace, Rahmi M. Koç Museum, Istanbul Naval Hospital are among some of the important architectural heritage of Hasköy. There are cemeteries in Hasköy that belongs to Muslims, Jewish, Greeks and Armenians.

 

While Hasköy and Fener have their own ferry pier connecting both shores, in Balat the former ferry pier is removed. Each opposite shore has similarities but also different characteristics. Although the southern shore is more residential compared with the northern shore, it is hardly possible to differentiate what is residential and what industrial. Especially in Hasköy there is mix-usage in many buildings. In Fener and Balat, we see many unique examples of residential architecture, however, only few of them are in good condition. One of the most common characteristics of each opposite shore is a high population density. The low-education and low-income level of the inhabitants have bad side-effects on the social participation and social commitment in the preservation and maintenance of the quarters.

 

It is expected from participants to find appropriate solutions to the following problems: Transportation (inadequate vehicle network, reorganization of ferry lines, insufficient pedestrian ways), Green public spaces and new uses (insufficient and new usage of green areas, disconnection between city and waterfronts), Cultural identity (insufficient usage of local resources, failure of social recognition, deterioration), Bottom-up synergies (social insecurity, deficiency in social participation and social commitment, Illegal settlements).