Browsing by Author "Ozer,O."

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Citation Count: 6
Defining a strategical framework for urban pedestrianization projects: Assessment of walkability in 3 urban squares in Istanbul
(Sejong University Press, 2013) Kubat,A.S.; Ozer,O.; Ozbil,A.
There has been a growing interest in the transformation of major urban squares in Istanbul in recent years. This heightened trend in the urban renewal of prominent areas within the city has led to multiple pedestrianization projects aimed to revitalize urban cores in terms of infrastructure and pedestrian activity Despite their strategic schemes, these proposed projects lack an objective methodology to implement systematically at various scales. This paper focuses on the walkability of 3 historical urban squares in Istanbul by analyzing their street configuration and land use compositions and comparing it with the levels of pedestrian movement. The main objective of this study is to determine the existing relationship between space allocation and pedestrian activity and to assess the efficiency of proposed pedestrianization projects developed by local authorities for these areas. Overall, the analyses presented in this study emphasize the importance of measures of street connectivity in walkability studies. It is shown that street network configuration; measured using both metric and directional connectivity measures at the road-segment scale is strongly associated with pedestrian movement when controlling for land use compositions at the parcel-level. Based on the spatial analysis and statistical models produced for the research area, a pedestrian-oriented strategical framework that takes into account the existing spatial configuration, parcel-based land-use compositions, as well as pedestrian movement distributions within the areas is proposed for the study areas and their surroundings. With its systematic methodology, efficient spatial models, and strategical approach, this study is anticipated to be used as a unique design framework for prospective urban design and pedestrianization projects for Istanbul.
Citation Count: 2
The effects of spatial relations in property-led regeneration
(Space Syntax Laboratory, The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, 2015) Ozer,O.; Koramaz,T.K.; Koramaz,E.K.
In Turkey, since the entry of the Law on Redevelopment of Areas under Disaster Risk (Law No. 6306) into force in 2012, there has been a significant increase in the number of both property-led and area-based renewals. Property-led regeneration works as an invisible tool of a greater urban regeneration process that creates a broader impact on the city. Although the practice is comprised of singular constructions, as it reflects the renewal of individual buildings, it transforms the general appearance of the urban fabric. This transformation is not as sharp as it is in area-based urban regeneration practices, but still the individually renewed buildings dramatically affect the quality of urban space. The sole control of local authorities over this renewal process is the construction and utilisation permits they give. In spite of this uncontrolled and unplanned trend, these renewals seem to concentrate in certain areas occasionally, suggesting that there are some determinants. Particularly, the differentiation in areas which have similar building densities and construction permits is remarkable. This paper presents a part of a more comprehensive research that investigates the triggering factors and consequences of property-led regeneration. The entire central area of Bakirköy, Istanbul that has varying building densities and different settlement layouts has been selected for case study. Within the scope of this paper, the locations of individual renewals are analysed in terms of their spatial relations. This way, it is aimed to understand the role of spatial relations in property-led regenerations. By defining the factors that affect the locations of these individual constructions, it would be possible to predict the locations that have this tendency. We believe that such an approach would be of significant aid for the local authorities to take necessary precautions to direct this process which considerably affects the quality of urban space.
Citation Count: 1
Evaluating the impacts of an urban design project: Multi-phase Analyses of Taksim Square and Gezi Park, Istanbul
(Space Syntax Laboratory, The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, 2015) Kubat,A.S.; Ozer,O.; Gumru,F.B.; Argin,G.
Taksim, which is known as the heart of Istanbul, is not only the main centre of entertainment, retail and cultural activities, but it also functions as a connection node between the old and new central business districts of the city. Throughout history, Taksim has played an important role for both the city and the country as it was the 'host' of several major social events, while it sometimes was the direct 'subject' of these events. Taksim has long been the subject of debates on account of its unresolved pedestrian and vehicular traffic. In September 2011, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality approved a pedestrianisation project for Taksim. Despite the objections raised by professional organizations and civil protests, the area went under construction in order to build a tunnel system for vehicles, which would leave the surface above as a pedestrian-only platform, and to reconstruct a military barrack, which was once located in the place of Gezi Park but was demolished in the 1940s. The construction phase of the pedestrianisation project for Taksim Square was completed in 2013. However, the reconstruction of the replica barrack was cancelled upon the judgement of the court which was declared as the wave of demonstrations continued throughout the country. Currently, the underground tunnel system is open to traffic, Gezi Park remains as is with slight improvements, and Taksim Square, which is a vast concrete space, awaits for an urban design project. Considering that there would be a major change in the pedestrian activity in Taksim during the construction and after the implementation of such a significant pedestrianisation project, this three-phase research was designed in order to bring an insight on the relation between the spatial organization, and the volume and movement flow of pedestrians in the area before the municipality's pedestrianisation project was implemented (phase I), during the construction (phase II), and after the implementation of the pedestrianisation project (phase III). In order to quantify and analyse the volume and the flow of pedestrian movement in the area, gate counts were conducted for all three phases. After the launch of the construction, many of the roads (both pedestrian and vehicular) were blocked, and alternative routes were introduced to users. The changing spatial layouts of these three situations were represented in syntactic maps and were analysed to compare with the movement patterns. This paper explores the opportunities and challenges in taking a syntactic approach to the spatial analyses of different phases of the pedestrianisation project in the rapidly transforming political centre of Istanbul. The results of this paper, which were derived by using the tools offered by Space Syntax, demonstrate the effects of the changing spatial layout on pedestrian movement levels, and provide insight towards understanding the preferences of pedestrians when their usual choice of route is blocked and they are forced to use alternative paths. The paper also provides input for the urban design project which will be implemented in Taksim Square by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.