Understanding Yedikule Urban Gardens as an “interstitial space”: The potential of commons to transform an "undefined” urban space

Date

2023-11-24

Author

Turgut, Melissa

Metadata

Show full item record

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Item Usage Stats

528
views

987
downloads

Cite This

This research presents a critical examination of traditional urban planning approaches, arguing that the rigid urban oppositions fall short in comprehensively capturing the intricate nature of urban (public) spaces today. To address this limitation, the study introduces and explains the concepts of "interstitial space" and “the commons” as alternative frameworks. Adopting a multiscalar approach, the exploration of interstitial space seeks to merge the diverse interpretations of "undefined spaces" prevalent in existing literature, aiming for an encompassing definition that integrates the social and spatial qualities of urban spaces that are usually associated with the “other” users. The Yedikule Urban Gardens in Istanbul, situated within and along the historical Land Walls of the city, serves as a pertinent case study. This urban agricultural area has a complex, multi-layered structure and a historical narrative full of transformations. Despite its rich heritage, the site has been marginalized and rendered invisible in contemporary urban life. The research investigates the potential of Yedikule Urban Gardens as an interstitial space to undergo transformation through commoning processes. By assessing the interplay of socio-spatial qualities and a diverse actor schema, the study aims to ascertain whether the site can be reintegrated into city life through communal efforts, thereby revitalizing its role as an active and dynamic space. By exploring the theoretical concepts, the research explores Yedikule Urban Gardens from a multiscalar perspective: "Land Walls" at the macro scale, "Yedikule's immediate surroundings" at the meso scale and "Yedikule Urban Gardens" at the micro scale. Utilizing archival study, on-site observations and expert interviews, the study critically analyzes the findings to contribute to the discussions on the theory of undefined (public) spaces. The result offers insights into the revitalization of neglected urban areas and fosters a deeper understanding of the dynamics involved in such transformative processes as commons.

Subject Keywords

Interstitial Space, Commons, Urban Oppositions, Yedikule Urban Gardens

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/106423

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis