Abstract
Capital cities have a major role in carrying the symbolic meanings of their countries. Planning decisions and historical periods affect their urban forms and development processes. This research examines the morphological evaluation of Ankara—the capital city of Turkey—and provides an approach to understanding its unique physical structure. Ankara has witnessed strategically important planning periods through its history that are reflected in its urban form. The historical periods affecting the developing process of the capital city are analyzed through a mathematical method called "Space Syntax" which contributes to the field of urban morphology with a quantitative perspective. The analytical framework investigates the changing process of Ankara's unique urban axis and morphological structure. Its different historical periods show that the capital city is constantly changing. Ankara's monumental city axis, which shows its traces since the formation of the city, still exists today. However, this unique axis, which connects the historical core areas of the capital city, has lost its potential today. Due to economic and political demands, the main axis, namely Atatürk Boulevard, has been replaced by a newly formed western artery. Understanding Ankara's forming and changing process will enhance its subsequent development plans. By evaluating a unique capital city from Turkey with a morphological perspective, this research will contribute an approach to future studies.
Highlights
The phenomenon of urban change is one of the most significant issues to evaluate a city's evolving process from past to present
This study considers the special period as a breaking point for the evolution of Ankara’s morphological structure (Figure 3)
By focusing on the physical evaluation of the periods that affect the city's urban development in light of a mathematical method, this research aimed to define the change in the urban system
Summary
The phenomenon of urban change is one of the most significant issues to evaluate a city's evolving process from past to present. Planning and design decisions developed for cities are the main factors that contribute to the changing process. These strategic decisions affect the city formation on macro to micro scales. As cities develop and grow, the morphological character of the city changes and capital cities have the central role affected by this change. Each capital city in the world has different historical, economic, cultural, and political backgrounds, and the city form is evolved around the effects of these processes. Urban morphology provides a multi-disciplined research area by examining the reflections of these effects on the urban form.
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