Place Diagnosis Before Transformation: Case of Fener-Balat

Abstract

Autochthonous places are sui generis and unique. But unfortunately, they entice planners and politicians and become their target. This study investigates a more than 2,000 years old settlement, Fener-Balat (Istanbul), in terms of topos (its population movements and ethnic structure over the years, physical properties) and chora (feelings, emotions, and aura). It employs multiple research techniques that disclose findings on dimensional and typo-morphological qualities (connectivity, accessibility, legibility, walkability, figure/ground, and other identity properties such as district-edge-nodes-paths-landmarks), historical and cultural palimpsests, which altogether define the uniqueness of the place. The present study claims that the Fener-Balat district is defined as a strong “place” with its “topos,” and “chora,” despite the undesirable physical, social, and ethnic structure changes brought about by time. Thus, it proposes a soft method that includes renovation and restoration of problem buildings on site which is more suitable for the unique protected areas of world civilizations.