Memory-linked placemaking in urban heritage places: İstiklal (jewish) Quarter, Ankara


Thesis Type: Postgraduate

Institution Of The Thesis: Middle East Technical University, Faculty Of Architecture, Department Of Architecture, Turkey

Approval Date: 2024

Thesis Language: English

Student: EDA VARDAR

Principal Supervisor (For Co-Supervisor Theses): Özgün Özçakır

Co-Supervisor: Ayşe Güliz Bilgin Altınöz

Abstract:

Memories formed by people’s experiences in the place reveal insights about how the built environment is identified with people. These memories are reshaped in time with the uses and meanings attributed by people to the physical environment in urban heritage places. The changes both at the physical and social levels require re-understanding, re-considering, and re-evaluating these relationships from today’s perspective. In this sense, the thesis aims to consider memory and memory places linked with the placemaking approach to understanding the evolving relationships in urban heritage places. 

The İstiklal (Jewish) Quarter in Ankara chosen as the case study area, comprises layers of meanings over time formed by diverse communities, cultural frames, social backgrounds and memory practices. Social and physical transformations over time have led to physical deterioration processes in the built environment, which have resulted in a decrease in usage. The change in the relationship between people, place and memory in the İstiklal (Jewish) Quarter is a reflection of all these physical and social changes that have occurred. 

In this context, the thesis primarily focuses on the reflections and discussions of the concepts of memory and placemaking in urban heritage places. Afterward, the process of understanding the physical and social transformation of the İstiklal (Jewish) Quarter from past to present covers the literature review, archival research and field study which includes observations and in-depth interviews. Finally, the policies, strategies and actions to be developed as part of the conservation process of the İstiklal (Jewish) Quarter are addressed with the memory-linked placemaking approach.