The Evolution of Eskişehir: A Cultural, Policy, and Infrastructure-Driven Urban Transformation

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 127 - 150, 26.12.2025

Beyza Karadeniz

https://doi.org/10.47478/lectio.1796489

Abstract

This study examines Eskişehir’s transformation from an agro-industrial center into a livable urban region. It aims to identify the historical, spatial, and socioeconomic processes that have shaped the city’s urban form from its early industrial development to the present. The analysis adopts a multidimensional approach, combining historical research, policy review, and urban morphological analysis to trace the key phases of change. Particular attention is given to the industrial expansion of the mid-twentieth century, the growing role of higher education from the 1980s onward, and the establishment of the Organized Industrial District as a major driver of spatial growth. The findings show that macro-level investments, municipal governance, and planning decisions have played a decisive role in reconfiguring Eskişehir’s urban structure, while major infrastructure projects, such as the introduction of high-speed rail in 2009, have strengthened regional connectivity and functional integration. At the same time, the study highlights the limits of this transformation, including environmental pressures, land-use conflicts, and social challenges linked to regeneration processes. By focusing on a mid-sized Anatolian city, this study contributes to broader discussions on urban transitions by demonstrating how national policies and local initiatives interact to shape contemporary urban regions in Türkiye.

Keywords

urban history , urban development , national policies , sustainable urban growth , local governance

Ethical Statement

This paper did not require ethics approval because it used publicly available secondary data and did not involve direct interaction with human participants.

Thanks

The author would like to thank the Class of 2025 of the City and Regional Planning undergraduate program at Karadeniz Technical University for their participation in the 15-day analytical studies conducted in Eskişehir, during which various documents and research materials were consulted.

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