The Impact of the Built Environment on Immigrant Folk Culture: The Case of Harringay/London

Abstract

The lives of people who migrate from one place to another for social and economic reasons are reshaped according to their new environment. In this context, this study aims to investigate the effect of the built environment on the sense of belonging of people living in a country other than their homeland for different reasons. The study conducted in this area, a neighborhood named Harringay in London, covers the built environment and its residents, which are produced in a place different from the cultural, social and economic order they are used to. In the field study conducted with the population living here, this environment where residents live is questioned through the concepts of ‘place, belonging, and identity’. As a result of the subjective questions posed to the residents, conclusions are reached by using observation and interview techniques, which are data collection methods from qualitative research methods. In line with the answers received from the residents, sociocultural and physical inferences were made from the interview data. The qualities of the physical environment produced in the diaspora were questioned through the sense of belonging.

Keywords

• Environment
• Physical environment
• Immigrant
• Culture
• Harringay

Ethical Statement

This research was carried out with the permission of the Karadeniz Technical University Rectorate Science and Engineering Ethics Committee dated 4 November 2025 and numbered E-26014373-050.01.04-735177.

Yapılı Çevrenin Göçmen Kültürü Üzerindeki Etkisi: Harringay/Londra Örneği

Abstract

Sosyal ve ekonomik nedenlerle bir yerden başka bir yere göç eden insanların yaşamları, bulundukları yeni çevreye göre yeniden şekillenir. Bu bağlamda bu çalışma, çeşitli nedenlerle anavatanları dışında bir ülkede yaşayan bireylerin aidiyet duygusu üzerinde yapılı çevrenin etkisini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma, Londra’da bulunan Harringay adlı bölgede gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu bölge, sakinlerinin alışık olduğu kültürel, sosyal ve ekonomik düzenden farklı bir ortamda üretilmiş yapılı çevreyi ve burada yaşayan topluluğu kapsamaktadır. Alan çalışmasında, burada yaşayan göçmen toplulukla birlikte ‘mekân, aidiyet ve kimlik’ kavramları üzerinden yaşadıkları çevre sorgulanmıştır. Katılımcılara yöneltilen öznel sorular doğrultusunda, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden biri olan gözlem ve görüşme teknikleri kullanılarak veriler elde edilmiştir. Görüşmeler sonucunda elde edilen cevaplar doğrultusunda sosyokültürel ve fiziksel çıkarımlarda bulunulmuştur. Diaspora bağlamında üretilen fiziksel çevrenin özellikleri, aidiyet duygusu üzerinden değerlendirilmiştir.

Keywords

• Yapılı çevre
• Fiziksel çevre
• Göçmen
• Kültür
• Harringay

Ethical Statement

Bu araştırma, 4 Kasım 2025 tarihli ve E-26014373-050.01.04-735177 sayılı Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Rektörlüğü Bilim ve Mühendislik Etik Kurulu’nun izniyle gerçekleştirilmiştir.

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