20. Yüzyılın Sonlarında Aksaray Tarihi Kent Merkezinin Dönüşümü

Abstract

Tarihi kent merkezlerinin, kültürel belleğin, mekânsal kimliğin ve toplumsal gelişimin birikimli katmanlarını yansıtan karmaşık yapılar olduğu bilinmektedir. Aksaray’da, başlangıçta bir kale yerleşimi etrafında şekillenen tarihi çekirdek, son yıllarda belirgin bir morfolojik dönüşüm geçirmiştir. Kentsel dokunun fiziksel yapısı; hızlı kentleşme, değişen imar politikaları ve eşgüdümsüz gelişim baskıları gibi dinamikler doğrultusunda yeniden biçimlenmiştir. Geleneksel sokak örüntüleri, avlulu konut tipolojileri ve tarihî ticaret alanları zaman içinde yoğun, çok katlı yapılaşmalarla yer değiştirmiş ve bu durum alanın özgün mekânsal karakterinin zayıflamasına neden olmuştur. Bu çalışma, Aksaray’ın tarihi kent merkezinde 20. yüzyıl ortasından günümüze kadar ortaya çıkan dönüşümü; tarihî haritalar, hava fotoğrafları ve planlama belgeleri aracılığıyla gerçekleştirilen biçimsel bir analizle incelemektedir. Yapı tipolojilerindeki, arazi kullanımındaki ve mekânsal organizasyondaki değişimler izlenerek, ardışık planlama kararlarının özgün kentsel dokunun aşınmasına nasıl katkı sunduğu ortaya konulmaktadır. Araştırma, dini, idari, ticari ve konut işlevlerinden oluşan dört temel bölgeyi ele alarak morfolojik değişimin farklı ancak birbirine bağlı biçimlerini değerlendirmektedir. Bulgular, tarihî merkezin bir zamanlar sahip olduğu kompakt ve insan ölçekli kentsel formdan belirgin bir kopuşa işaret etmektedir. Güncel durumda alan; parçalı mekânsal örüntüler, değişken yapı yükseklikleri ve zayıflamış tarihsel süreklilik ile karakterize olmaktadır. Çalışma, tarihi kentsel morfolojinin geleceğe yönelik planlama süreçlerini yönlendirmedeki temel önemini vurgulamakta; özgün yerleşim örüntülerinin ve geleneksel mekânsal biçimlerin korunmasının sürdürülebilir canlandırma ve Aksaray’ın kültürel kimliğinin sürdürülmesi açısından kritik olduğunu belirtmektedir.

Keywords

• Aksaray
• Kentsel Yeniden Canlandırma
• Koruma ve Yenileme

Transformation of Aksaray’s Historic Center in the Late 20th Century

Abstract

Historic city centers have been shown to contain layered expressions of cultural memory, spatial identity, and social development. In Aksaray, the historic core – originally organized around a fortress settlement – has undergone significant morphological change over the past several decades. The physical structure of the city has been shaped by a number of factors, including rapid urbanization, evolving zoning regulations, and uncoordinated development pressures. Traditional street networks, courtyard-based residential patterns, and historic commercial clusters have gradually been replaced by dense multi-story construction, thereby altering the area's spatial character. This study examines the transformation of Aksaray's historic city center from the mid-20th century to the present using morphological analysis supported by historical maps, aerial photographs, and planning documents. By tracing alterations in building typologies, land use, and spatial organization, the research identifies how cumulative planning decisions contributed to the erosion of the original urban fabric. The study analyses four key zones – religious, administrative, commercial, and residential – to reveal distinct yet interconnected forms of morphological change. The findings indicate a clear departure from the compact and human-scaled urban form that once defined the historic center. The area is now characterized by fragmented spatial patterns, inconsistent building heights, and weakened historical continuity. The study highlights the essential role of historic urban morphology in guiding future planning. Preserving original settlement patterns and traditional spatial forms are vital for sustainable revitalization and maintaining Aksaray’s cultural identity.

Keywords

• Aksaray
• Urban revitalization
• conservation and renewal

References

1. Akkar, Z. M. (2006). Concepts, definitions, processes, and urban transformation in the West and Turkey. Journal of Planning, 2006(2), 29–38.
2. Aksaray Governorate. (2008). Aksaray Environmental Status Report 2007–2008. Aksaray Governorate Provincial Environment and Forestry Directorate, Aksaray.
3. Aksaray Governorate. (2010). Ten Thousand Years of Cultural City Aksaray. Aksaray Governorate Publications, Aksaray.
4. Aksaray Municipality. (2004). Revised zoning plan report and urban conservation decisions plan note. Urban and Regional Planning Department, Selçuk University & Municipal Zoning and Urbanism Directorate Archive, Aksaray.
5. Aksaray Municipality. (2020). Zoning and Urbanism Directorate Archive. Aksaray.
6. Anıl, M. (2007). The effects of tourism phenomenon on design and conservation relationships in historical areas: Bodrum example (Thesis No: 213091). [Master’s thesis, Dokuz Eylül University]. YÖK Thesis Center.
7. Arabacıoğlu, F. P., & Aydemir, I. (2007). The concept of re-evaluation in historical environments. YTÜ Architecture Faculty E-Journal, 2(4), 204–213.
8. Bal, B. (2009). Policies for determining the historical identity of Trabzon. [Bachelor’s thesis, Karadeniz Technical University, Urban and Regional Planning Department, Trabzon].

9. Can, S. A., & Uyguralp, Ö. (2022). New building/addition and context relationship in historical environments. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Graduate School of Science, 13(1), 27–39.
10. Cohen, N. (1999). Urban Conservation. The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
11. Çatalbaş, F. (2011). Spatial and socio-economic impacts of urban transformation projects: The case of Sur inside the Diyarbakır Province. (Thesis No: 312021). [Master’s thesis, Ankara University].
12. Çetin, R. Z. (2012). An evaluation of revitalization policies in historical city centers: The case of İzmir Kemeraltı. (Thesis No: 328383). [Master’s thesis, Dokuz Eylül University].
13. Çetin, R. Z., & Sönmez, İ. Ö. (2014). Strategies for revitalization in historical city centers. Ege Architecture Journal, September, 18.
14. Deniz, B. (2015). “Aksaray Castle” titled symposium paper. Atatürk Language and History High Institute, Atatürk Culture Center Presidency.
15. Donnison, D. (1993). The challenge of urban regeneration for community development. Community Development Journal, 28(4), 293–298. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/28.4.293
16. Erdal, Z. (2014). Turkish period architecture in Aksaray. (Thesis No: 381327). [Doctoral dissertation, Yüzüncü Yıl University].
17. Erdal, Z., Gül, M. F., & Özdil, O. (2017). Aksaray Ulu Mosque. Aksaray Municipality Publications No: 14, Aksaray.
18. Erder, S. (1996). İstanbul’a bir kent kondu: Ümraniye. İletişim Publications.
19. Erdoğan, A., & Özkök, M. K. (2017). The applicability of a detailed conservation potential matrix in urban conservation. METU Journal of the Faculty of Architecture, 34(2), 93–116. https://doi.org/10.4305/METU.JFA.2017.2.6
20. Eriçok, A. K. (2015). The impact of planning studies and urban transformation practices in Bursa on the development of its historical city center. Proceedings of the 1st International Urban Studies Congress, 780–803.
21. Gençoğlu, I. Z. (2018). Re-functionalization in the conservation of historical monumental structures. (Thesis No: 514930). [Doctoral dissertation, Beykent University].
22. Görür, M. (1991). Anatolian Seljuk and Beylik periods of Aksaray city. (Thesis No: 19182). [Master’s thesis, Hacettepe University].
23. Gül, M. F. (2012). Timeless Aksaray Photographs. Aksaray Chamber of Commerce and Industry Publications.
24. Gül, M. F. (2020). A Walk Through Aksaray in the Nostalgia Garden. Aksaray Municipality Publications.
25. Günaydın, A. S., & Altunkasa, M. F. (2019). Determining the preservation and development strategies for historical city centers: Gaziantep example. Bingöl University Journal of Social Sciences Institute, 9(17), 53–70.
26. Hasol, D. (1995). Encyclopedic Architecture Dictionary (6th ed.). Yapı-Endüstri Merkezi Publications, Istanbul.
27. Karpat, K. H. (1976). The Shanty Town sof Turkey: Rural migration and urbanization. International Journal of Middle East Studies, 7(2), 230–254. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020743800023337
28. Keleş, R. (2017). Kentleşme politikası. İmge Publishing, Ankara.
29. Konyalı, İ. H. (1974). History of Aksaray (Vol. I). Aksaray.
30. Kuban, D. (1994). Istanbul experienced a sudden collapse as a city. Cumhuriyet Science and Technology, 9(10), 8.
31. Kuban, D. (2000). Tarihi İstanbul: Mimarlık kültür tarihi araştırmaları. Yapı Kredi Publications, Istanbul.
32. Lichfield, N. (1992). The integration of environmental assessment with development planning, Part I. Project Appraisal, 7(2), 58–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/02688867.1992.9726843
33. Öncü, A., & Weyland, P. (Eds.). (1997). Space, culture and power: New identities in globalizing cities. Zed Books, London.
34. Sekban, F. S. (2019). Management experiences in urban cultural heritage areas. (Thesis No: 601990). [Doctoral dissertation, FSM University].
35. Şişman, A., & Kibaroğlu, D. (2009). Urban transformation practices in the world and Turkey. TMMOB 12th Turkey Mapping Scientific and Technical Congress, Ankara.
36. Thomas, S. (2003). A glossary of regeneration and local economic development. Local Economic Strategy Center, Manchester.
37. Topal, N. (2009). The city of Aksaray during the Anatolian Seljuks. Aksaray Governorate Cultural Publications No: 2.
38. Tümertekin, E., & Özgüç, N. (2009). Beşeri coğrafya: İnsan–kültür–çevre. Çantay Publishing, Istanbul.
39. Türkmen, Ö. (2018). Sustainability in urban transformation practices. [Master’s thesis, Near East University].
40. Ünlü, T. (2009). Designing the urban transformation process: Tarsus historical city center. Planning Journal, (3–4), 145–157.
41. White, B. J., & Roddewig, R. J. (1994). Preparing a Historic Preservation Plan (PAS 450). APA Publications, Chicago.
42. Yazgan, M. E., & Erdoğan, E. (1992). Landscape planning in historical environments. Landscape Architecture Association Publications, Ankara.
43. Yenice, T. K. (2012). A methodological study on the preservation of traditional Aksaray houses. (Thesis No: 315869). [Doctoral dissertation, Selçuk University].
44. Zakar, L. (2018). A proposed model to evaluate structural integration performance. (Thesis No: 530334). [Doctoral dissertation, MSGSÜ].