Urban Heterotopia: Different and Other Spaces of İstanbul

Abstract

The concept of heterotopia, introduced by French philosopher Michel Foucault, refers to a spatial situation in which different, opposing, and incompatible forms can live together in the same space. With its cosmopolitan structure, Istanbul provides a rich study ground regarding heterotopic spaces. This study discusses the heterotopia spaces of Istanbul through different examples. The Fener-Balat district was chosen as the space of different ethnic and religious groups; Siirt Kadınlar Pazarı as the spatial reflection of internal migration; Fatih Çarşamba District as the space of conservative groups; Istiklal Street and Taksim Square as the center of cosmopolitanism, demonstrations, and protests; Moda and Yeldeğirmeni as a place of escapism; and finally, Karacaahmet Cemetery, the oldest and largest cemetery in Istanbul, as the space of the dead. The heterotopia spaces in the study were defined on the basis of the researchers’ 20 years of experience in Istanbul and field research conducted in different parts of the city. After defining the spaces, the participant-observer technique was used in these areas. The comments made on the digital media Google Reviews and Tripadvisor were analyzed to increase the study’s reliability. In the study, it was understood that the comments made in the digital media primarily reflected the heterotopic characteristics of the identified places.

Keywords

• heterotopia
• istanbul
• urban geography