Changing Urban Pattern of Eminönü: Reproduction of Urban Space via Current Images and Function

Abstract

Considering the mixture of civilizations as one of the central locations of Istanbul, the Eminonü district has many different urban patterns related to its historical background. The Eminonü representing local Istanbul has always been a center for trade and production of traditional handcrafts throughout the history. However, the radical changes Istanbul encountered between the 19th and 20th century caused a transformation of its local context. By the 19th century, accepted as a period of modernization of Istanbul, the main commercial areas of Eminönü were transformed into modern office blocks, although conventional facades still fronted old-style courtyards. After planning arrangements in the republican era, Henry Prost’s plan directed changes to the urban pattern, aiming to create a new public square in Eminönü by the demolishing parasite buildings on the northern side of Yeni Valide Mosque. Considering the rapid urbanization period of the 20th century, Eminonü preserved its urban pattern despite its changing contents until today. So, it has become one of the rarest areas in Istanbul that still resists through time despite its daily-use. Therefore, focusing on the busiest areas of Eminonü, this paper aims to reveal the changing structure of its continuous urban fabric by daily participation of users. The case study consists of Eminönü Square and its connected areas such as the harbor, commercial areas, passing areas and other functional spaces. During the research process, the old maps of Istanbul-Eminonü have been examined, besides the observation of the current image of the place. The main purpose of the research is to remark on the relationships and contradictions between the historical urban pattern and the current image of the city. In this respect, Eminönü has been evaluated with its changing urban fabric due to new user experiences and current images of the place.

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