Embrace the Future Without Erasing the Past
Preserving the identity of Küçükçekmece
S. Bani (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
J.P.M. van Lierop – Mentor (TU Delft - Theory, Territories & Transitions)
Aksel Ersoy – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Urban Development Management)
H.F. Eckardt – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / AE+T)
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Abstract
This research explores how urban design can contribute to preserving and strengthening the historical and cultural identity of Küçükçekmece, a district in Istanbul facing rapid and large-scale urbanization. The focus is on finding a balance between heritage and modernization, emphasizing the importance of protecting local identity and traditions within a changing spatial and social context.
Through fieldwork and conversations with residents, the study reveals a deep pride in local heritage alongside growing concerns about the erosion of identity caused by large-scale developments. These insights underline the potential of urban design to act as a bridge between past and future by preserving the historical essence of the area while guiding sustainable and inclusive urban growth.
By approaching design not as a neutral intervention but as a cultural act rooted in place, this project proposes a site-specific strategy in which memory, space, and community are interwoven to shape a more resilient urban future.