Facing Shores of the Golden Horn: A Spatial Reading of Waterfront Transformation

Abstract

This study examines the spatial and visual transformation of the Golden Horn waterfront in Istanbul through a comparative analysis of two facing shoreline segments (eastern and western shores). The specific areas of focus are Fener–Balat on the eastern shore and Kasımpaşa–Hasköy (including the Camialtı–Taşkızak shipyards) on the western shore. Rather than approaching the Golden Horn as a continuous and homogeneous waterfront, the study reads it through these opposing edges, which face the same body of water but have developed different spatial characteristics over time.

The research focuses on three main periods: the early 20th-century industrial production phase, the post-1980 deindustrialization process, and the contemporary redevelopment period. Across these phases, changes in shoreline morphology, spatial use, accessibility, and visual structure are analyzed comparatively using archival documents, historical maps, aerial photographs, and on-site observations.

The findings show that, despite their shared industrial past, the two shores have developed distinct spatial and visual conditions over time. The eastern shore has evolved into a more continuous, open, and publicly accessible waterfront, while the western shore, in contrast, presents a more fragmented and controlled structure. In this case, access to the waterfront is often limited and organized through specific entry points, creating semi-public or privately regulated spaces that interrupt shoreline continuity.

This comparison suggests that post-industrial waterfront transformation cannot be understood as a uniform or linear process. Instead, even within the same urban context, it can produce different spatial outcomes. In this sense, the study questions the common assumption of “homogeneous redevelopment” in waterfront literature and proposes a more layered reading of urban transformation.