Renewal and Rehabilitation in Building and Urban Design

Welcome to Building and Urban Design in Istanbul, Turkey.

Urban Rehabilitation has for a long time been considered as the preferred approach in the overall improvement of settlements the world over. It has been chosen in most cases over the redevelopment strategy for the following reasons:

- Can be done Fast
- Cheaper
- prevents Gentrification
- Supports conservation of Historic sites
- Fosters local participation
- Builds partnerships
- Does not reduce the housing stock
- ETC

However, for a rehabilitation project to be effective, several studies must be carried out to determine if the approach is the best in a context specific situation. It is important that the following be determined:

- Age of Building
- Type of building Material
- Strength of Structure
- Access to portable infrastructure
- Number of occupants
- Type of roof and structure

All the above and others that I may not have included should be put into consideration to determine what development approach to apply as a development practitioner.

Today, we visited the Fener and Balat Rehabilitation projects which was sponsored EU in a counterpart arrangement with Fatih municipalities in Istanbul, Turkey. This projects were designed to avoid gentrification and encourage preservation Historic and cultural buildings.

The food for thought is that several buildings are been abandoned because of their poor cultural state. Also, we need to ask the project champions if the success stories that they have recorded in the area is been replicated or if their strategies are been adopted elsewhere within the city of Istanbul and beyond. With the state of disrepair and dilapidation of many existing properties seen during our street walk with weak structures and foundation failures evidents, we need to find out if the several rehabilitation addressed these issues and if there exist reports or history of such renewals.

Dear Buddies, I am of the considered opinion that a renewal project may be approached as a double headed sword. In the areas we visited today, I believe that Rehabilitation and Redevelopment are the two sides of the same coin that must not be ignored. Why don't we suggest a mixed developmental approach within the study area as a two way traffic intervention that has already become inevitable in this context.

OAB

About to take the flight to Turkey

This blog is the diary of 13 graduate students studying at Development Planning Unit at UCL a MSc in Building and Urban Design in Development. During the next three and a half weeks we will be working in Turkey at the Fatih municipality trying to develop a response for the Urban Renewal Project that the government is implementing in the area, and that is responsible of the eviction and displacement of the Romani community and other marginalized groups. We have knowledge of the context thanks to the last year student group that worked in the area, however the current situation is serious, houses have been destroyed and an effective solution is needed to bring the main actors to discuss together a better option for development. The challenge we are facing is quite complex but we will try our best. Only time will tell...