Urban transformation debates continue: Istanbul's urban planning cannot be fixed with instant and short-term solutions
Especially after the earthquakes in February, urban transformation, along with building and city renewal, has returned to the agenda. Urban Planner Melis Güngör explained the methods that should be followed to 12punto.
Ezgi Sivritepe
Ezgi SİVRİTEPE - 12punto.com.tr
Along with urban transformation, urban planning also maintains its place on the agenda. Evaluating the impact of rapid population growth, uncontrolled housing production, and urban transformation on city planning, Melis Güngör made striking statements.
“EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS IS DONE FOR CORPORATE PROFIT”
Evaluating the Istanbul Earthquake preparations and the urban transformation process, which experts frequently draw attention to, Güngör stated that earthquake preparedness cannot be achieved solely by renewing buildings because the people living there migrate to other places to live more cheaply, adding, “I think Istanbul Earthquake preparedness is done for the profit of companies. The first thing that comes to mind for earthquake preparedness is physical transformation. If I have to speak specifically about Istanbul, Istanbul's urban planning cannot be fixed with instant and short-term solutions.”
NOT FOR NEED BUT FOR RENT
Güngör stated that the most important problem underlying Turkey's urban planning is 'uncontrolled housing production.' Güngör spoke as follows:
“Housing production is carried out not for need, but solely to generate rent. In this case, we cannot talk about healthy urban planning. The goal of urban planning should be to build a livable, resilient, needs-responsive, and sustainable city.”
THE PUBLIC MUST ALSO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS
Stating that the public should also be involved in the process and express their demands, Güngör said, “City residents must demand their urban rights to the end. Those who plan the city should not make their main goal creating living spaces; they must build upon creating qualified living spaces. If an approach that considers and shapes the environment with all its phenomena is adopted instead of an income and rent-oriented planning approach, we will have taken a step toward eliminating the problem.”
“A PUBLIC-MINDED APPROACH IS NEEDED”
When asked about what is being done for green space and sustainability while considering disaster resilience in urban planning, Güngör replied as follows:
“Sustainability is not being considered. A public-minded approach is required to act with such a comprehensive vision. However, it is impossible to implement this under this economic policy. Since everything is interconnected in urban planning, we cannot provide one without the other. In proper urban planning, a balanced plan must be made by taking everything into account. We must succeed in not building high-density housing in first-degree earthquake zones or shopping malls on landfill areas.”
Emphasizing that rapid population growth directly affects urban planning and that the city cannot meet its needs as the population increases, Güngör stated that this creates new crises. Güngör said, “The city's resources, infrastructure, and lack of job opportunities create new crises in the city. The most well-known example is Istanbul. Istanbul has a completely population-oriented planning. Areas that are not suitable for housing have also started to be used as residential areas to meet the housing needs of the population. We are destroying nature by considering the rent area to be obtained from housing production.”