Investigation and evaluation of the impacts of the proposals related with the Golden Horn Cultural Valley project on Galata area

Haliç Kültür Vadisi projesi kapsamında getirilen önerilerin Galata bölgesi üzerindeki olası etkilerinin belirlenmesi ve değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Even though pedestrian movement is one of the critical issues in urban design, a determinate method for evaluation of attractiveness of an area for walkability has not been established yet. This paper presents the findings of a comprehensive study on walkability developed on a historical centre of Istanbul, named Galata that has become segregated in recent years. Although Galata has been a significant region due to its location in the commercial core of Istanbul as well as its architectural, cultural and religious history, the area has been losing its value rapidly. Despite its lively neighborhood that has been developing, Galata remains disjointed and rigidly separated from its surroundings and in the process of deterioration. The study has researched the possible effects of the environmental variables on the levels of activity in urban spaces. The aim is to shed light on key variables that affect the attractiveness of an area for pedestrian movement, which in turn can help to develop an objective methodology to evaluate walkability. This study made use of earlier research that measured the pedestrian attractiveness of spaces, including Space Syntax. Space Syntax specializes in the analysis and design of urban environments and, in particular, the design of pedestrian linkages and public spaces. It makes direct observations of pedestrian and vehicular activity and uses purposedesigned computer programs to forecast the effects of new developments on such patterns. The method is being used in many European countries and gives consistent results. Within the context of the study, the existing pedestrian movement patterns in Galata have been observed and a range of variables have been determined to analyze the relationships. Pedestrian movement levels have been recorded separately for men, women, elderly, teenagers and children. The variables have been evaluated under five headings: 1. Slope of the area, 2. Land use pattern, 3. Visual quality and comfort, 4. Safety and 5. Accessibility (Space Syntax analyses) The data recorded in this study have been analyzed with a multiple regression analysis, in which pedestrian movement levels are considered as the dependent variable. The multi-regression analyses have been carried out for different categories of users (male, female, elderly, teenagers and children) and for both weekday and weekend activity levels separately. The model that explains the pedestrian movement levels with the highest accuracy has been generated with the total pedestrian levels of weekend. This model accounts for 60 % of the variation in pedestrian movement. According to the findings of the model, pedestrian movement levels are explained with three out of five variables: safety, accessibility (Space Syntax integration values) and land use pattern. Golden Horn that lies between Beyoğlu and the Historical Peninsula is being planned as a cultural valley with its 16km long coast. The “Cultural Valley” project is dealing with the refinement of the coasts and surroundings of Golden Horn and regaining its vitality with its historical and natural values. In this study, the possible effects of these proposals on Galata area have been analyzed through Space Syntax and walkability models. The outcomes of the analyses served to the purpose of evaluating two proposed development projects; Persembe Pazarı and Galataport, which seem to have a far reaching influence in future development of the area. The projects are evaluated under the headings land use, safety & security and accessibility. The results of the evaluation have shown that both the two proposals are likely to have a multiplier effect on pedestrian movement, which is crucial for the vitality of the area. The method and the findings of this study constitute an analytical model that could shed fresh light for future research on walkability as well as for evaluating proposals to regenerate historical city centers that have lost their vitality. The research enables to determine possible problems that may cause socioeconomic inactivity such as decrease in accessibility among facilities and by this way contributes not only to practice but also to scientific research. The study suggests the importance of investigating the defined variables in subheadings in order to understand the degree and the aspect of their effects on movement patterns.

Özet

Bu çalışma; “Kültür Vadisi” olarak tanımlanmış olan Haliç ve çevresinin temizlenerek, tarihi ve doğal değerleri ile birlikte yeniden kültürel ve sosyal yaşama kazandırılması için önerilen yeni projelerin Galata bölgesi üzerine etkileri; yaya ve mekân arasındaki ilişkiyi yürünebilirlik endekslerine dayanarak inceleyen bir araştırmanın bulgularından yola çıkarak araştırılmaktadır. Böylece, oldukça merkezi bir konuma sahip olmasına rağmen şehrin diğer kısımlarından kopuk kalmış olan Galata ve yakın çevresinin yaya hareketlilik dokuları incelenerek, sözü edilmiş olan bu yeni kentsel tasarım proje önerilerinden Galataport ve Perşembe Pazarı projelerinin, Galata’nın yaya hareketlilik dokuları üzerine olası yansımaları değerlendirilmiştir. Galata’da yaya hareketlilik dokularının gözlemlenmesi ve tespitini gerektiren uygulamalar çalışma kapsamında geliştirilmiştir. Yürünebilirlik oranları ile ilgili karşılaştırmalar yapılabilmesi ve hareketlilik dokusunu etkileyen çevresel faktörlerin tespit edilmesi amacıyla belirlenen değişkenler; güvenlik, görsel kalite, çekicilik ve konfor, arazi kullanımı, eğim ve erişilebilirlik olarak beş ana başlık altında ele alınmıştır. Erişilebilirlik değerinin belirlenmesinde İngiltere University College London bünyesindeki Space Syntax Laboratuarı tarafından geliştirilen bir şehirsel tasarım modeli olan Space Syntax (Mekânsal Dizin) yönteminden yararlanılmıştır. Gözlemlenen yaya hareketlilik dokusu bağımlı değişken olarak ele alınarak, belirlenen beş bağımsız değişkenle çoklu regresyon yapılmıştır. Çoklu regresyon modelinin sonuçları, Galata’da yaya hareketlilik oranlarını etkileyen faktörleri %60 oranında açıklamaktadır. Modele göre, yaya hareketlerinde; “güvenlik”, ”erişilebilirlik” ve ”arazi kullanımları” değişkenleri belirleyici etkenlerdir. Çalışma, ileriki aşamalarda, uygulama modeli sonucunda yaya hareketlerini etkilediği tespit edilen değişkenlerin, hareketlilik dokularını ne oranda ve hangi şekilde etkilediğinin araştırılması için alt başlıklarda incelenmesinin önemini ortaya koymaktadır.