Evaluations on the current and future of housing renewal areas: A design studio simulation

Abstract

This research simulates the potential evolution of the physical development of a specific region in the Kağıthane district of Istanbul based on current zoning plans and regulations. It further delves into how specific urban life quality criteria might correlate with potential spatial configurations using the space syntax method, providing foresight into future developments. The primary goal of this research is to determine how urban housing patterns might evolve and to promote greater awareness for future research endeavors. The study is carried out in two phases. The first step involves data collection through observations and simulation within the studio’s framework. The second phase focuses on the processing and analysis of the collected data, focusing on the quantifiable aspects of urban quality. The simulations were analyzed using the Space Syntax method and the depthMapX program, an application tool designed for this method.
The analysis revealed that the city block scale simulation exhibited the lowest integration values for the street networks. This is perceived as a reduction in the likelihood of residents encountering or interacting with each other, a factor deemed crucial in fostering and sustaining neighborly relations. Additionally, the city block scale spatial formations indicated an increase in all-line analysis values. This suggests a decrease in spatial closedness-definitionality in city block-scale form. Consequently, there is an anticipation of an outdoor formation that may lack a strong definition, have a hierarchical structure, and present a particular spatial perception.