Geçmişten Günümüze Gelişen Mekan Kurgusu ile Kapalıçarşı

Abstract

Istanbul is a fiction-like construction being at the core of many people’s dreams, the main theme of several books and for which legends have been composed. When the elderly tells their own stories of Istanbul, they often start saying “fifty years ago” just before narrating how they got involved into the scenario. It stands as an indispensable passion with all the historical remnants in it regardless of unplanned urbanization and pollution. Although it manages to survive as a city despite all the damages, its mosques, bazaars and all other constructions face the consequences of changes caused by a consumerist society and these consequences can be observed in their restoration, maintenance, reconstruction and refunctioning. The reason for such changes is not only today’s conditions but also the increase in population. Among all constructions influenced by the processes of change and development, Grand Bazaar is the most affected one in spacial and environmental terms. Grand Bazaar holds the seventh position within fifty spaces in the world listed as “should be seen”. It has existed since the Byzantium period and has always met the needs of its users by adopting its functionality according to each period. This study aims to identify how it has been reshaped by inner and outer factors throughout history.