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18
Evaluation of Open Space Form
and Use in an Istanbul Squatter
Settlement
Noah Billig
Clemson University, Department of Planning
and Landscape Architecture, College of
Architecture, Arts and Humanities, 124 Lee Hall,
Box 340511, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
29634-0511 (email: nbillig@clemson.edu)
Abstract
Istanbul’s interactions of squatterization and open
space provide a context in which to study form and uses
of landscape in the emerging informal city. Landscape
as a generative process and manifestation, such as that
found in Istanbul’s squatter settlements, provides useful
insights for designers, planners and residents for the
future role of landscape and open space in the urban
context. The landscapes of these squatter settlements
are the outcome of squatterization as a process, yet
they are also the reflection of cultural values and norms
pertaining to public open space. This paper looks at the
open spaces in the Istanbul squatter settlement of Pinar
Mahalle. Through observation analysis, six open space
typologies emerged: Mosque gardens; commercial
streets; residential streets; small parks & playgrounds;
other preserved vegetated areas; and spaces on or
near the edge of the residential streets. An analysis
of use and type found that the streets and areas near
the street were the most social and used spaces,
despite the location of a planned park and mosque
garden in the settlement. These observations of open
space form, type and use in squatter settlements
show compelling examples of what is valued, useful
and available in emerging urbanizing areas.
Keywords
Informal housing, squatter settlements, urban
landscapes, urban open space, culture and open spaces
For example, one of the pressing issues addressed at
the Asia 2006 World Social Forum, under the theme of
“Ecology and livelihoods,” was, “Problems of mega cities
(Infrastructure, environment, transport, housing, violence,
uncontrolled influx of population)” (World Social Forum
2006). Thus, as cities increasingly face large populations
and increased housing demands, it will be important to
study and understand informal housing areas and the
lessons that they can provide.
Istanbul is dealing with this pressing issue. Fifty percent
of Istanbul’s 15-20 million residents live in informal
housing. Thus, studies are needed on urban design and
planning in squatter settlements in Istanbul. This analysis
is also important considering squatter settlements are
prevalent in major cities throughout the developing world.
Subsequently, the general question is asked: What
lessons can planners and designers learn from studying
informal settlements?
Turkish informal settlements were caused by mass rural
to urban migrations starting in the 1950s. Istanbul found
that they could not meet the housing demands of the
new residents. Therefore, self-help housing policies
emerged in which people could establish squatter’s rights
when constructing self-built homes on unoccupied land
(Ergun 1991; Senyapili 2004). In Istanbul, unlike many
developing countries’ squatter settlements, infrastructure
(i.e. natural gas, water, roads, electricity, etc) has been
retroactively established in most squatter neighborhoods
(Ergun 2008). The results are neighborhoods with largely
organic, resident-defined urban patterns that are also
integrated into the city as a whole.
Much of the literature and research involving informal
housing sees it as a problem to be changed ((Türker-
Devecigil 2005; Tas and Lightfoot 2005). This research
tends to be bias from the onset, attaching values to a
phenomenon that deserves to be looked at through an
unbiased empirical lens. Other research over-romanti-
Fig. 1: Mosque Garden
Introduction
Developing countries increasingly have “mega-cities”
(cities with populations over 10 million) that are also
developing into “global” cities. Many of these mega-cities
have large unplanned and/or informal housing areas.
Some estimate that, “by 2030, 1 person in 4 will be a
slum dweller” (Neuwirth 2005). Informal housing and
“slums” are issues that will demand increasing attention
as populations rise, rural to urban migrations increase,
and cities become more globalized. Subsequently,
these issues are increasingly being called to attention.