Modelling Socio-Spatial Change: Istanbul, Kadıköy Case

Area of Science:

• Urban Studies
• Social Sciences
• Morphological Analysis

Background:

• Understanding the interplay between social dynamics and urban form is crucial for effective city planning.
• Kadıköy, Istanbul, presents a unique case area for examining these relationships due to its diverse social fabric and historical urban character.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between social structure and morphological characteristics in Kadıköy, Istanbul.
• To identify key social variables influencing urban form and spatial patterns.

Main Methods:

• Utilized categorical regression to analyze the connection between independent social variables (cultural diversity, family type, income level, ownership status) and dependent morphological variables (land use, land cover, building type, settlement pattern, street pattern, commercial pattern).
• Employed a two-step data processing approach to overcome limitations in data availability.

Main Results:

• Urban character in Kadıköy's historical city center is strongly correlated with family type, income level, and cultural diversity.
• Identified specific social factors that significantly influence the built environment and settlement patterns.

Conclusions:

• Social structure is a key determinant of urban morphological character in historical city centers.
• The study provides a novel methodological framework for urban research, particularly in data-scarce environments, paving the way for future social and urban studies.