Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
MEGARON, cilt.17, sa.4, ss.1-15, 2022 (ESCI)
Erzurum's historical urban texture has lost its layered structure over time, and its integrated structure with the city has deteriorated. The present study aims to determine the physical characteristics of Erzurum's historical city centre and their influence on pedestrian movements in order to quantify spatial legibility. The present study employs the Space Syntax technique. Developed by Hiller & Hanson (1984), this method serves as an approach for analysing the complex structure of cities, and it has been applied in a variety of disciplines. All types of maps and aerial photographs, related publications, theses, the conservation plan dated 6.8.1986, and the open-source software DepthmapX were used as primary materials in the present study. Field observations, expert evaluations, and field and numerical data were used as secondary materials. The present study focuses on Erzurum's historical city centre, which is protected as a first and third-degree archaeological site. The study area was divided into four regions for examination. Region I involves the Erzurum Castle and its surroundings; Region II involves the Twin Min-aret Madrasa and its surroundings; Region III involves the Yakutiye Municipality building and its surroundings; Region IV involves the Yakutiye Madrasa and its surroundings. The Photoshop program was used to visualise the suggestions presented at the conclusion stage. The present study can be categorised as applied research because of this characteristic. Over time, historical cities evolve and develop a layered structure. The relevance of historical textures is recognised in planned cities, and the historical texture is conserved. The city of Er-zurum, which was selected as the study area, is one of the cities where the historical urban envi-ronment and street texture could not be preserved. The historical city centre, which is a first-and third-degree protected area connected to the city's busiest street, has become isolated over time, the area has become run-down with the gradual withdrawal of the historical city's inhabitants, and the lack of responsibility and abandonment has resulted in security issues. The relationship between spatial accessibility and this scenario was investigated in the present study. The findings of the analysis and methodology are represented graphically. An axial map of the study area was first constructed, followed by a spatial legibility graph. According to the graphic results, the accessibility value in Regions I and IV are better as a result of the arrangements made in the form of city squares, whereas the accessibility value in Regions II and III is rather low. In order for the space to achieve a permeable structure, access points are defined and depicted on maps.