URBAN MORPHOLOGY  

“YENİKAPI TERM
PROJECT” 
ASSIGMENT 2:

KET 502 URBAN MORPHOLOGY

INSTRUCTOR: PROF.DR. AYŞE
SEMA KUBAT
PREPARED BY: FERDİ İNANLI
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Location of Yenikapı in Turkey and İstanbul

Ye n ika p ı :
A e ria lV ie w - G o o g le a n d Tu rke y
M a p -İ. B . B
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı

Location of Yenikapı in Historic Peninsula Ferdi İnanlı

of İstanbul
Taksim

Haliç
Galata

Unkapanı
Topkapı
Eminönü

Aksaray Topkapı Sarayı

Beyazıd

Yenikapı

Marmara
Yedikule

Yenikapı :
2008 Aerial View-Google
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı

So start with describing the site or Ferdi İnanlı

“What is it”?
• Yenikapı, where is meaning new entrance/door till Sultan IV.Murat,
is located at the south of Historic Peninsula. It is almost at the
center of the Peninsula. Yenikapı was always an important port
in Historic Peninsula. Yenikapı is surrounded by at north Aksaray
commercial district, at east Kumkapı and Katip Kazım
neighborhood, at west Cerrahpaşa neighborhood and hospital
at south Marmara Sea. Avenue Atatürk and Kennedy passes
meets in Yenikapı.

•


•
Ye n ika p ı :
Ye n ika p ı :
N e ig h b o rh o o d s
W o rkin g a re a
La n d m a rks
 Morphologic Analyses of
Main Morphological Components of Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

in
Peninsula of İstanbul and Yenikapı
Lands:Histori
Taksim
c Peninsula-
Galata and
Haliç Anatolian
side
Galata
Sea: Marmara,
Unkapanı Haliç And
Topkap Bosporus
ı Eminönü
Main axes

Aksaray Topkapı İmportant

Beyazı Sarayı places
d
Yenikapı And study
area

Marmara
Yediku
le
Yenikapı :
2008 Aerial View-Google
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

A brief history of Yenikapı

• 1,200 years ago and to the third century A.D… Istanbul's name
was not yet Constantinople; it was Byzantium. The city's major
ports hosted ships carrying pottery and incense brought from
the East and headed to other ports. The grain to be distributed
to the city would also be unloaded here. That port is today's
Yenikapi.
• The former ports on the Golden Horn side of the re-founded city
turned insufficient for the marine transportation with the
increasing population and economic revival.Therefore, new
ports were build on the Propontic coast. (r. AD 361-363)
• Second large of harbour on the Marmara coast was the
Theodosian Harbour which was built by Theodosios I .The sea of
the Marmara became a natural harbour formed by a large bay
here and the Lykos (Bayrampaşa) Stream flowed in to the
sea.The cities located at a harbour served for both unloading
and loading.This is why the harbour became a trading place
and developed more in socio-economic terms.
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı

• The Theodosian Harbour lied within the vegetable gardens calledFerdi İnanlı

the Blanka today; it was surrounded with walls all around and
located in the flat area. Large Vlanga Bostanı (the great
garden) is located in Yenikapı.
• During the archaeological excavation at Yenikapı Marmaray
construction site, it has been learned that İstanbul's history
dates back further than was previously thought, some 8,500
years. 8,000-year-old skeletons were discovered and with the
continuous excavations further graves have been unearthed.
The graves reveal that İstanbul used to be home to the earliest
settlements during the Stone Age. The skeletons were found in
four prehistoric graves.
• There were also remnants of some walls found during the
excavations. They are now considered as the first city walls of
Istanbul.
•

V ie w o f
Ista n b u l fro m
th e 1 6 th
1 1 ce n tu ry Y e n ika p ı : ce n tu ry G e o rg e
B ra u n ( 1 5 4 1 -
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı

Morphologic Transformation and develomentFerdi İnanlı

of Yenikapı Yenikapı, İS
situated the
end point of
Lycus(bayram
paşa) stream.

It consist
Sea walls of
İstanbul.

Yalı
Distirct can
be seen in
7.th Century
maps

4.century 11.century 1520 1789 1960

 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı

Topography and infills of Historic Peninsula

Ferdi İnanlı

and Yenikapı

7 h ills o f İsta n b u l. V ista s a n d + 4 0 m To p o g ra p h y a n d in fills o f

Prin cip le Ye n ika p ı, o rijin a l 2 0 1 0
Im p o rta n t p la ce s in H is
Pe n in su la ( K ü ltü r ve Tu ri
b a ka n ılığ ı)

O p e n sp a ce s o f
Ye n ika p ı
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Transformation and develoment of Yenikapı

Port of Yenikapı
İnfilled by soil by
Bayrampaşa stream. In
11century a new port
constructed

In Ottoman era in
1860s Sea walls of
İstanbul demolished
in Yenikapı for the
line of tram and some
part inlays added.

Through 1950Ss with

Menderes Plans for
the sake of a new
Shore way sea inlayed
agein.

The last inlays added

during Dalan’s

Yenikapı Shore line Now inlays is change

to 100-500meters from
cheange,orijinal 2010 4th century.
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı
In this part, I’ll give answers to six questions about “appraisal”
(or personal experience on the environment).
These questions are:

• Description  What is it?

• Evolutions  Is it good?
• Aesthetic  Is it beautiful?
• Emotions  How does it make me feel?
• Meaning  What is its significance?
• Concern  Does it matter?


A ctu a lly , a llth e se q u e stio n s/ im p re ssio n s a p p e a r to b e

re la te d to e a ch o th e rs. T h e se q u e stio n s a re a b o u t
p la ce / Ye n ika p ıso m e o f th e m a re m o re im p o rta n t th a n th e
p e rso n a litie s in vo lve d o r th e se ttin g itse lf.
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Shaping of Yenikapı(aerial views)

Atatürk

Namık
Kemal
Namık Yalı
Kemal district Tram line
Langa
Bostanlı Tram
ğı line

1946
1914

Namık Atatürk
Kemal

Tram line
Kennedy Boulevard

1966 2007
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Yenikapı in Pervititch maps

 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Old maps

Hakkı Bey Map Prost plan,1937

Prost plan proposed a

new shore way Atatürk
Boulevard and a new
junction.
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı

Meaning  What is its Ferdi İnanlı

significance?
• It is significant because it is at the center of Historic Peninsula and
so İstanbul. It is going to be transportation focus for whole
İstanbul after transfer station completed. It is surrounded by
traditional/historic and important places. It has many historic
layers (Roman-Byzantium-Ottoman and Republican) and values
(mosques, neighborhoods) and it is always the door of İstanbul
(Kadim şehrin Yenikapısı).
• Railway and its station is another valuable thing of Yenikapı. The
piers and the port are too. They are starting and finishing point
of many travel.


Ye n ika p ı : Ye n ika p ı :
C ity w a lls ru in s( M ü lle r m a p )
1 / 5 0 0 0 “ C o n ve rsa tio n p la n ”
( 2005 )
 Topography and morphology

(Original,2010) (Original,2010)
 Yenikapı
has attitudes
between 0-45
meters.
Aksaray and
inlay part
area flat
areas.
Sea front Kürkçübaşı Kürkçübaşı
flatness(Original,2010) slopes(Original,2010) district is
Pedestrian circulation


Pedestiran
movement is
dense in
Aksaray
district and
among the
Atatürk
Boulevard,
Cerrahpaşa
stret K.Langa
Street.


 In
sloped areas
and (yalı and
Kürkçübaşı)n
eigbourhood
s pedestrian
density is
precisely
decreases.
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Urban Web
 Yenikapı
has dense
network at
its
perimeters.
But at center
Atatürk Avenue between
K.Langa
Küçük LangaStreet Excavatio street and
n area
Namık Kemal Street Kennedy
Avenue
accesibility is
only be by
Namık Kemal
street.
Kennedy Avenue
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Urban blocks

 Urban
bloks are
mostly
granulated in
A ksa ra y Yalı,Katip
Kazım and
Kürkçübaşı
neigbourhoo
E xca va tio K a tip
C e n te r n a re a K a zım
d. Parsel
C e rra h p a become
şa bigger at the
H o sp ita l Ya lı center,Aksar
ay district
and
Cerrahpaşa
S h o re hospital.
p a rks Land
ownership is
the key
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Urban Buildings

Building
density is
high in
Aksaray, Yalı,
Kürkçübaşı,
Aksaray Katıp Kazım
parts. But
this density
Kürkçüba is suddenly
şı Katip decreases in
Center Excavati Kazım
Cerrahpa on area centeral part
şa between tram
Hospital line and
Yalı K.Langa
street.

Shore
parks
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Solid-void

Voids
are at th e
center and
the shore of
Marmara.
Aksaray
Solids
Kürkçüba are dense at
şı Excavatio Katip north of
Center n area Kazım K.Langa
Cerrahpa Street
şa
Hospital
Yalı

Shore
parks
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Urban Fabric

Urban
fabric of
Yenikapı
represent
diversiies.
Aksaray Yalı is
significant,
Aksaray is
Kürkçüba also.
şı Katip Kürkçübaşı
Center Excavati Kazım
Cerrahpa on area and Katip
şa kazım are
Hospital another
Yalı remarkable
parts. South
parts of the
Kennedy
Shore Avenue is
parks notable with
its
continuety.
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

R a ilS yste m s
Ye n ika p ı :
D sitircts a n d La n d m a rks

• Nowadays excavation continues in Yenikapı, where Marmaray, M2

and M1 meet at an underground transfer station. Image of area
is changing day by day.


• Yalı district is at the south-center of the area. This district is has

historic buildings.
•
• Area has many passive open spaces but narrow active spaces.

Architecture and façades

1 -A ta tü rk A ve n u e w e st
fa ça d e

2 -K ü rkçü b a ş ı N e ig b o u rh o o d
3 -K . La n g a re g iste re d
b u ild in g

4 -K a sa p İlya s Tra d itio n a l

 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

B u ild in g co n tid ito n

La n d o w n e rsh ip

• Yalı District and north of the tram line mainly occupied by private
ownership. Southern parts of tram line is owned by Grater
Municipality and Fatih municipality.
• Buiding conditions are generally moderate. But there are notable
buildings which is in a bad condition and start to collapse.
• It has mainly one-storeyed building at the center and surrounded
by 5-7 storeyed buildings at north. At east on Atatürk Avenue
building density and storey number is rising.
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Evolutions  Is it good?
• What is “Good”: Is it preferred by people. Is it preferred for
living(housing). Is it secure. Who are the day an night usuages
and users. For passengers and passers. İmage
map/orientability( is it easy to definy, find area,orientarion).
Being an Transfer foci is good or a pressure?
• Yenikapı is preferred not as a place as vesting time or living except
Yalı district; it is only a passing route for different passengers.
Bus station, Banliyö’s station and piers of inner-lines and inter-
city lines area generate these passengers. This land uses
effects the image of the area. Therefore temporary uses
situated among the passing route of passengers such as,
hotels, car parks, bus station, and restaurants. (Feed back each
other preference  commercial facilities)
• If I make a “cognitive map” about Yenikapı, I prefer (sign)
excavation area and then the Avenue of Atatürk and Kennedy
and then bus station and piers. Banliyö’s station, Cerrahpaşa
Mosque and Cerrahpaşa hospital area the second stage places
for my preferences.
•
•
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı
M y first co g n itive m a p
a b o u t th e a re a ( 2 0 1 0 )

D ive rse -a g e d p e o p le s u se d a re a
exce p t ch ild re n . Yo u ca n se e
ch ild re n o n ly in Ya lın e ig h b o rh o o d
a n d K ü rkçü b a ş ı D istrict. S ta tio n s
a n d n e ig h b o rh o o d s a re u se d in
d a y. A ve n u e A ta tü rk a n d A ksa ra y is
u se d a lm o st a ll d a y b u t th e u sa g e
is ch a n g in g b e tw e e n d a y a n d
n ig h t. a re a b e co m e m o re co m p lex
a n d cro w d d u rin g p ick tim e s o f
İsta n b u l( 7 . 3 0 -8 . 3 0 in th e m o rn in g ,
1 8 . 0 0 -1 9 . 0 0 a t th e a fte rn o o n .)
• Permanently used areas are more valuable but as I examine they
are pressured by transportation focus which intersecting at
Yenikapı.
Some sections

sca le s: 1 / 1 0 0 0
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı
C o m m e rcia lA re a s

D ive rse -a g e d p e o p le s u se d a re a
exce p t ch ild re n . Yo u ca n se e
ch ild re n o n ly in Ya lın e ig h b o rh o o d
a n d K ü rkçü b a ş ı D istrict. S ta tio n s
a n d n e ig h b o rh o o d s a re u se d in
d a y. A ve n u e A ta tü rk a n d A ksa ra y is
u se d a lm o st a ll d a y b u t th e u sa g e
is ch a n g in g b e tw e e n d a y a n d
n ig h t. a re a b e co m e m o re co m p lex
a n d cro w d d u rin g p ick tim e s o f
İsta n b u l( 7 . 3 0 -8 . 3 0 in th e m o rn in g ,
1 8 . 0 0 -1 9 . 0 0 a t th e a fte rn o o n .)
• Permanently used areas are
more valuable but as I
examine they are pressured
by transportation focus
which intersecting at
Yenikapı.
Residential Areas.
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı
Grid-iron parts

Grid iron parts of Yenikapı

occupied by commercial facilities
like hotels, bazaars, restaurans.
They are new and well kept
buildings.

Topography oriented areas mainly

used as residential. This part are
traditional neigborhoods and many
registred buildins exist there

Topography oriented lines

 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Demography and morphology

• Yenikapı has intersections of many civilizations.In Ottoman Period

Yenikapı is occupied by diverse ethnic groups. This ethnic
groups put their orders to their neigbourhoods:
• Yalı district is used by Armenians and so its significance with its
Armenian-Catholic Church. It has rigid-grid iron plan
• Katip Kazım is used by Greek-ortodox population. Respecting to
the topography of the site this neigbourhood is organic
network-street pattern.
• Kürkçübaşı is a mulim neigbourhood and it remains the traces of
Ottoman pallnig order. Culdecacs(çıkmaz) and mosques
Cerrahpaşa and Kasap İlyas are main element. Regarding the
topograpyt is another important aspect.
Landuse
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı

Aesthetic  Is it beautiful? Ferdi İnanlı

H a s Ye n ika p ı a rh ite ctu ra l u n ity , co n tin u ty , ch a n g e s , b a la n ce ?

W h a t a re th e u n a e sth e tic im a g e s? Fo r p a sse n g e rs a n d p a sse rs?
• This question is the most subjective question so the answer is
more variable from person to person. I think some traditional
neighborhoods such as Yalı and Kürkçübaşı is beautiful, lively
and attractive but they are start to changing after underground
routes. Excavations, marmaray and metro constructions create
unaesthetic images in my mind. Also Avenue Atatürk and
Kennedy are only roads for vehicles and fulled of traffic sign
and lights. Avenue of Kennedy has crushed barriers and fast
traffic with its private fast line and it divide the interaction
between inlands and the Sea of Marmara. Banliyö’sline is
another fold after Avenue of Kennedy. By these obstructions
sea become only an image.
Kürkçübaşı district is crowded by 5-6 stroreyed unaesthetic row
• Kürkçübaşı
apartment blocks.

Ye n ika p ı : Ye n ika p ı :
A e ria lV ie w o f In To u ristic
3 d M odel M a p s( 2 0 0 9 )
 Unaesthetic images:

31-
 -Excavation
area
Jucti 6
on
2 3
5-Construction
site?? 4
4-Car services
1
5 6-Tabelas
2-Emniyet
Garages
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı

Emotions  How does it make Ferdi İnanlı

me feel?
• Although it is more noisy and unaesthetic, I think this image can
change after excavations and constructions finished. When I
walked in Yenikapı I feel uncomfortable especially at the central
part of area. Garages and industrial estate located at this part
of the area. I like seaside at day-times Abut
crowdI road
do not want to go
at night. Traditional Junction
Arhitecte
& life

Density of buildins
Vista and Suprise effect Edge-Train lines.

Passive Open space: Shore Shore-A different world

park
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı

To conclude (Concern)  Does it Ferdi İnanlı

matter?
• It is matter because of this area is at the heart of the Historic
Peninsula, and so includes historic layers, values, styles and
lives. It is matter because it is becoming the transportation for
whole İstanbul by its Marmaray, metro, LRT, city-lines, inter-city
lines, bus station
•
• I concern because; it is a focal place, it is my project site, it has
traditional parts and a new changing face, and has a place in
many people’s memories
•
• I think Yenikapı live many changes (and continue to live
changes/transformations) but it always has a essence of to be a
door and to be different/new. Some land usages and technology
is continually changing but Yenikapı is always a important
transportation focus in İstanbul.
•
 Morphologic Analyses of
Yenikapı
Ferdi İnanlı

Referances

• Çelik, Zeynep. !998. Değişen İstanbul, Tarih Vakfı Yury Yaınları,

İstanbul
• Ökten, A.N.,Altınok,E.Bilen,Ö.2008. Yenikapı sosyo ekonomik
durum raporu, Fatih Belediyesi arşivi,İstanbul
• Tarihi Yarımada Koruma amaçlı İmar planı, İ.B.B. Planlama
müdürlüğü.
• İ.M.P maps
• Ceresatto, Cladio, personal archive and drawings,2010
•
•
 Morphologic Analyses of

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Yenikapı

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Ferdi İnanlı

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