The relationship between neighbourhood renovation and gentrification in a historic environment: the example of Istanbul

This thesis focuses on the renovation and regeneration projects, and also on the gentrification concept in the historic neighbourhoods of Istanbul. Exploring the
complex and diverse relationship of economic change, housing markets, property and land ownership, the state leading to gentrification and why in certain cities
gentrification occurs after renovation and regeneration projects are the main aspects of the present study. Another pivotal point of this thesis is to move away from the
well-known subjects of global North when it comes to study of gentrification. This thesis does not claim that the global North urban theories are not applicable in global
South, but it aims to expand the limited sites in which the urban theory is produced by moving towards the geographies with a new set of cities. To investigate these points, world city theory and processes of gentrification are examined in the first part of the thesis. In the second part of the thesis, research motivation, research aims,
research questions and research methods are investigated. In the third and last part of the thesis, changes in Turkish economic and housing system are studied to
understand the dynamics that affect Istanbul. Particular attention is provided to the gentrified neighbourhoods in the historic part of Istanbul. Before the 2000s,
gentrification through private housing market was the case in Istanbul, but from the 2000s state-led gentrification started to become more common. The reason behind
the increase of state intervention and involvement in gentrification from the 2000s represent a key aspect to the study. Lastly, in this part, Galata and Tarlabasi case
studies and analysis of these case studies are discussed with regard to the abstractions used in the thesis.

In the conclusion, state’s role in “renovating” the historic neighbourhoods of Istanbul and the possible future paths for the historic environment of Istanbul are
explored in relation to the developing countries’ world cities literature. This thesis aims to provide an alternative to the gentrification and regeneration processes in developing countries’ big cities with respect to the historic environment.