Growth and spatial distribution of art galleries in Istanbul between 2000 and 2022

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47818/DRArch.2025.v6i3183

Keywords:

art galleries, cultural infrastructure, Istanbul, urban structure, urban growth

Abstract

In this paper, we illustrate the growth and spatial distribution of art galleries in Istanbul at the beginning of the 21st century. Previous studies have attributed the decentralization of urban activities from the old CBD to sub-centers as a result of population growth, economic and transportation development, and globalization in Istanbul. The present study begins by explaining the spatial distribution of Istanbul’s cultural infrastructure within the urban macroform, followed by an investigation into the emergence and development of art galleries within the cultural ecosystem, providing a spatial focus as well as a historical context. We then analyze the growth and spatial distribution of art galleries from 2000 to 2022, with reference to the spatial characteristics of the cultural infrastructure and CBD in Istanbul’s macroform. The results indicate that over two decades, the number of art galleries increased, with a tendency toward centralization in the historical CBD of the city, while decentralization also occurred at the borders of the historical CBD. Additionally, new clusters of art galleries emerged following the extension of the CBD and singular redevelopment projects specializing in cultural and artistic functions. This study contributes to the literature on Istanbul’s urban growth and cultural studies by presenting a spatial assessment of the art galleries, which is a relatively underexplored component of cultural infrastructure. Additionally, by analyzing the relationships between the galleries and the urban macroform, specific revitalization and redevelopment projects, and cultural policies, the study highlights the role of art galleries within urban growth processes and the cultural infrastructure.

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Author Biographies

  • Elif Kısar Koramaz, Istanbul Technical University

    Elif KISAR KORAMAZ graduated from Istanbul Technical University's Department of City and Regional Planning. She holds a master's degree in Landscape Planning and a PhD in City and Regional Planning from the same university, focusing on urban green areas and quality of life. She currently is a  faculty member at ITU's Landscape Architecture Department. Her research spans housing studies, urban renewal, public spaces, urban green areas, cultural infrastructure, and environmental psychology.

  • Vedia Dokmeci, Emeritus Professor, Istanbul Technical University

    Vedia Dökmeci graduated from ITU, Faculty of Architecture, as an engineer architect in June 1962.  She received an M.S. degree in 1969 (hospital planning) and a Ph.D. degree in 1972 (An analytical planning approach to regional health facility systems) from “Columbia University, School of Architecture” (New York). She became an associate professor (1979) and professor (1988) at the ITU Faculty of Architecture. She conducted research in the summer semesters at the “Harvard University-MIT Joint Center” (1976), “University College London” (1979), and “University of California, Berkeley” (1980).  She taught undergraduate and graduate courses on numerical methods in planning, "location theory," and "transformation of urban systems," and conducted master's and doctoral theses. Her research was supported by ITU, TUBITAK, SPO, and the Ministry of Health and focused on mathematical modeling and applications of facility location selection, health facilities, city and regional planning, urban transformation, and real estate development. She has published nine books and more than forty articles alone and with her students in scientific journals within the scope of “HEAT.” She was awarded the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA) Science Award (1999).  She initiated the first “Real Estate Development Program" at ITU (2001-) and served as its chairman (2001-2006).

  • Numan Kilinc, Istanbul Technical University

    Numan Kılınç graduated from Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Department of Urban and Regional Planning in 2011 and from Istanbul University Department of Law in 2018. He received his PhD from Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Department of Urban and Regional Planning in 2021. He currently serves as a faculty member at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Architecture, ITU; he continues his research in areas such as reconstruction law, urban planning, plan changes, value capture, and makes national and international contributions in these areas. 

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Published

2025-12-24

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Elif Kısar Koramaz, Vedia Dokmeci, Numan Kilinc

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Growth and spatial distribution of art galleries in Istanbul between 2000 and 2022. (2025). Journal of Design for Resilience in Architecture and Planning, 6(3), 564-580. https://doi.org/10.47818/DRArch.2025.v6i3183

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