As an Example of Urban Space Square – Investigation of Isparta Kaymakkapi Square and Architectural Heritage Structures

Abstract

The city of Isparta is located in the center of Mediterranean Region of Turkey. The historical urban fabric of Isparta also constitutes at the center of the city of Isparta today.

One of the important urban spaces of Isparta, which is remained in the conservation area and many surrounded with many historical structures, is Kaymakkapı Square. This square brings a distinct identity to the city by means of locating at the intersection of the city’s dense streets and being an urban space which is given façades of important historical building. Kaymakkapı Square has experienced significant transformations at various periods due to the factors such as, excessive increasing of the city’s transportation and traffic problems, changing of the employment areas, increment of the commercial buildings, efforts to get unearned income, requests to make a new high-rise structures and etc. The historical buildings have been overwhelmed by these factors. The Square has doomed to lose urban space characteristic and has become almost a crossroads.

In this context, in this study, principally so as to propound of Kaymakkapı Square’s historical and urban value, Square’s historical development will be investigated by different period’s photographs, maps, documents and oral sources.

Subsequently, causes of not only tending to lose of Kaymakkapı Square’s historical characteristics but also failing to respond of today’s needs will be identified. Finally, within the frame of urban and architectural conservation theories, planning decisions will be determined on the subject of that how to properly Kaymakkapı Square be preserved and be kept alive today.