An Analytical Study on Urban Morphology

1. An Analytical Study on Urban Morphology Eastern Mediterranean University Faculty of Architecture Res. Assistant Nevter Zafer (Phd. Candidate) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sebnem Onal Hoskara

2. In urban studies urban morphology is one of the important variables as a determinant of the urban pattern, urban form and urban space components.

3. Some Definitions on Urban Morphology from Different View Points • Urban morphology is the distribution of different functions with the city. • The term `morphology` is as “the study of form and process, growth and form, form and function”. • Another approach to urban morphology is “the study of the physical or built fabric of urban form, and the people and process shaping it • The term `urban form` is simply defined as the study of the physical characteristics of towns and cities resulting from an evolutionary process of urban activities and planning action.

4. Cities are physical objects that display extreme variety of size and morphology. • Urban morphology is the functional relations and physical structure, both integrated within city structure. • While the urban form and structure consisted of various compositions of physical and spatial elements, urban morphology inquires these forms and relations between causes and effects of the social forces within.

5. Aim of This Research • To explore the differentiation of urban morphological approaches in different urban space. • To explore the different authors` approaches through different morphological methods.

6. Sources Reviewed • Whitehand J.W.R, and Larkham J, 1992, “urban and landscape research: achievements and prospectus, Urban Landscape : International perspectives” in Whithand J.W.R,P.J Larkham (ed), Routledge, London pp 300-301 • Journal of Urban Morphology • Journal of Urban Design • Non-book sources from Internet • The literature survey classified the information about the relevant literature in three parts. • Literature survey has been done on different authors articles and their hypothesis. • First part tries to put forward the concepts of the reading material. They are words which are key importance. The term key variables are sometimes used analogous way. Concepts have resonance which goes beyond that of more ordinary words but which may critically depend upon their context.

7. Second part explores the issues which are the broad questions which underlines and direct disciplines, sub-disciplines or subjects area, as well as public affairs. They are the subject of continuing debate and study from a range of perspective. • Third part studies the context that comprises the background of existing research, knowledge and understanding which inform new or ongoing research project. Research seldom, if ever breaks wholly new ground: it builds on an extensive history of other people’s work.

8. Concepts In/For Urban Morphology Most common used/defined concepts can be classified as in the following: First Group(Macro Scale) Concepts: Includes City, form, culture, politics, land use are related to the geographic scale concept of urban morphology. Usually these are within the city scale. Second Group (Neighbourhood Scale) Concepts: Covers plot, block, urban form, Central Business District, lot, neighbourhood form and typomorphology. Generally these concepts are a transition between macro and micro scales. They focused on the district/neighbourhood level of the urban form. Third Group (Micro Scale) Concepts: Related to function, micro scale, form, urban elements, urban solid and void, aesthetic, pattern, street, square, open land, urban structure and volume. This kind of concepts more related to street, square and open spaces.

9. Issues Discussed in Urban Morphology • Most common issued on urban morphology defined during literature survey can also be classified under three groups. • First group includes the relationship between • cultural production and from of the city, • political control and city form, • incremental nature of urban morphology and regional change, • cultural context and orientation of contemporary urban planning • Second group concerned with the relationship between • size of location and from, urban morphology and typology • demographic change and district character, • land-use parcels and physical structure

10. Third group of issues include the relation between • street pattern and lot/plot relations • height, volume, shape, and size of plots • urban morphology and typology • form and function • land-use parcels and physical structures

11. Context of Urban Morphology Context of urban morphology can be divided into three groups again. First group of context is at city scale-either contemporary or traditional. Second group of context is at neighbourhood/district scale and it is generally traditional. Third group is at street square and open space scale either contemporary or traditional.

13. In Conclusion ………... My Definition on Urban Morphology…… Urban Morphology is a process which intersects with the reflection of Cultural Process, Social Process and Natural Process reflection on the form of the urban space Cultural Process Social Process Urban Morphology Natural Process

14. Selective Hypothesis and researchable questions: open to be discussed • How CBD pattern formed into morphological context in Global cities. • Typomorphology of the urban square can be classified into several groups according to their physical, functional, and cultural characteristics in Western and Eastern civilisation. • Urban morphological pattern can not be measured with typological and other measurements methods. • Urban morphology criteria can not be a definite principles that can be applied everywhere. • Form of the cities can not be developed in the morphological characteristics.