https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9480-5536
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ABSTRACT
Located on the eastern coast of Lake Van in eastern Turkey, the city of Van is home to numerous urban landscapes – both ancient and modern – that occupy important places in the city’s collective cultural memory. This study examined how information on Van’s spatial landscape was represented cognitively; by evaluating these perceptions, this study investigated the relationship between urban landscapes that could give the city and collective urban memory a particular identity. Whilst doing this, we also attempted to determine relevant emergent themes pertaining to the city. Accordingly, the information making up the personal memories of Van’s residents was holistically analysed through oral history interviews conducted with several individuals. Interviewees’ references to urban landscapes revealed that both urban memory and urban identity could be regarded as fundamental spatial elements. Emergent themes pertained primarily to recreational areas, activities performed in these areas and panoramas of water. Despite marked differences in their professions, interviewees’ memories showed numerous similarities. Although many scholars have extensively analysed urban identity and cultural landscapes, the case of Van has yet to be discussed.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Lewis, “Axioms for Reading the Landscape,” 170.
2 ESF (European Science Foundation).
3 Tanrıverdi, Role of the Cultural Landscape of Urban Identity Formation: Case of Konuralp.
4 van der Hoeven, “Valuing Urban Heritage Through Participatory Heritage Websites,” 131; and Fowler, World Heritage Cultural Landscapes.
5 Mosler, “Everyday Heritage Concept as an Approach to Place-Making Process in the Urban Landscape.”
6 Lynch, A Theory of Good City Form; Rapoport, “On the Nature of Capitals.”
7 Ünlü, “The Relation Between Urban Memory and Urban Space on Evolution of Urban Character.”
8 Ringas et al., “Urban Memory in Space and Time,” 335; Oktay, “A Holistic Framework for Urban Identity.”
9 O’Donnell, Patricia M, Urban Cultural Landscapes and the Spirit of Place; Bandarin and Ron Van, Reconnecting the City; and Kiper, “Küreselleşme sürecinde tarihsel kültürel değerlerin korunması,” 46.
10 Taylor, “The Historic Urban Landscape Paradigm and Cities as Cultural Landscapes,” 477; Assmann, Cultural Memory.
11 Avcıoğlu and Akın, “The Interpretation of Spatial Variation/Differentiation of Tuzla Köyiçi District in Context of Collective Memory and Perception of Urban Space,” 428.
12 Tosh Tarihin Peşinde.
13 Anonymous, 2020a.
14 Danacıoğlu, Geçmişin İzleri, Yanı Başımızdaki Tarih İçin Bir Kılavuz; Anonymous 2020b.
15 Boyer, The City of Collective Memory.
16 Riley and Harvey, “Landscape Archaeology, Heritage, and the Community in Devon.”
17 Harvey and Riley, “Country Stories”; Degen et al., “Experiencing Visualities in Designed Urban Environments.”
18 Köksoy Karpat, Tarihsel Alanlarda Sözlü Tarih Bilgisine Dayalı Kentsel Tasarım Kriterlerinin Oluşturulması.
19 Akköprü, Coğrafya Nüfus ve Etnisite, 124.
20 Tekin, “Van şehir tarihi bibliyografyası,” 697; Kılıç Van 2006 Kültür ve Turizm Envanteri I. Tarihsel Değerler.
21 Van Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board Directorate.
22 Öztürk and Yeğin, “Urban Planning Studies for the City of Van in a Centennial Perspective.”
23 Kılıç Van 2006 Kültür ve Turizm Envanteri I. Tarihsel Değerler.
24 Kılıç, Van 2006 Kültür ve Turizm Envanteri I. Tarihsel Değerler; Governorship of Van; Van Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board Directorate; Pınarcık, “The Capitals of the Urartian’s,” 41.
25 Kılıç, Van 2006 Kültür ve Turizm Envanteri I. Tarihsel Değerler.
26 Ibid.
27 Günel, An Essay on the Old Van Urban Texture, 43.
28 Kılıç Van 2006 Kültür ve Turizm Envanteri I. Tarihsel Değerler.
29 Kef, Traditional City’s Memory. Tarih Okulu Journal, 309; Angın et al., Examining the Relationship between Urban Identity; and Aşur, Akpınar Külekçi, The Relationship Between the Adorability of Urban Landscapes and Their Users Demographic Variables.
30 Belli, “New Urartu Centers in Van Plain.”
31 Harvey, “Heritage Pasts and Heritage Presents.”
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Feran Aşur
Feran Aşur received her Ph.D. degree from the Çukurova University/Turkey with the rank. She has been working in the Van Yuzuncu Yıl University Faculty of Architecture-Design, Department of Landscape Architecture/Turkey. Her current research focuses on the visual landscape quality, urban landscape and historical landscapes, cultural landscape heritage, public space, urban green, and landscape planning. She authorizes many national and international articles, book chapters, and conference papers. She has an extended professional experience in landscape planning and design issues.
Elif Akpinar Kulekci
Elif Akpinar Kulekci graduated from Atatürk University, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of Landscape Architecture with the first rank. She received her Ph.D. from Atatürk University/Turkey. She is currently an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of Landscape Architecture. Her current research is on ecotourism, urban landscape and historical landscapes, cultural landscape, architectural heritage, ecological planning, landscape ergonomics, sustainability, landscape planning, and landscape design. She has many national and international articles, book chapters, and conference papers. She has extensive professional experience in landscape planning and design, ecotourism, and ecological planning.
Muhsine Perihan
Muhsine Perihan completed her undergraduate education at the Bosnia and Herzegovina International University of Sarajevo Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Architecture. She completed her master's degree at the Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Department of Landscape Architecture. She is currently doing his Ph.D. at the Kocaeli University, Faculty of Architecture-Design, Department of Architecture. She is interested in the cultural landscape, historical landscape, and architectural heritage studies.