A Route From Anti-Space To Historical Place

This project investigates the morphological and socio-spatial transformation of the Gevher Nesibe and Gülük neighborhoods in the urban core of Kayseri from 1850 to the present, aiming to introduce a tactical architectural intervention against the “cultural amnesia” induced by modernization practices. The automotive-oriented planning and rational zoning paradigms of the mid-twentieth century severely disrupted Kayseri’s close-knit organic fabric—once characterized by courtyard houses and narrow streets—thereby isolating historic structures such as shifahanas, madrasas, and hammams into pedestrian-excluding “anti spaces”. According to the morphological analysis, the solidity ratio of the study area plummeted from 65% in 1850 to 25% today, while average street widths expanded to 25–30 meters due to vehicular infrastructure, resulting in undefined urban voids that fracture neighborhood social bonds. 

Rejecting a purely nostalgic reconstruction reflex, the design conceptualizes these urban wounds as future potentials, proposing a “Memory Route” centered around the notion of “stitching the void”. Acting as a contemporary palimpsest layer that establishes a bold, industrial contrast between the concrete gray of the environment and the yellow stone of historical monuments, this red modular thread reintegrates disconnected historical enclaves based on the human pedestrian scale. Furthermore, the physical configuration is reinforced by a digital module via smartphone applications, counteracting urban memory deficiencies on both a spatial and cognitive level. 

To transform dysfunctional voids into spaces of social production, six tactical architectural interventions (T1–T6) are introduced: T1 pavilions utilize movable panels for rapid community exhibitions; T2 steps, inspired by traditional stone seating elements of Kayseri houses, form stages for public performances; T3 modular benches punctuate the route to disrupt automated daily routines and facilitate social interaction; T4 perforated metal canopies improve microclimatic comfort adjacent to historical walls while generating dynamic shadow patterns; T5 water elements provide a peaceful acoustic horizon by masking peripheral traffic noise through white noise; and T6 cultivation modules reintegrate urban agriculture into daily life, allowing residents to foster local ownership. Ultimately, by implementing lightweight, demountable structures, the project enhances urban resilience and models a socially sustainable collective memory system for Kayseri through equal accessibility and practiced urban rituals.