Sacred Places and Places of Worship as Places of Transforming Identity in Changing Cities

Dr. Erhan KURTARIR, Yıldız Technical University

A strong trend in the literature of urban planning and geography discusses the problematic of identity spaces in the context of the inclusiveness of planning. As the demands of different cultural identities to be visible in the urban space, as well as population movements such as increased migration, asylum, etc., “identity places” become an important issue of planning (Healey, 1997; Sandercock, 2000; Germain & Gagnon, 2003; Gale, 2005). Identity spaces are extremely important and fragile areas for society in order to keep the values that communities feel alive and to pass on to future generations. Sustaining urban and even spatial values is of vital importance in maintaining identity because spatialization is a necessary precondition for both belonging and identity. On the other hand, as both societies, identities, cultures and individuals change and develop, it is inevitable for spaces to undergo change and transformation. The important point is to determine how this change and transformation process came about and whether it emerged from an internal or an external pressure. Urban transformation processes also emerge as processes of change that appear due to various obligations and demands, but include a spectrum that can reach forced transformation with increasing market pressure. Within the scope of this study, the processes of maintaining the existence of sacred places and places of worship, which are urban common areas and which are also the bearers of belief identity, to resist change, change, or adapt to change will be evaluated with a spatial planning perspective. In this evaluation, the comparison of urban sacred spaces will be made through various examples of transformation. Especially in terms of the meaning of the space, what sacred spaces offer and what the indicators and spatial strategies that are necessary for the management of change transformation processes with inclusive planning processes will be opened to discussion. The principles that need to be rethought in terms of inclusive spatial planning of the standards of urban reinforcement areas such as spaces of cultural identity, religious or sacred places, and places of worship will be discussed. For this purpose, among the findings of field studies carried out by the author in Istanbul, examples of the struggle to preserve / maintain the existence of places of minority identity and the struggle for the establishment and recognition of Alevi places of worship will be shared.