Living Heritage

Author

Aysenur CetinFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-31-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Architecture (MArch)

Department

Architecture

First Advisor

Lafayette Cruise

Second Advisor

Stephanie Rae Lloyd

Abstract

This thesis focuses on urban interventions designed to enhance the functionality and public engagement of Istanbul’s historic Golden Horn walls, while restoring their cultural presence in the city’s collective memory. Although these walls represent centuries of historical and architectural significance, from their Byzantine foundations to their layered Ottoman adaptations, they remain largely overlooked by those who encounter them daily. Fragmented, hidden, or absorbed into informal urban development, the walls have become background elements in a rapidly evolving city.

Through a combination of lightweight, site-sensitive design strategies and educational initiatives, this project aims to reinterpret the Golden Horn walls as accessible, legible, and meaningful spaces. The proposed interventions prioritize usability and visibility without compromising historical integrity. Rather than monumentalize or reconstruct the walls, the approach focuses on revealing and supporting their current condition, while introducing subtle additions that invite public interaction.

By analyzing their historical evolution, spatial transformations, and current urban context, the thesis advocates for a balanced relationship between conservation and adaptive reuse. Ultimately, the goal is to foster a deeper connection between the public and this overlooked heritage, transforming the Golden Horn walls from passive remnants into active participants in the everyday life of Istanbul.

Recommended Citation

Cetin, Aysenur, "Living Heritage" (2025). Masters Theses. 1453.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1453

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.