A Strategy for Fostering Integration of Historical Buildings to Increase Citizens' Positive Perceptions: The Case of Izmir Historical Coal Gas Cultural Center

Abstract

This paper proposes fostering the social integration of historical urban industrial
sites so that they are perceived more positively by the city’s citizens. Because of many factors,
cities are growing, which brings many problems, such as preserving urban historical sites. As a
specific example, this study examined the former Izmir Historical Coal Gas Cultural Center in
Izmir, Turkey, regarding the city’s acquisition of the site and evaluation of its potential. The
study tried to answer three main questions: How can we integrate this area into the city? How
can we assess its potential for maintaining the historical and social values of this area? How
can we preserve the historical value of this industrial site despite present-day changes and
demands? To answer these questions, the integration of the whole factory with the city was
evaluated in terms of accessibility, readability, preference for use, and communication with the
past, as well as the integration of its landscape through its parameters (boundaries,
wayfinding, building density, plants, and water use). Following a literature review, on-site
observations and questionnaires were used to provide data analyzed by Crosstab and
ChiSquare tests. The results showed very low ratings for accessibility, readability, and
preference for site use. The site was particularly not preferred for leisure time activities, which
was partly because of inappropriate use of landscape elements. The study concludes by
suggesting several strategies to foster the social integration of this and other historical
industrial sites so that citizens have more positive perceptions of them