Özgece, Nezire <br/><br/>
AN ANALYTICAL ASSESSMENT THROUGH SOCIO-SPATIAL PATTERNS OF EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN PORT CITIES / 
Nezire ÖZGECE; Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Nezih Ayıran; Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Erincik EDGÜ 
 - 227 sheets;  31 cm.  Includes CD 
<br/><br/>Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Department of Architecture  
<br/><br/>Includes bibliography (sheets 205-215) 
<br/><br/> ABSTRACT<br/>Port cities are more than just coastal cities. If port cities are in the Eastern<br/>Mediterranean region, then they are more than just port cities. Coming from a similar<br/>past as a part of common geography, Eastern Mediterranean port cities have unique<br/>developments resulting in unique port city identities. Particularly by the 19th century<br/>developments, the port cities in the region have undergone more or less similar<br/>processes affecting their spatial and social patterns.<br/>The focus of this research is to discuss the outcomes of this process regarding the<br/>spatial and social similarities and differences. Along with the socio-economic and<br/>socio-cultural parameters affecting the development of port cities, the overview of the<br/>specific cities helps to propose an analytical model for the evaluation of port cities.<br/>Therefore, this study focuses on four port cities in Eastern Mediterranean, which had<br/>been ruled by Ottoman Empire during the 19th century. Within the framework of<br/>Eastern Mediterranean port cities taking Cyprus to the centre, this study applies the<br/>analytical model on Famagusta, Limassol, Mersin and Beirut port cities to reveal the<br/>socio-spatial pattern characteristics and assemble an integrated picture of Eastern<br/>Mediterranean port cities.<br/>The overview of these port cities designates three basic types of spatial development:<br/>linear development, radial development and network development. The proposed<br/>analytical model comprises the prominent components of these development patterns<br/>which are specified as waterfront, main urban square and major commercial street.<br/>These components are assumed to be the key public spaces of the socio-spatial pattern<br/>associated with the port city identity. In this regard, the spatial patterns are initially<br/>analysed through Space Syntax methodology in reference to 19th century and present<br/>day layouts, and the social patterns are analysed through the key public spaces<br/>considering their present layouts.<br/>The case study cities are analysed individually and discussed comparatively. The<br/>results indicate that all cities have their own limitations affecting the spatial pattern<br/>development which reflects on the social pattern in various ways. The outcomes of the<br/>research also imply that the cities with similar development patterns present similar<br/>features of the key public spaces. However, it is also among the findings that the social<br/>pattern of these spaces affects the imageability of the cities which is associated with<br/>the unique identity of the port cities.