Speaker
Description
Urban areas play a pivotal role in shaping global social, ecological, and economic trends, yet the continuous drive for growth often results in residual, blight, leftover, and neglected spaces in various typologies. Such spaces include old industrial areas, abandoned infrastructures, vacant parcels, wild spaces, and interstitial landscapes like undeveloped land or meadows (Cariello, Ferorelli, and Rotondo 2021). This study elaborates on these typologies under the overarching concept of “waste spaces,” which emerge from urban transformations, deindustrialization, population growth, and infrastructure-led development processes. In the post-industrial context of İzmir’s Umurbey neighborhood, once-thriving manufacturing sites have been abandoned, creating fragmented landscapes with adverse social and environmental impacts. This study proposes a Social-Ecological Systems (SES) approach to reimagining post-industrial waste spaces in Umurbey. SES theory recognizes cities as dynamic, integrated systems where human and non-human actors interact through feedback loops (Berkes, Colding, and Folke 2008). By examining the interplay of social processes—such as governance, community engagement, and local economies—and ecological functions—such as biodiversity support and ecosystem services—this approach uncovers transformative strategies for urban sustainability and resilience (Folke et al. 2004; Ostrom 1990).
A mixed-method case study analysis underpins the methodology, combining both quantitative and qualitative tools to identify the typology and morphology of Umurbey’s waste spaces. Drawing on systematic data analysis (e.g. spatial mapping, field measurements) and interpretive insights from literature reviews and field observations, this approach offers a comprehensive view of urban discontinuities (Loukaitou-Sideris 1996). Through triangulation of multiple data sources, the study charts out how waste spaces are spatially distributed, how they evolve, and what design possibilities exist at the neighborhood scale.
Findings reveal that waste spaces in Umurbey are not merely by-products of urban decay but can become incubators for novel socio-ecological practices (Caniglia, Vallée, and Frank 2017). By integrating participatory initiatives such as urban agriculture or creative reuse of industrial heritage can strengthen communal bonds, enhance environmental stewardship, and contribute to a more sustainable urban metabolism (Grimm et al. 2013). Moreover, adaptive management—encompassing iterative planning, feedback monitoring, and shared governance—emerges as a critical tool for transforming neglected zones into resilient, multifunctional landscapes. This approach aligns with the post-growth urbanism debate by challenging the primacy of expansion-driven models over equity and ecological integrity. Rather than framing abandoned sites as liabilities, a regenerative viewpoint underscores their potential for social renewal, habitat restoration, and sustainable resource use. By examining typological and morphological characteristics, the study highlights how targeted interventions—from ecological restoration to community-driven cultural programs—can foster synergies between social well-being and environmental resilience.
In conclusion, revitalizing post-industrial waste spaces through the lens of SES theory offers a paradigm shift for cities like İzmir, moving beyond mainstream redevelopment. Ultimately, the Umurbey example illustrates the broader applicability of SES theory to other post-industrial contexts, inspiring policy and practice that advance social equity and ecological balance.
References
Berkes, Fikret, Johan Colding, and Carl Folke, eds. Navigating Social-Ecological Systems: Building Resilience for Complexity and Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
Cariello, Antonio, Raffaele Ferorelli, and Fabio Rotondo. "Tactical Urbanism in Italy: From Grassroots to Institutional Tool—Assessing Value of Public Space Experiments." Sustainability 13, no. 20 (2021): 11482.
Folke, Carl, Stephen Carpenter, Brian Walker, Marten Scheffer, Thomas Elmqvist, Lance Gunderson, and C. S. Holling. "Regime Shifts, Resilience, and Biodiversity in Ecosystem Management." Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 35, no. 1 (2004): 557–581.
Grimm, Nancy B., Charles L. Redman, Christopher G. Boone, Daniel L. Childers, Sharon L. Harlan, and B. L. Turner II. "Viewing the Urban Socio-Ecological System through a Sustainability Lens: Lessons and Prospects from the Central Arizona–Phoenix LTER Programme." In Long Term Socio-Ecological Research: Studies in Society-Nature Interactions across Spatial and Temporal Scales, 217–246. Springer, 2013.
Loukaitou‐Sideris, Anastasia. "Cracks in the City: Addressing the Constraints and Potentials of Urban Design." Journal of Urban Design 1, no. 1 (1996): 91–103.
Ostrom, Elinor. Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
| Keywords | Social-ecological Systems; waste spaces; post-industrial; reuse; Izmir |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
