Territory City

Abstract

This thesis is an exploration into the power of socially constructed boundaries, both physical and psychological. Subject to interpretation, a single boundary can completely control one person’s actions while being unperceived by another. The growing cultural and economic disparity within cities has lead to the territorialization of communities, as evidenced by the ghettoization of both the wealthy and impoverished in the form of gated communities and slums. This creation of exclusivity exacerbates social polarization and limits the opportunity for cross-culture interaction. Through the transgression of these boundaries, inhabitants renegotiate social norms and appropriate urban spaces. Challenging this creation of territories in the city, the intent of this thesis is to provide a framework for reterritorializing the city towards inclusivity. Istanbul in particular possesses a prominent divide between socioeconomic circumstances, which has lead to the intensification of zones of exclusion throughout the city, re-codifying what can be viewed as public space.