A Comprehensive Approach in Urban Identity Analysis

In the urban planning and design process, it is of great importance to protect the unique characteristics of the urban and to make the right decisions in this direction. These unique characteristics represent the urban identity. Urban identity is a multidimensional concept that contains natural, artificial and social variables and is shaped in a historical process. The first step in protecting and strengthening urban identity is to define the components of urban identity with a comprehensive approach. This study intent to explain the urban identity components by creating a system with 4 variables that defined through a 4x4 matrix. These variables are explained as historical, natural, artificial and social variables in the rows and columns of the matrix and all characteristics of the urban are defined in this 4x4 matrix system. Thus, with the help of this matrix system, the components of urban can be defined in detail, and urban identity is analyzed with a comprehensive approach. As a result, decisions taken in urban planning considering the urban identity components and their interactions with each other will help to protect and strengthen urban identity.

Keywords:

Urban Identity , Urban Identity Components , Historical , Natural , Artificial , Social