Gecekondu in Architectural Discourse: Conceptual Traces of the Politics of Space in Turkey

Abstract

This article explores the evolution of architectural discourse on gecekondu in Turkey, examining its transformation from an urban phenomenon to a politicised issue since the 1970s. The socio-economic dynamics underpinning this informal settlement, which emerged as a housing crisis following mass migration, have significantly shaped the architectural theory and language of movements for spatial justice and ‘right to the city’. To explore this evolution, the article employs a multidisciplinary approach, including discourse analysis, archival research, and a review of postgraduate theses on the issue in architecture departments of Turkish universities. By focusing on the lived spaces of gecekondu settlements and the structural conditions of urban poverty, it demonstrates how the gecekondu issue has contributed to the development of new conceptual frameworks in architecture. Ultimately, this article underscores the critical role of gecekondu in expanding architectural discourse, providing a lens to understand the intersection of space and politics in Turkey's urban development.