Town planning has influenced social life throughout history.  The most divine cities had become the center of civilization and the criteria for an admirable urbanity had been the advancement of town planning. The indication of underdevelopment had always been irregular and sprawled urbanization. The problems that came along with the urban transformation had been one of the most significant issues of our country while the unhealthy living conditions; caused by illegal and planless constructing, social and financial challenges is increasing every single day. Today, as a part of the globalization process, our capital city is also progressing rapidly. As its population is increasing swiftly, urban transformation projects aimed to vitalize and renew the old urban areas, which are formed irregularly due to immigration, appear to be the solution to this problem. In developed countries, these urban transformation projects can be implemented in every aspect while in our country they are limited to removing squatter’s houses and unstructured constructions. Most of the projects that are about destruction and construction of collective housing are based on preventing the visual pollution unlike in the Western cases, which has the concern of sustaining ecological balance and rejoicing the positive sciences that constitutes the contemporary standards in modern town planning. The practice of urban transformation, which are mainly aimed to improve illegal structures, clearance of buildings endurable to earthquakes and embellish the town’s view, can provide significant opportunities to bring recycling and waste management- which we haven’t paid much attention to as a nation for years – to our daily lives.

Even though urban transformation was legalized long ago in Europe and USA, in Turkey it was first mentioned in 1950’s and more intensely in 2000’s. In 1950’s as the industrialization started to spread in large cities as well as in Ankara, an uncontrollable enlargement became an issue. The boost in population and immigration brought one of the most fundamental problems of all: shelter. Building shanties, a short-term solution, caused the formation of poor physical quality areas, which is the main reason for urban transformation. In following years, with cooperative manufacturing and collective housing projects, first steps were taken to change the face of Ankara. By the legal regulations arranged in late 1980’s, a modification process involving the transformation and renewal of shantytown areas started. Especially in 2000’s, there was an observable augmentation in the number of urban transformation projects in local authority legislation framework. Urban transformation projects brought many questions and raised arguments on the influence of these projects on social and economical situations that still continue. Yet, it is known that, the most disregarded problem about this extensive process is the sustainable environment principal.  Waving aside the political and social aspects of these, we can comprehend the importance of integrating recycling and waste management systems to new buildings, which is a massive issue to municipalities.

In this context, Northern Ankara Urban Transformation Project which is implemented in the leadership of TOBAŞ coop. (a cooperation in the association of TOKİ and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality since 2004) on an 7.5 million square meter area which happens to be also the northern entrance way of Capital, is the first of all the projects in the town to have the sense of   social and environmental responsibility, headed towards renewable energy sources and sensitive to ecosystems. The interview we did with TOBAŞ Project Designing Manager Ayşe Güven has revealed unknown aspects of the project: “Northern Ankara Urban Transformation Project has prevented the pollution of soil and water on area as well as removing squatter’s houses and solving the infrastructure problems. Also, the collection, refinement and distillation systems are no different than their examples around the world.” She mentioned that these buildings had appropriate infrastructure  capable of recycling and distilling wastes without damaging the environment. One of the greenest aspects of this project is that every building has its own compost center that can produce fertilizers used in greenhouses found in the project area. While the water needed for the greenhouses is provided from the brooks nearby, there is a system set up to collect groundwater in dry seasons.

Ministry of Environment and City Planning calculated that 37 million ton debris will come out from demolishing approximately 14 million 500 thousand buildings all around Turkey in a year while carrying out these projects. The answer to “What will be done with this rubble?” comes from TOBAŞ again. A company is founded just for processing debris to form aggregates that are being used in recreation areas of the project.  Up till now, these aggregates are used in infrastructure affairs, filling of tennis courts, decoration of  parks or building pavements.

Another important environmental aspect of this project is that before the constructions has started; the endemic plants and animal species were protected with care. When the construction is done, it is stated that these species will be returned to the recreation area. Of course, it is unclear whether these organisms will adapt to their new habitat or not.

The controversial but environmental implementations applied under the title of Northern Ankara Urban Transformation Project are not what we are used to seeing. Of course, all of these applications aren’t enough to make these buildings or projects truly “green” but steps that are taken can be the start of leading eco-friendly projects. To avoid past mistakes, along with increasing the quality of life and prosperity, its necessary for the local governances to consider sustainable energy and energy efficiency while leading the urban transformation processes. Logical environment policies and legal arrangements should be prepared to spread this “sustainable towns” in our country just like we see in Europe and it should be kept in mind that every building, primarily the public buildings, that will be transformed or renewed according to those examples who are far ahead us will bring considerable profit.

“A city is not an accident but the result of coherent visions and aims.” Leon Krier

Notes to editors:

• The article is translated into Turkish and is published in e-bulletin of “Municipality of Pursaklar”, that is the municipality of the region where Northern Ankara Urban Transformation Project is found.
• Also it will be published in a local newspaper in Pursaklar, in May.