From Immigrant Residences to Urban Transformation: Kayseri Eastern Turkestan Residences

Migration, natural disasters and wear in structures that occur over time result in disruption and deterioration in structural areas. As a result, urban transformation works are started at structural areas by the users, local administrations and governments. Urban transformation works are carried out at a region instead of a structure where deterioration has occurred. Kayseri is one of the cities in Turkey where urban transformation has gained acceleration. Many urban transformation works have been carried out in the city of Kayseri. Whereas one of the areas where it is likely that future transformations will take place is the region known as Eastern Turkestan Residences located in the Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Quarter. This area is comprised of single or double storey residences with gardens. However, the fact that these residences have grown old due to use as well as the fact that they are located on an area in the city where unearned income possibilities have increased resulted in making this area an attractive spot for urban transformation. The sustainability of the physical texture of the city may be lost due to the urban transformation carried out at the Kayseri Turkestan Residences Quarter which is an example of the urban textures that have failed against the rapidly transforming city as well as the concept of unearned income. In this study, the current texture of the area in the city of Kayseri known as Eastern Turkestan Residences was examined and suggestions were made for the possible urban transformation. The objective of the study was to document the area prior to urban transformation and to pass the lost architectural values down to posterity. It is hoped that the study will contribute to future studies on the subject