The Gecekondu of Istanbul

There is no denying the current speed of urbanisation in Istanbul. From new airports to new bridges, the city is transforming at a dizzying rate and not without protest. The roots of urban planning in modern Istanbul can be found in informal housing units known as Gecekondu, which blossomed in the city during the population boom of the 1950s and 60s. Over the years, Gecekondu neighbourhoods have developed tight knit communal bonds and demonstrated successful bottom up urban planning but now developers are targeting them for redevelopment. Monocle’s Joseph Dana reports on how the Gecekondu have gone from being the darling of Istanbul’s urbanisation to the target of New Istanbul’s land desires.

There is no denying the current speed of urbanisation in Istanbul. From new airports to new bridges, the city is transforming at a dizzying rate and not without protest. The roots of urban planning in modern Istanbul can be found in informal housing units known as Gecekondu, which blossomed in the city during the population boom of the 1950s and 60s. Over the years, Gecekondu neighbourhoods have developed tight knit communal bonds and demonstrated successful bottom up urban planning but now developers are targeting them for redevelopment. Monocle’s Joseph Dana reports on how the Gecekondu have gone from being the darling of Istanbul’s urbanisation to the target of New Istanbul’s land desires.