Abstract:

The capital constructs its own production and reproduction spaces through the urban built environment. Non-productive sectors, such as real estate, finance, housing construction, land speculation and tourism, create the main investment areas of capital in urban process wherein the space becomes an object of the commodity production. In the production process, space is organized and controlled by political rulers, economic interests, and planners. In this context, old towns of the cities are becoming the investment areas of capital by their historical fabric and traditional cultural products. Historical traditions are reorganized by the production of tourism-oriented spaces. This process is comprised of restoration, renovation and landscaping of historical houses and buildings; production, exhibition and sales of traditional handicraft. Historical and cultural heritage becomes a part of urban built environment in the production process of space. Thus, the heritage becomes an important industry. This study aims to analyse the relationship between urban built environment and historical and cultural heritage in the production process of space by dealing with tourism-oriented transformation of historical fabric and traditional cultural products.

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