Abstract:

The study aims to understand and explain the different paces and patterns of spatial transformation taking place in the sub-areas of Mamak district of Ankara, with similar locations and/or intervention backgrounds. It is suggested herein that the available theoretical tools, which are built upon dynamic transformation processes fall short of understanding the characteristics of Mamak’s gecekondu transformation that is rather slow. The cumulative effect of successive state interventions has formed a particular logic of spatial differentiation in Mamak, one that is distinct from the unevenness at the metropolitan scale.The conceptual framework developed in this study aims to incorporate the cumulative effects of spatial interventions of State into the urban transformation accounts, by observing a relatively slow transforming region. Two core concepts are introduced for this purpose. The first is a new space category called potential space which aims to make pre-transformation processes theoretically visible. The second is the socio-spatial fixity (SSF) concept which draws attention to the cumulative effects of state interventions along with geographical and demographic factors. Potential space is assumed to be formed and reformed through the dialectical relationship between state interventions and the SSF of an area; carrying foreseen or unforeseen various transformation potentialities.Within such a perspective the transformation path of Ankara Mamak District is explained with reference to four state intervention categories. Six sub-areas with either similar intervention backgrounds or similar locations were selected as part of case study. Although they are not presented within the scope of this paper, case selection method is noteworthy in the sense that they are not pre-given areas but theory-driven ones. Finally the transformation characteristics of Mamak were presented with reference to its socio-spatial fixity, along with formations that have emerged in slow transforming areas. These are evaluated as policy inputs for an ameliorated environment for Mamak.

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