Abstract:

Like in many other developing countries, urban renewal projects constitute a significant part of the activities of architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry in Turkey, and recently Turkey has started an urban renewal movement aiming renewal of 8 million dwellings. In this study, as a critical factor on the success and continuity of the urban renewal projects, the relation between built environment design and economic sustainability in urban renewal areas, was examined. In order to determine the importance of built environment design elements in terms of economic sustainability, a survey study was done with the participation of 323 people, who were mainly architects, civil engineers and urban planners and has previously worked in urban renewal projects. By applying factor analyses the design elements were grouped under six different factors, which were named as: Transportation and Accessibility, Built Environment Quality, Conservation of Resources, Supporting Social Life, Commercial and Economic Opportunities and Historical and Cultural Values. The importance weights of these factors were determined by AHP analyses conducted with the participation of a group of 60 people formed by academicians and practitioners. Conservation of Resources and Commercial and Economic Opportunities factors were found as the most important factors. It is evaluated that the results of the study will guide the urban renewal stakeholders in creating economically sustainable urban renewal areas.

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