Neoliberal Urbanism and Commodification of Urban History as a Marketing Tool in Public Recreation

Abstract

Although neo-liberalism is not an urbanization policy, it has changed urban practices since 1970s. Neoliberal politics has started to use history, culture, identity, social status, even happiness as a commodity that can be bought and sold to ensure the sustainability of capital. Urban history and cultural heritage have been highlighted in urban spaces, themed projects, shopping malls, residents, and tourism facilities etc. Hereby, cultural heritages and culture have been faced with depreciation and conservation. Cities have transformed into a fragmented structure with replicas and city images are destroyed. In globalization process place that is a significant concept in terms of architecture and urban planning, has started to lose its distinctive character and lost its meaning. Neoliberalism has constituted “non-places” that defines as places which can be seen everywhere without socio-cultural connection. The difference of an area and space is to be identifiable not only spatial but also historical and relational. The case study area, Ecdad Park, is inspired by historical and architectural features of Ottoman and Selçuklu Empire and commodify urban history as a marketing tool. In scope of the research, the effects of commodification of urban history on users’ satisfaction is evaluated with “user satisfaction survey”. In the light of the results obtained from the survey, density of green areas, cleanness, proximity, security is more effective on user satisfaction rather than historical data and replicas of cultural heritage.