The Reconstruction Process of Urban Identity and Spatial Continuity in Post-Disaster Contexts: An Evaluation Through Antakya and Bari

This study examines how the historical urban fabric is reconstructed in post-disaster recovery processes within the framework of spatial and functional continuity. Within the scope of the research, the cities of Antakya and Bari are addressed as comparative case studies. Antakya is evaluated as a city that was largely devastated by the earthquakes of February 6, 2023, and is currently undergoing a reconstruction process, whereas the historic center of Bari (Città Vecchia) presents a reference model in which physical and functional continuity have been preserved. Based on a qualitative research approach, the study is conducted through field observations, visual data, and spatial analyses. The two cities are compared according to criteria such as building conditions, functional transformations, street morphology, and spatial continuity. The findings indicate that in Antakya, physical and functional continuity has been disrupted, and urban identity is in a process of reconfiguration, while in Bari, continuity of use and spatial integrity have been maintained. Due to the ongoing reconstruction process in Antakya, the study adopts a process-oriented rather than result-oriented perspective. In this context, interior space and user experience are addressed not through direct observation but through potential spatial scenarios. This study contributes to the literature by evaluating post-disaster spatial continuity through a process-oriented perspective. Consequently, the study reveals that in sustaining urban identity, continuity of use and spatial relationships are more decisive than mere physical reconstruction.