The Impact of Universities Located in the City Center on Spatial Uses in the Immediate Urban Fabric

Universities located in city centers develop spatial solutions that aim for integration rather than tension with the urban population through the spatial uses within the surrounding urban fabric. These spatial uses are examined through the lens of functional shifts and transitions toward mixed-use developments. This study serves as a guide for planners and designers regarding the spatial integration of universities established in city centers, specifically concerning land-use decisions within the immediate urban context. Functional shifts and mixed-use developments emerging in the vicinity of universities within the context of the university-city relationship were investigated through a literature review. Insights from the literature were then compared using two case studies from the Golden Horn area. Findings derived from Pervititch maps, a comparison of zoning plans from 1994/2005/2012, and on site functional assessments were mapped onto current 2024 base map. The impacts of city center universities on the spatial uses of the surrounding urban fabric were analyzed by reviewing 52 studies-sourced from databases including WoS-Scopus-Dissertation-Google Scholar and subsequently categorized under six thematic headings. The findings and discussion sections of these studies were analyzed to extract data on functional shifts and mixed-use developments, which were then organized into tables to reflect their spatial implications. Findings: Identified spatial uses include the incremental expansion of the university in alignment with the formal characteristics of the urban fabric, an increase in temporary accommodation and student housing, the development of shared spaces for both urban residents and the university community, the emergence of technoparks, museums, research centers, and healthcare facilities around the university, the role of the university and its student population in shaping a specific destination identity, advancements in transportation strategies. The originality of this study lies in comparing spatial use patterns-categorized into six themes based on international literatüre-with findings observed at two post-industrial university campuses located within the historic urban fabric along the Golden Horn and their immediate surroundings. Urban transformations, which began in the 1980s with the relocation of industry outside the city, led to the emergence of site-specific urban uses following the establishment of universities along the Golden Horn. This process has generated spatial uses that aim to integrate the universities along the Golden Horn with their immediate urban context.