Reevaluating urban identity under changing circumstances: the case of Samsun, Turkey

At a time when many places are beginning to look alike, effective urban design policies and strategies have the potential to reinforce local character and create places with identity. Therefore, a thorough analysis of the concept of identity is needed and an understanding of the ways through which it can be achieved without reducing the concept to an aesthetic dressing possesses a great significance. As viewed from a holistic perspective, it can be claimed that the most powerful elements contributing to the identity of the city are natural environment, social–cultural environment, identifiable quarters, public spaces, and in some cases, landmarks. As cities are always changing and evolving in response to social, economic and political forces, the urban environment has to be considered in a time-based perspective identifying the changes in the local context. In line with these, this paper searches for urban identity by focusing on the organising elements in both theory and practice, as in the case of Samsun, a big city with a rich cultural background where transformations are dramatic.