A Comparative Study of Tactical Urbanism Practices Applied in Lost Spaces

Abstract

Today, cities, as dynamic, complex, and fragmented spaces, present various urban problems. Projects proposed through traditional planning approaches are inadequate in solving urban problems because they are resistant to change, have slow-moving processes, and are difficult and costly to remove when they fail to meet user needs. Therefore, tactical urbanism, one of the emerging new planning approaches, emerges as an approach that advocates site-specific and pinpointed methods, emphasizes low cost and low risk, and incorporates flexible and rapid interventions that adapt to change. This study aims to propose solutions for areas defined as "lost space" by utilizing these practices. The issue of reclaiming lost space, an urban problem to which tactical urbanism provides applications, has gained importance due to the density, congestion, and waste of urban land in today's cities. It is also clear that these areas pose problems such as pollution, neglect, urban disconnection, insecurity, and idleness. This study examines lost spaces through a comparative analysis of national and international examples using the tactical urbanism approach. The study determined that tactical urbanism practices are implemented globally at many different scales and functions, and that stakeholder diversity is equally high. The study concluded that tactical urbanism practices are an effective solution for lost spaces. Furthermore, the Kadıköy examples were found to be successful compared to their international counterparts due to their low cost and diversity in terms of participation. However, they were found to be inadequate in terms of functional diversity and flexible spatial production methods.