Exploring the spatial manifestations of migration movements: A case of Syrian migrants in Istanbul

Focusing on the spatial experiences of migrants during their journey, this study examines the routes and encounters of skilled migrants moving from Syria to Turkey.It aims to understand evolving patterns in migrants' overall life experiences, considering migration as both being in a place and establishing translocal connections.In this context, a survey was conducted on reasons for migration, routes, settlement preferences, adaptation challenges, and future plans of migrants, involving 60 Syrian migrants living in Istanbul.The data were subjected to the Chi-square significance test using the SPSS 28 program.The findings of the study emphasize the significant role of historical, cultural, geographical, and technological factors in influencing migrants' migration decisions.Migrants face both challenges and opportunities in their living environments while various factors, including the desire to remain in Turkey, property ownership, past migration experiences, and socio-political dynamics, significantly impact their decisions to migrate.Moreover, past movements play a crucial role in shaping migrants' future mobility choices, shaping their experiences throughout the migration journey while considering translocal connections.Therefore, the study emphasizes that the emergence of the idea of migration and all spatial and experiential encounters in reaching the destination create a migration career.These findings highlight the dynamic nature of international migration and underscore the complexities in the relationship between architecture and migration, suggesting avenues for further research to explore these complexities through qualitative methods and broader participant engagement.