THE EVALUATION OF HISTORICAL URBAN AREAS BY URBAN USERS IN THE CONTEXT OF A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT: THE CASE OF ERZURUM

As a result of urban development, historical areas are often found to be located at the very centre of the city. This situation brings about certain challenges in the planning of the historical districts that remain in the city centre. To overcome these challenges, various approaches to the planning of historical areas have been developed. These planning approaches are designed to address the urban issues in the region. Moreover, planning with consideration for the concept of sustainability becomes crucial for the transmission of the historical area to future generations. Erzurum has continued to develop throughout history and is a city that stands out as a crossroads for major trade routes. Urban development and growth began around the castle and its surroundings. Therefore, today, the historical area of the city is located at the very centre. There have been studies aimed at planning the historical area of the city. However, the sustainability of the outcomes of these studies and the extent to which sustainability has been successfully achieved remains a topic of debate. This study discusses the sustainability of the historical city centre of Erzurum. As part of the study, the sustainability criteria that were identified were applied to a survey administered to urban users. Through the survey, the sustainability of the historical city centre was assessed and discussed. The study revealed significant deficiencies in the sustainability of the historical areas within the city, starting with the historical city centre of Erzurum. Based on these findings, recommendations have been developed to increase the sustainability of the region.