The Palimpsest of Government Policies and Migration: Architectural Layering in Kumkapi, Istanbul

This study explores the palimpsest effect of government policies and migration on the architectural layering of Kumkapı, Istanbul. The transformations that have occurred in the physical environment of the district over time have been systematically evaluated through qualitative fieldwork, archive maps, on-site documentation of building facades, and comparative analysis methods. Findings highlight the dynamic interplay between policy, migration, and architecture, emphasizing the need for inclusive urban planning. The findings reveal how migration and political interventions have shaped architectural identity in the process extending from Byzantium to the present; they make architectural layering patterns visible, especially through changes in periodic building uses, facade morphologies, and street texture. The study emphasizes the dynamic interplay between policy, migration, and architecture, highlighting the need for inclusive urban planning.