Transforming Landscapes: Housing, Water Dynamics, and Governance in Ankara’s İncek Region

In rapidly evolving metropolitan regions, the transformation of agricultural lands into urbanized areas represents significant shifts in land use, governance, and housing dynamics. This study focuses on Ankara’s İncek, Kızılcaşar District, where extensive zoning changes have catalyzed the transition from rural simplicity to urban complexity. Originally dotted with mud-brick homes optimized for solar and wind energy utilization, İncek is now a burgeoning urban district driven by luxury housing demands facilitated by political and private sector influences. This shift underscores typical metropolitan growth processes like price formation and spatial differentiation. Moreover, it highlights the evolving dynamics of the Gölcük stream, which was severely affected by these urban developments. The alteration of this vital water source exemplifies the ecological disturbances resulting from urban sprawl, stressing the urgent need for integrated water management strategies in urban planning. Utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach, including field observations and interviews with stakeholders from various socio-economic backgrounds, the research sheds light on the socio-economic disparities and shifting community dynamics. This paper aims to critique and refine metropolitan housing policies, emphasizing the failures and potential of governance and spatial planning tools in achieving sustainable urban transformation and housing affordability.