The traces of socio-spatial segregation in the city: A case study of Wednesday Market in Ayazağa, Istanbul

This study focuses on the socio-spatial segregation in the Ayazağa neighborhood, which is located near Istanbul’s major business centers and hosts different social groups. The Wednesday Market, situated between the old neighborhood and the gated communities, acts as a spatial threshold reflecting this segregation. Although the market area appears to be a unifying public space, it is also a controversial area where local groups have differing views. In this context, this study aims to analyze the perceptions of different socio-cultural groups regarding the Wednesday Market, to evaluate its potential as a unifying public realm, and to examine its role in the dynamics of segregation. A survey was conducted to provide a comparative analysis of how residents of different housing types evaluate the market area and perceive its notion of publicness. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the study, the study seeks to contribute theoretically and methodologically to future academic research.