Mapping as a Tool for Revealing Collective Memory: The Case of Yeniköy, Istanbul

The significance of intangible values in the holistic preservation of architectural heritage has been widely recognized in the recent literature. Since both individual and collective memory are intrinsically linked to place, memory studies have become indispensable tools in interpreting and understanding intangible values in architectural conservation. While historical sites and structures are valued as repositories of memory, they become subject to preservation over time. In this context, documenting memory elements and enhancing their visibility through mapping contributes to a more holistic preservation approach. This study conceptualizes "memory" as an "intangible" phenomenon, elucidates the scientific methods employed to investigate it, and offers recommendations for selecting appropriate methods in alignment with the future research objectives. To emphasize the importance of methodological selection and to observe the applicability of the tools, historical urban landscape of Yeniköy was selected as a case study, exploring whether historical places concurrently function as sites of memory. Consequently, the neighborhood's memory sites were identified, and thematic memory maps were generated. Briefly, the study analyzes methods for revealing collective memory visible within the framework of documenting the relationship between historical spaces and user memory while evaluating the role of its representation in architectural discourse within the overarching conservation process.