A quantitative approach to enhance the visibility of historic landmarks through view corridors: the case of Yesil Kulliye in Bursa

The visual integrity of historic landmarks in contemporary cities is increasingly compromised by urban development, reducing both their visibility and appreciation as cultural heritage assets. This study focuses on Bursa, where traditional and current visibility maps reveal a significant decline in landmark prominence. Employing a quantitative approach, the research integrates View Dome analysis (3D) and Space Syntax (2D) to identify strategic viewpoints that offer high visual potential within accessible, central urban spaces. By elevating the heights of the observer in the View Dome for selected landmarks, including the Yesil Tomb and Yesil Mosque, visually prominent areas are detected and superimposed onto the global integration model. Two view corridors are constructed from these strategic viewpoints analysed using the Line of Sight tool in ArcGIS Pro. Obstructing buildings are identified through sightline intersections, with excess height (ExH) and threshold height (ThH) values calculated for different observer locations. These values notify the maximum height allowed for obstructing buildings, tested through simulation scenarios in CityEngine. The method demonstrates that minimal interventions can substantially enhance landmark visibility from key urban spaces without monitoring extensive urban regions. It offers a feasible strategy for designers to preserve the visual integrity of historic sites.