The Industrial Heritage: Notion of Atmosphere and Temporality in the Daily Urban Living Praxis

Abstract

Recreating the space means creating a new ‘atmosphere’ there. The atmosphere surrounds the space like the atmosphere layer surrounding the earth. The spaces where the atmosphere of the space can be examined effectively are the spaces that are re-functioned. There are two important and distinct variables that determine the atmosphere formation in re-functional spaces: (1) Time and (2) memory.

In the re-functioning space, the past, present, and future come together and constantly transform each other. This feature emphasises the temporality of these spaces. This approach does not romanticise the space. It focuses on the new space and the atmosphere that changes, transforms, and is fluent in time. This study aims to examine the new spirit and atmosphere of the transformed space rather than telling the transformation story of the old space. 

Bilgi University Campus (Santral Istanbul) in Istanbul and Abdullah Gul University Campus in Kayseri, which were re-functionalized and transformed, were determined as similar examples. These two campuses were observed and compared within the scope of criteria determined by grounded theory methodology. 

The criteria by which the campuses that have been transformed by re-functioning are evaluated were created by compiling the criteria of architects and philosophers working on the experience of space. These criteria are classified as (1) senses and (2) sensations of space.

After the observations, the criteria for the sensations and senses of space were expanded, were added new criteria and redefined. The place has preserved the spirit of time-memory with elements from the past and created a new, holistic, and original atmosphere with its socially active education campus function. In this respect, the campuses have become re-functionalised industrial heritages that embody the spirit of the time and offer a new atmosphere experience beyond being purely educational campuses.