Sustainable streetscape, Istanbul, Turkey.

1. Theory . Analysis . Application
Sustainable Streetscape
Learning from Istanbul, Turkey
Ar. Tania Shah
20th International Conference on Humane Habitat
31st January 2018

2. Introduction
Theory . Analysis . Application
This presentation illustrates general concepts for streetscaping and urban design and its analysis with
respect to City of Istanbul, Turkey. It is intended to provide guidance for the planning and design of
streets in heritage zone of Srinagar, J&K, India
Lighting
Trees and
Landscape
Strips
Sidewalks
Signage
Bike Rack
Bio wale
Bus Shelters
Bicycle Tracks
Trash Cans
Ref. Visual dictionary of Street standards

3. Theory . Analysis . Application
Streetscape is a term used to describe the natural and built fabric of the street, and
defined as the design quality of the street and its visual effect, particularly how the paved
area is laid out and treated. It includes buildings, the street surface, and also the fixtures
and fittings that facilitate its use – from bus shelters and signage to planting schemes.
C. Charleswood
What is Sustainable Streetscape?
Ref. Otak Inc. Streetscape Urban Design Elements, City of Cheyenne

4. Theory . Analysis . Application
Principles of Sustainable Streetscape
Urban Social Economic Environmental
Legibility
Comfort and
Safety
Attractiveness
Sustainable
Materials
Liveliness
Reduce
impacts on
environmental
resources
Reduce
energy
consumption
Improve
water quality
Reduce
consumption
of material
resources
Reduce light
pollution
Supports
healthy
urban
communities

5. Theory . Analysis . Application
Elements of Streetscape
Side walks
Street
Furniture
Medians
Bicycle
Facilities
Crossings Public Art
Café
Spaces
Benches
Bus
Shelters
Lighting Curbs
Trash
receptacle
Signage
Street
Corners
Trees and
Landscape
Strips
Planters
Street
Corners

6. City Of Istanbul
Area of Study: Sultanahmet, near Blue Mosque, Istanbul

7. Streetscape Elements
Sidewalks function as
integral components of
pedestrian-friendly
street systems where
pedestrians can
experience safety,
comfort,
accessibility, and
efficient mobility.
Sidewalks also function
as outdoor rooms
and gathering places,
and help define
community character..
Side Walks
Ref. Otak Inc. Streetscape Urban Design Elements, City of
Cheyenne

8. Streetscape Elements
Major Street Side Walk Minor Street Side Walk
Side Walks
Plantation zone Pedestrian Zone Frontage zone Plantation
zone
Pedestrian
zone
Frontage
zone
Ref. Visual dictionary of Street standards

9. Side Walks
City of Istanbul

10. Street Corners
Street Corners provide increased pedestrian
space and opportunity for social interaction
through the placement of benches and site
furnishings as well as a safe refuge while
waiting to cross the street. They also provide
shorter crossing distances for pedestrians.
Streetscape Elements
Ref. Otak Inc. Streetscape Urban Design Elements, City of Cheyenne

11. City of Istanbul
Street Corners

12. Streetscape Elements
Landscape strips are an effective treatment
between sidewalks and streets to create a buffer
from moving vehicles and street noise, and help
pedestrians feel more comfortable walking along
the street.
Trees and landscape strips

13. Streetscape Elements
Trees and landscape strips
Ref. Visual dictionary of Street standards

14. City of Istanbul
Trees and landscape strips

15. Streetscape Elements
Planters
Planters add colour, texture and interest to a
streetscape and can help define and separate spaces.
Properly sited and maintained planters can provide
year-round interest. Moveable planters can be placed
to provide temporary barriers for special event closures
as well as summer or seasonal seating definition.
Planters help define primary building entrances, define
spaces, and enhance aesthetic value.

16. City of Istanbul
Planters
Planters can be installed at seating areas,
along edges of parking lots, in pedestrian
plazas, and in clustered furnishing areas.

17. City of Istanbul
Planters
.
Properly sited and maintained planters can provide year-round interest.

18. Streetscape Elements
Street Furniture
Street furniture shall be consistent and
coordinated in design, materials, colours
and styles that will be complimentary to
the architectural style.

19. Seating in furniture Zone Seating in frontage Zone
Streetscape Elements
Plantation
zone
Furniture
zone
Pedestrian Zone Frontage
zone
Plantation
zone
Pedestrian Zone Furniture zone
Ref. Visual dictionary of Street standards
Street furniture

20. City of Istanbul
Street Furniture

21. Benches are important public resources that contribute to make the city an enjoyable space for
pedestrians. Waiting and resting areas along walkways provide welcome relief to pedestrians, and a
place to sit together, interact, and observe.
City of Istanbul
Benches

22. Streetscape Elements
Lighting
Lighting is one the important
elements in the streetscape as it
contributes to a safe and
aesthetically pleasing public
space.
Lighting must be functionally
appropriate and properly scaled to
both pedestrians and vehicles.

23. City of Istanbul
Lighting
Lighting must be functionally appropriate and properly scaled to both
pedestrians and vehicles.

24. City of Istanbul
Lighting
All pedestrian areas should be lit at night, and lighting should be used to confirm the elements of
landscaping, decoration, and important buildings. Lighting fixtures should be energy efficient and
provide minimal light emissions to prevent night sky pollution.

25. Streetscape Elements
Curbs
Curbs are the edge of the sidewalk
where they meet the street and act as a
barrier to prevent vehicular traffic from
riding up onto the sidewalk.

26. City of Istanbul
Curbs
Curb ramps provide a connection from the
sidewalk to street for people in wheelchairs,
people pushing strollers, children on bicycles,
and delivery services. Curb ramps are required
at all intersections and crosswalks, including
mid-block crossings.

27. Streetscape Elements
Medians
Medians are an effective method of making a
streetscape more pedestrian friendly.
Landscaped median can dramatically alter the
visual character of street for both motorists
and pedestrians.

28. City of Istanbul
Medians can contribute toward
achieving sustainable
streetscape by establishing rain
garden in green area, using
sustainable materials in
pavement, or using solar street
lights.
Medians

29. City of Istanbul
Bus Shelters
All bus stops should be marked by bus stop signs
and provided with benches and trash receptacle.
The sustainable approach of streetscape
encourages the addition of a green roof to each
bus shelter to have a larger effect on
environmental quality, and makes it with recycled
materials.

30. City of Istanbul
Trash Receptacles
Trash receptacles should be conveniently located for
pedestrian traffic near benches, bus stops, and
other activity nodes. Materials that are utilized in
trash receptacles should be sustainable, or recycled
materials to achieve sustainability in streetscape.

31. City of Istanbul
Signage
Signage plays an important role in creating a comfortable urban environment by establishing a visual
guide and orientation tool for both pedestrians and drivers.

32. City of Istanbul
Crossings
Crosswalks are a critical part of the
pedestrian network. Enhanced
crosswalk paving can make
motorists more aware of pedestrian
activity. Streetscape should be
enhanced by special paving at
crosswalks to designate safe
pedestrian circulation.

33. Streetscape Elements
Bicycle Facilities
Designing
sustainable streets
should include
identifying needs
and accommodating
bicycles just as for
other vehicles in the
traffic mix.

34. City of Istanbul
Bicycle Facilities
Streets should be
designed and
constructed to safely
accommodate
known and
encourage bicycle
use. The
fundamental needs
of bicyclists are
twofold: safety while
moving in traffic and
convenient, safe and
secure parking.

35. City of Istanbul
Public Art
Public art can help establish a
unique identity, enhance civic
pride, depict a cultural or historic
event, and add interest to public
spaces.

36. Streetscape Elements
Café Spaces
Outdoor cafés provide an active street frontage and natural locations for arranged and
spontaneous social interactions. Even narrow sidewalks can accommodate café-style seating.
Corner cafés should be placed against the building edge, rather than at the outer edge of the
sidewalk, to maintain visibility at intersections.
Ref. Otak Inc. Streetscape Urban Design Elements, City of Cheyenne

37. City of Istanbul
Café Spaces

38. City of Srinagar
This section deals with the application of streetscape elements which are missing in the heritage
zones, form the public realm and contribute effectively to the formation of the visual image of the
city.
A look at Shehar e Khaas
Missing Elements 

39. City of Srinagar
Area of Study: Heritage Zone, Srinagar

40. City of Srinagar
Srinagar is a city of unparalleled beauty and heritage, and the best way to explore it is by walking
through its street and lanes.
A look at Shehar e Khaas

41. City of Srinagar
Shehar e Khaas is currently a significant historical and commercial hub of Srinagar. Most of the streets
in down town Srinagar lack good streetscape which adversely affects the behaviour of users and
aesthetic aspects of built environment, and thus deterioration of the visual image.
A look at Shehar e Khaas

42. City of Srinagar
Missing Elements

43. City of Srinagar
Missing Elements

44. City of Srinagar
In order to convert the streets of Shehar e Khaas into sustainable streetscape, the following
principles and elements of sustainable streetscape shall be applied
• Sidewalks for pedestrian safety using locally sourced paving materials with sustainable
practices to reduce environmental impacts.
• Street corners with amenities such as landscaping, trash receptacles, seating, and lighting.
• Street trees providing shade for pedestrians and parked cars, withstand pollution, heat, glare
and other urban conditions.
Coordinate tree locations with street lighting, underground utilities and other elements.
• Benches and street furniture providing comfortable, low maintenance seating, easily accessible
to people and not obstructing pedestrian pathway. Use locally produced recycled and/or
renewable materials and energy efficient products wherever possible.
• Providing medians which do not require irrigation and if required, use grey water. Consider
using pavers in the median surface with sustainable materials or recycled materials.
• Signage with proper graphics which is legible should be provided away from walkway zone and
made of sustainable material .
Suggestions

45. City of Srinagar
• Solar lighting achieving sustainability, serving architectural aspect by highlighting the unique
architectural details on the street, Landscaping aspect – Greenery and flowers. The lights on
the street bridges and monuments give an identity to the street. The location and design of
light features should consider the impacts of light pollution, energy efficiency, and any
potential negative impacts.
• All trash receptacles should be screened. On going maintenance and emptying of containers
should occur. Receptacles should be anchored to the ground and located near lighting and near
shops.
• All bus shelters marked by standard signs. Signs should be cleanly designed and maintained,
and should be provided with bench, lighting units, and trash receptacle. The study encourages
the addition of a green roof to each bus shelter. Provide a barrier-free ramp at the point of
entry to the bus.
• Provide bike paths along the street which can help in achieving sustainable streetscape. Do not
obstruct entrances or pedestrian paths. Lanes should be clearly and simply marked.
• Each street crossing should have a barrier free ramp. This corner option should be used in
areas of higher pedestrian traffic.
Suggestions

46. City of Srinagar
• Coordinate for the placement of more public art throughout the street recognizing the history and
character. Sustainable public art should be considered, and durable materials should be used that
will maintain their appearance and integrity over time.
• Provide café spaces along the streets adjoing riverfront and use sustainable material for the
furniture.
This concludes the proposal for developing the streetscape of Shehar e khaas into a sustainable one.
THANK YOU
Suggestions