The Role of Cultural Sustainability in the Built Environment: The Case of Eminönü Neighborhood in Al-Fatih, Istanbul

This study aims to discuss the concept of cultural sustainability and its relation to architecture and urbanism. We asked a fundamental question: what conditions can create a sense of cultural sustainability in a contemporary and future Muslim city? And how can the contemporary and future Muslim city demonstrate the value of culture in the built environment? We illustrated the value of culture in the old Muslim cities; in particular, we selected the Eminönü neighborhood in al-Fatih district in Istanbul, Turkey, as an example that achieved cultural sustainability. We read the history and the morphology of the Eminönü neighborhood that is still sustained and alive until today. In addition, to expand the understanding of cultural sustainability and urbanism, we studied the meaning of cultural sustainability, the evolution of culture in sustainable development, and its relation to the built environment. Furthermore, we discussed how scholars and researchers have explained and studied the concept of cultural sustainability in the built environment from different perspectives. In this regard, we suggested a theoretical framework that includes three roles: cultural sustainability “in” buildings, cultural sustainability “for” buildings, and cultural sustainability “as” buildings to analyze the built environment in the Eminönü neighborhood. Three main areas in the Eminönü neighborhood were analyzed through the framework’s criteria and indicators we have suggested. In conclusion, we aim to argue the possibility of considering the cultural aspect of a city as a separate component in the sustainability model and to emphasize the important role of culture in creating the city’s image and identity through architecture. Also, to offer a cultural sustainability framework that can be adopted to be applied in any neighborhood.