Sensewalking on Istiklal Street, Istanbul: Exploring Sensory Urban Changes

As a result of Turkey’s integration into the global capitalist system, major development projects have been undertaken in Istanbul as it raced towards Global City status. Some remarkable socio-spatial and architectural changes have taken place on Istanbul’s Istiklal Street, altering some of its intangible qualities. This study looks at Istiklal Street via the method of ‘Sensewalking,’ an ethnographic research tool to describe and analyse changes in sensory qualities. Although the futures of cities depend on their physical features, their intangible dimensions and sensory qualities, or ‘sensescapes’ are also essential. While mainstream urban studies focus primarily on physical changes, it is argued here that new understandings about transformed places are possible using sensory ethnographic approaches; and, more importantly, that these insights should inform future planning decisions.