Urban Aesthetics: The Case of Istanbul and Edinburgh

Cities are dynamic phenomena, which comprise natural, cultural, historical, architectural, social and artificial elements. These elements interact mutually in the urban fabric. In general, cities have been partially destroyed and new structures not designed with aesthetic considerations in countries that have experienced rapid and unplanned urbanisation, such as Turkey. In contrast, cities where planned and orderly urbanisation took place, such as Scotland and England, combine the physical and cultural environment harmoniously. As urban settlements become ever more crowded due to the working and living conditions they offer, a regard for urban aesthetics becomes increasingly imperative. One of the main aims of this study is to discuss urban aesthetics, contrasting Istanbul, which has experienced unplanned urbanisation and Edinburgh, which has widely been accepted as one of the best examples of orderly urbanisation.