INTEGRATION OF NEWCOMERS TO AYVALIK (TURKEY) VIA SOCIAL INTEGRATION CENTERS

Batmaz N., Utkan M. M., Oygur G.

ICONARCH IV, Konya, Turkey, 13 - 15 October 2020, pp.977-996

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • City: Konya
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.977-996
  • Kayseri University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

“Refugee” is usually defined as a person who seeks shelter due to reasons

of war, conflict, assimilation, femine, natural disasters and so forth. However,

in a much more humanistic approach, we should perhaps start with Hannah

Arendt’s words, “In the first place, we don’t like to be called refugees. We

ourselves call each other newcomers or immigrants.” Immigration basically

defines a shift in place and it is an instinctive act for human-beings;

therefore, rather than being a “problem”, it actually is a solution to the

problems which makes it hard or impossible to live in a certain place.

Within this point of view, the aim of the research study focuses on the

question of how the experiences of place and space affect the relationship

between newcomers and their location. The paper focuses on the placemaking

experiences of newcomers, through the perception of space and

its effect on individuals. Results of the research indicate that the experience

of place is a vital aspect for achieving integration between newcomers and

locals. Integration and adaptation are actualized when the opportunity

arises for newcomers and locals to meet and cooperate with each other,

both physically and socially. The dynamics of social integration is standing on

two pillars which are social entrepreneurship and common acts between

locals and newcomers; and through the experiences’ of place-making, it

becomes possible to create and maintain a physical integration. This research

paper introduces three graduation projects, known as Integration Centers,

from X University, 2019 Spring semester. The projects were designed by

students for social integration of Syrian people through the social

entrepreneurship idea. Students created different design proposals which

offer public, semi-public and private space for newcomers to encounter

locals and places, and to be able to understand the relationship between

individuals and place, and its effects on their integration.