An important zoning regulation proposal regarding rooftops, which the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Department of Planning and Urbanization has been working on for a long time, was unanimously accepted by the IMM Assembly in March and entered into force. This historic decision aims to standardize the use of rooftops in the existing building stock, thus making a positive contribution to the city silhouette and accelerating urban transformation processes, one of the priority agenda items of Istanbul.
Earthquake Reality and Urban Transformation Priority
It is stated that the IMM Department of Zoning and Urbanization started these comprehensive regulation studies in 2020. In order to accelerate urban transformation and build more solid and secure residences instead of risky structures in the city located in Türkiye's earthquake zone and facing the reality of a possible major Istanbul earthquake, the zoning regulation proposal for the use of unusable attics in existing buildings as independent floors was unanimously accepted by the IMM Assembly. This decision is considered an important step in the vision of creating a city more resistant to earthquake risk.
Objectives and Potential Contributions of the New Regulation
The new zoning regulation aims to transform the idle and unusable attic spaces in buildings into liveable and comfortable spaces and turn them into independent units without changing the number of floors in the current plan. There are a number of important gains targeted with this transformation:
- Positive Contribution to the City Silhouette: It is aimed to increase the visual quality of the city silhouette by creating standard and harmonious rooftops instead of irregular and unaesthetic roof appearances.
- Prevention of Illegal Use: The aim is to prevent illegal use of attic spaces that are currently used illegally or in violation of standards by placing them on a legal basis.
- Evaluation of Idle Volumes: The inconvenient spaces under the roofs of buildings, which are generally used as storage areas, will be transformed into livable spaces and used more efficiently.
- Improving Building Quality: Considering the high land and building production costs, it is aimed to increase building quality and use resources more effectively by using existing structures more efficiently.
- Contribution to the Economy: By utilizing the spaces under the roof, it is expected that these areas will be included in the economy just like the intermediate floors and real estate values will increase.
- Increased Quality of Life: The new arrangement aims to increase the quality of life of those living in these spaces by ensuring that the attics receive sufficient natural light and fresh air.
- Solution to Housing Shortage: It is aimed to contribute to alleviating the increasing housing shortage in the face of the current population.
- Production for the Middle Income Group: The aim is to pave the way for more affordable housing production, especially for the middle-income group, by converting penthouses into independent units.
- Acceleration of Urban Transformation: By evaluating the existing building stock and encouraging the production of new housing, it is aimed to progress urban transformation processes more quickly and effectively.
This new zoning regulation is considered an important step towards improving Istanbul's visual identity and creating a safer city against earthquake risk. It stands out as a promising development for the future of Istanbulites, especially with its potential to pave the way for urban transformation.
