The Urban Morphological History of Atatürk Avenue in Bursa, 1862–2018

Bursa, Turkey’s fourth-largest city, possesses a rich and layered historical legacy shaped by successive civilizations, including the Bithynians, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans, the last of whom established it as their first capital in 1326. Despite significant industrialization, migration, and globalization throughout the twentieth century, the city’s Historic Centre has retained its cultural and spatial significance, earning UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014. This study focuses on Atatürk Avenue, the principal artery of the Historic City Centre, tracing its evolution from a vibrant Ottoman commercial and social hub to a modern urban axis dominated by reinforced-concrete buildings. Employing urban morphological methods, the research presented here uses maps to examine the thoroughfare’s development from 1862 to 2018, highlighting the challenges of preserving historical identity amid contemporary urbanization. The findings contribute to a broader discourse on reconciling heritage conservation and modern development, emphasizing the Avenue’s evolving role within the historical fabric of Bursa

Cultural heritage · Globalization · Urban history · Urban landscape · History and Cultural Heritage · Urban Design and Spatial Analysis · Urban Planning and Governance