Urban Impacts of Commercial Development in the Context of Brownfield Regeneration: The Northern Cyprus 1001 Airport Mall Case Study

Abstract

Brownfield revitalization aims to support both spatial sustainability and the urban economy by    repurposing underutilized or poorly used urban spaces. This study examines the 1001 Airport Mall case in Northern Cyprus from an architectural and urban planning perspective. It has been observed that the project area is currently permanently closed; however, it has been determined that active use of the area occurred approximately between 2015 and 2020, after which urban transformation aimed at constructing modern apartment buildings and residential blocks in place of the commercial structure came to the forefront. According to the information shared, the transformation process was formalized with the complete demolition of the shopping mall; thus, the area has the potential to transition from a commercially focused building identity to a new established land use arrangement within a framework closer to a mixed commercial-residential transformation approach.

The aim of the study is; (i) to reveal the effects of the derelict state resulting from the cessation of commercial use on the surrounding land-use patterns, functional continuity, and public/semi-public space use; (ii) to evaluate how the project's proximity to the Ercan Airport area and major transportation axes may shape the urban outcomes of the transformation; and (iii) to discuss how the residential component in brownfield transformations can create a "re-activation" mechanism in terms of continuity of use and integration with the city.

In this case study, Google Earth images, on-site photographic records, and observational findings were evaluated together. The findings show that the area currently bears traces of derelict physical forms and that the inactive use creates an "urban impact gap" around it. However, with the introduction of new residential/residential-focused use, the possibility of continuous use around the area and daily access-based urban revitalization is strengthened. In addition, the residential component-based re-functionalization approach can be interpreted as an important mechanism for promoting urban integration, primarily by re-establishing continuity of use in brownfield areas.

Keywords: Brownfield, urban, land use, residential transformation, accessibility, Northern Cyprus.