Port-City Identity in the Context of Architectural Heritage: Iskenderun

Abstract

In port cities, the natural relationship between sea and land, coupled with the addition of
commercial networks, elevates settlements beyond the status of ordinary coastal cities,
manifesting its impact on urban and structural morphology. This study examines Iskenderun's
identity as a port city through the historical transformation and spatial traces of its trade-related
industrial heritage. While studies on Iskenderun exist, the relationship between port, trade, city,
and architecture has mostly been addressed through fragmented approaches, lacking a
comprehensive assessment. This research approaches this relationship from a holistic
perspective, progressing from the whole to the individual. The process, extending from
Ottoman-era caravanserais to Levantine commercial structures and the modern architectural
examples of the Republic, is analyzed along with its surroundings, including the port and train
station area. Findings based on archival research, literature review, and field work demonstrate
that Iskenderun, historically a port city focused on maritime trade, has transformed into an
industrial city with a port today. The study argues that registered buildings should be protected
within the scope of industrial heritage through a holistic approach that includes the port and
train station area.