PRINCIPLES OF RE-PLANNING CITY CENTRES
Following the earthquakes of Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 which severely damaged several provinces, city planning efforts are still in progress. The master plans commissioned by the Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Ministry are being followed to prepare for smaller-scale pilot projects conducted by TTV. Great importance is being placed on sharing first-hand information with all stakeholders during both the planning and pilot project preparation phases. The main principles of the projects, which have been detailed at numerous meetings, are as follows:

** The master plan decisions, previously introduced in several meetings, continue the fundamental approach of following the traces of the French plan made in the 1920s. By abandoning the concept of creating settlements in riverbeds which intensified the earthquake's destructive impact, riverfronts and waterfronts have been designated as green spaces. Consequently, to avoid the displacement of property owners in increasingly dense residential areas, building blocks have been merged and enlarged.

** According to the master plan, closing riverbanks and riverbeds to construction has nearly doubled the total green area compared to pre-earthquake times.

** The pilot project conducted for the Antakya Centre is crucial in terms of it being the first implementation area within the detailed, holistic post-earthquake Hatay Master Plan. The implementations undertaken by the Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Ministry, when considering the post-earthquake economic conditions in Antakya, are pivotal both for themselves and as an exemplary guide for future development processes.

** The work area is considered as a pilot study area for the reconstruction of all of Antakya post- earthquake, into a "disaster-resistant and high-quality urban living" space.

** The entire project process is conducted in collaboration with actors from different fields, local governments, and NGOs. Meetings and workshops with experts and local residents have been held in Hatay and Istanbul. In the next phase, meetings aimed at listening to and sharing information with the local population will continue.

** Decisions by the Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Ministry and the Culture and Tourism Ministry will ensure that the demographic structure and ownership rights within the project boundaries are maintained, and no additional housing units are built. Thus, preserving previous neighbourhood relationships and refraining from introducing an additional population into the area, are among the project's fundamental goals. Within this context, all efforts are being made to return housing units to their owners at the locations closest to their pre-earthquake property positions. The 'reserve building area' announcement made on November 14, 2023 in Antakya aims to solve practical issues around planning processes during the implementation. Protecting local residents' property rights is a fundamental principle in this project.

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE PILOT PROJECT AREA
** Within a 200-hectare area, riverbanks and riverbeds are closed to construction and transformed into public open and green spaces.

** The existing main road patterns within the region are being preserved, and the redesigned transportation network is focusing on pedestrian, bicycle, and public transportation, with controlled private vehicle traffic.

** Throughout the entire working area, building heights are being systematically arranged as ground + 4, 5, 6 floors.

** In pilot blocks, common areas are being designed to revitalise neighbourhood relationships, creating opportunities to maintain daily local habits.

** In the projects designed within the area, elements of urban memory and traces from before the earthquake occurred are considered, with efforts being made to preserve these elements as much as possible, ensuring that residents do not feel alienated from the area.

** The designs produced, together with a master plan approach at a higher scale, ensure that care is taken to achieve harmony between the elements that form the urban fabric, with the coming together of buildings at smaller scales. All project authors discuss designs regularly in their meetings. Additionally, a working group exists to guide designs in aspects such as materials, texture and proportions.

** The designs produced, together with a master plan approach at a higher scale, ensure that care is taken to achieve harmony between the elements that form the urban fabric, with the coming together of buildings at smaller scales. All project authors discuss designs regularly in their meetings. Furthermore, a working group exists to guide the designs in aspects such as materials, texture, and proportions.

** By bringing together architectural teams and local stakeholders, direct feedback on the projects is ensured. Meetings and presentations on this matter will continue.