Informal settlement

Gecekondulaşma is a form of urban settlement characterized by the unauthorized and often unplanned construction of dwellings on land not owned by the builders, in violation of settlement and zoning regulations. In Türkiye, the term "gecekondu" is commonly used to describe illegal housing units built by low-income groups who migrated from rural areas to cities in response to housing shortages.

History and Development

The process of gecekondulaşma in Türkiye accelerated significantly from the 1950s onward. During this period, as internal migration increased, urban populations in industrializing cities—particularly Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, and Adana—grew rapidly, while adequate housing production failed to keep pace. As a result, low-income groups turned to unauthorized settlements along urban peripheries.

Initially, gecekondular were temporary structures built to meet the basic shelter needs of the poor. Over time, however, they became integrated into the urban fabric, expanded through additional floors, rented out, and even sold, entering the real estate market. This transformation elevated gecekondulaşma from a simple housing problem to a comprehensive urban issue with social, economic, and spatial dimensions.

Causes

The main causes of gecekondulaşma include the decline of agricultural employment in rural areas, the hope of finding work in industrial cities, inadequate access to basic services such as education, healthcare, and transportation in rural regions, and the fragmentation of land through inheritance, which reduces livelihood sources.

Legal and Administrative Approaches

In Türkiye, the first legal definition of gecekondular was introduced with the Gecekondu Law No. 775 enacted in 1966, which also designated certain areas as "gecekondu prevention zones." Following the 1980s, under neoliberal policies, gecekondular became part of urban rent-seeking dynamics, and efforts toward regularization and legalization increased. Reforms in 2004 transformed TOKİ (Housing Development Administration) into a central actor in urban transformation projects, enabling it to play an active role in the redevelopment of gecekondu areas.

Urban Transformation and TOKİ

Since its establishment in 1984, TOKİ developed a more effective institutional structure in the 2000s, becoming a major force in housing production and urban transformation projects. Projects implemented by TOKİ in gecekondu areas aim not only to physically redevelop spaces but also to achieve socio-economic integration. However, these interventions have also generated new problems, including displacement, cultural dislocation, and social alienation.