Exploring Regionalazation and Centralization in İzmir: A Dual-Phase Analysis of Urban Morphology Using Sub-Fractal and Space Syntax Methods

Abstract

This study explores İzmir’s spatial evolution from the 1950s to the present through an integrated dual-phase methodology combining sub-fractal and space syntax analyses. Grounded in complexity science, the city is conceptualized as a self-organizing system influenced by nonlinear urban dynamics. The exogenous phase applies sub-fractal analysis to assess macro-scale morphological changes across four time periods, identifying a progression from fragmented rural complexity to consolidated urban form, especially along a north–south axis. The endogenous phase analyzes changes in centrality through space syntax, revealing a decrease in spatial embeddedness until the 1990s, followed by renewed centralization. This multi-scalar approach contributes to planning strategies for managing regional complexity and urban growth.