Urban digital survey in Galata/Beyoglu: remains of the genoese wallsand of a Caravansary/Bazar

Abstract

Galata, one of the most historically layered districts of Istanbul, represents a critical site for understanding the urban palimpsest of the Golden Horn. The research focuses on the analysis and documentation of selected blocks
along the Galata waterfront, investigating the relationship between surviving defensive structures, later architectural additions, and contemporary transformations affecting the district. The study adopts an interdisciplinary methodology combining archival and cartographic research, architectural-historical analysis, stratigraphic urban reading, and advanced metric digital surveying through 3D laser scanning. The resulting point clouds, orthophotos, and CAD restitutions enabled the reconstruction of diachronic transformations and the identification of alterations, discontinuities, and degradation patterns within key architectural artifacts, including the second tower of the fortification system and the historic Caravansary complex.
The integration of empirical survey data and historical sources facilitated the development of a coherent interpretative narrative linking urban growth processes to the physical evidence of masonry structures and spatial organization. This approach contributes to understanding the dynamics through which traditional urban tissues have been replaced by new construction driven by globalized market logic, often compromising typological continuity and authenticity. The outcomes support conservation-oriented strategies, promote informed decision-making
for restoration and reuse, and provide a framework for future research and public dissemination. The work, presented and discussed during the International Urban Design Workshop “Urban Façade: Istanbul Waterfront”
(2019), highlights the value of accurate documentation as a tool for preserving memory and guiding culturally responsible urban transformation.