THE STATE, SOCIETY AND SPACE: TRACING COSMOPOLITANISM IN THE URBAN FABRIC OF MODA

Moda is an urban district of Istanbul well-known for its cosmopolitan identity. Although many narratives and studies about Moda reflect the area’s unique urban characteristics, there is a striking lack of research on the factors that define its cosmopolitanisation, particularly in relation to urban transformation and spatial change. This study investigates the cosmopolitan evolution of Moda from the 1800s to the 2020s by examining the area’s urban dynamics through written sources and historical events based on social, cultural, political, economic, and demographic fact. The article aims to explain the process of cosmopolitanisation and urban transformation in Moda by identifying and categorizing the major underlying factors into planning decisions and social changes, and by tracing these through spatial practices and the variety of architectural languages that have played critical roles in the formation of Moda’s urban characteristics. Through this analytical lens, the research aspires to contribute original insights to existing scholarship on Moda’s cosmopolitan urban transformation, particularly by evaluating urban morphology, land ownership, and the functional use of space. The findings show that state regulations and planning decisions, combined with social and cultural dynamics, have been effective factors in the formation of Moda’s cosmopolitan characteristics and in understanding the concept of the thirdspace enriching the area’s unique identity through urban transformation. The article offers critical insights into the cosmopolitan urban context of Moda by emphasizing the importance of the complex interaction between spatial, cultural, and political forces in shaping urban environments.