Can Gebze be an "Integrated Industrial Green City"?
Integrated industrial cities are being formed and developed all over the world. In addition to industrial zones, residential areas are being developed in close proximity to industrial zones, not only to provide housing for employees, but also to ensure a holistic lifestyle.
The international definition of an industrial or, in other words, industrial city is as follows: "An industrial city is a region or area consisting of clusters of independent industrial plants, all operating simultaneously. Industrialisation is usually located on the outskirts/suburbs of this city and is normally well served by good transport access, including road and rail."
This definition is also valid for Gebze between 1960-1990, but with the establishment of GOSB (Gebze Organised Industrial Zone) in 1990, the industrial development of Gebze has changed significantly with the clustering of OIZ (Organised Industrial Zone).
With a total of 10 OIZs (Organised Industrial Zones) established since 1990, Gebze consists of industrial clusters that are environmentally sensitive, have green areas and afforestation areas, treatment facilities, sewerage and road systems, electricity distribution network specific to the industrial zone, administrative and technical management units, fire brigade, security, health units, even a shopping mall (in GOSB), are extremely modern and dynamic, can be in commercial and industrial coordination with each other, and have the organisational and functional structure of an independent municipality.
Gebze has an exemplary organised industrial cluster system in the world
In this context, Gebze has an exemplary organised industry clustering system. However, unfortunately, this structure and service in OIZs is not valid for the Gebze city region in terms of public services, especially health. This issue is explained in detail in our article titled "Doesn't Gebze, the Industrial Capital of Turkey, Deserve to be a Province?" (see Ref.-1).
The Relationship between Industry and Cities
When the industrial revolution started in England, it was not possible to talk about a conscious relationship between cities and industry. There was also no awareness of air and environmental pollution. Industrial facilities were generally established by taking into consideration the proximity to labour force and transportation routes.
After two centuries since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the world was drowned in industrial facilities, and environment and urbanisation could not develop in parallel with industrial development. Industrial facilities and regions were clustered outside the cities, but the employees lived in the cities, the human traffic between industrial facilities and cities was constantly intensified, this situation turned some cities into ghettoised housing areas that could not accommodate their people properly, could not offer urban aesthetics and social life.
Integrated Industrial Green City Concept
In the new century, mankind started to look for a solution to this distortion, and the concept of "Integrated Industrial Green City", which makes both cities and industrial zones livable, does not harm the environment, protects the green and even increases the green, gave the hope that it could be a solution to two centuries of mistakes.
Integrated industrial cities are being formed and developed all over the world. In addition to industrial zones, residential areas are being developed very close to industrial zones, not only to provide housing for employees, but also to provide a holistic lifestyle. The aim of these industrial and social living areas is to concentrate production value chains for enterprises and to provide high-quality green living spaces for employees and their families near production zones.
Green Satellite Cities-Green Industrial Zone and green satellite city should be integrated.
What are the advantages of Gebze that will contribute to the Integrated Industrial Green City Concept?
Gebze was urbanised towards the Marmara Sea between 1960-90 due to the preference of industrial enterprises for proximity to ports and the ring road. However, since the 1990s, industrialisation in Gebze has grown with Organised Industrial Zones and has generally grown with modern, environmentally friendly, industrial clusters towards the North of the TEM Motorway, which cuts across the city, in the direction of the Black Sea. However, the majority of workers in these industrial zones reside within the city and a significant number of workers commute to Gebze from Istanbul and Izmit to work daily.
Advantages of Gebze that will contribute to the Integrated Industrial Green City Concept;
1. The fact that industrialisation is largely structured and grown through OIZs,
2. Availability of lands suitable for modern, green residential areas near OIZs,
3. It has a green expansion area towards the Black Sea.
What should be done for Gebze to become an Integrated Industrial Green City?
1. "Green satellite cities" in accordance with the green city concept should be built by TOKİ near the OIZs, towards the Black Sea, but in a way that does not encroach on agricultural and forest land, provided that they are only public facilities, i.e. "Public Housing".
2. Green satellite cities to be designed and built as public housing should be rented only to "minimum wage workers" at very reasonable prices. There should be a condition that the minimum wage earner's "spouse must also be working". In this way, the contribution of women to production in Gebze will be encouraged.
3. In central locations close to satellite cities, large public facilities such as hospitals, police stations, courthouses, fire brigades, high schools, stadiums, indoor and outdoor sports complexes, swimming pools, recreation areas, etc. should be established, and within satellite cities, public service facilities such as dispensaries, kindergartens, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, social facilities, sports facilities, etc. should be established.
4. Transportation between satellite cities and Organised Industrial Zones should be mostly by "monorail" train system and road transportation should be kept at minimum level. Electric train systems and especially the monorail system are recognised as the most green-friendly transport system.
A green-friendly and harmonious monorail transport system.
5. Gebze should be connected to the Black Sea coast by monorail railway, and "public housing zones in satellite city concept" should be established in suitable areas to provide public housing services, and the unplanned urbanisation density towards Marmara should be prevented. In the opportunity zones to be formed in the city through satellite urbanisation towards the north, mass housing renovation works suitable for earthquake should be carried out, and the vacant lands that can be obtained should be "forested". In other words, "the forest should be brought into the city".
Gebze should be connected to the Black Sea.
The forest should be brought into the city.
Conclusion
Thanks to its OIZs, Gebze is a dynamic production city that is very suitable for the "Integrated Industrial Green City" concept, which is the new and popular urbanisation and industrialisation trend in the world, and that can adapt to this concept rapidly and can be an example for Turkey.
Gebze should be connected to the Black Sea side by Monorail railway.
Satellite cities should be "green cities".
The zoning of Gebze as an "Integrated Industrial Green City" in accordance with the above-mentioned criteria will provide a breathing space for the low-income citizens living and producing in this city, will raise their living standards, will allow the unplanned growth of the city to be stopped and even eliminated, and will facilitate earthquake preparedness.
Bibliography:
1. Doesn't Gebze, the "Industrial Capital" of Turkey, deserve to be a province?
