Gür, N. and Kahraman, Ö. (2026) ‘Scenario-based facility plant design strategies for post-industrial coastal area transformation: A decision support framework for sustainable urban landscape at İzmir Port, Türkiye’, Architecture Papers of the Faculty of Architecture and Design STU, 31(3), pp. 2-11. https://www.doi.org/10.2478/alfa-2026-0012
SUMMARY
The transformation of post-industrial coastal areas holds critical potential for sustainable urban development, yet planting design decisions in this process are largely based on qualitative and subjective principles. Particularly in coastal cities, the revitalisation of defunct port zones constitutes a main focal point of urban landscape restructuring. However, there remains a significant gap in systematic, ecology-prioritised plant design methodologies tailored for coastal industrial heritage areas.
This study aims to develop a scenario-based, quantitative decision support model for multifunctional plant design in the post-industrial transformation of İzmir Port, Türkiye. Instead of managing design as a purely intuitive exercise, the approach encapsulates ecological, social, and economic priorities into a structured decision-making framework. The objective is to establish an integrated workflow that prevents arbitrary decisions and provides transparent, repeatable strategies for urban ecological transformation.
The methodology integrates site-specific data obtained through SWOT analysis, based on field observations, with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). An expert panel performed pairwise comparisons of six key criteria: Ecological Suitability, Social Use Potential, Aesthetic Quality, Feasibility/Cost, Industrial Heritage Protection, and Green Infrastructure Connectivity. The AHP results revealed that Ecological Suitability (0.3319) received the highest priority, followed by Green Infrastructure (0.1946) and Aesthetic Quality (0.1946), confirming the central role of nature-based solutions in the region’s transformation.
Using these criterion weight distributions, four distinct plant design scenarios were developed and systematically compared. Scenario 1 (Ecological Maximisation) prioritises native salt and wind-tolerant species, bioswales, and pervious surfaces. Scenario 2 (Social-Aesthetic Focused) emphasises shade trees and sensory plants for user interaction, while Scenario 3 (Cultural Heritage Focused) integrates grey-green species and Corten steel planters with industrial relics. Scenario 4 (Economic-Feasibility Focused) tests low-cost, modular, xeriscape species and portable systems for budget-limited interventions.
The proposed SWOT-AHP-Scenario framework successfully translates subjective planning factors into a transparent, quantifiable process. For the specific context of İzmir Port, the Ecological Maximisation strategy is recommended as the primary approach, with complementary integration of social and cultural elements from other scenarios. Ultimately, this research provides an adaptable methodological contribution and functional strategy for similar post-industrial coastal transformation projects.