Looking Back From the Perspective of Urban Collective Memory: A Reading of Zonguldak, Turkey

This study examines the relationship between urban space and collective memory through an in-depth analysis of the Fener neighborhood in Zonguldak, a historically significant urban space in Turkey’s industrialization process. Drawing on archival research and semi-structured interviews, the study explores how urban collective memory is shaped by spatial transformations, everyday practices, and socio-political narratives. It emphasizes the role of urban landscapes in embedding memory and identity, highlighting how place-based experiences and symbolic landmarks contribute to the construction of shared meaning. The findings demonstrate that urban memory is not merely a passive recollection of the past but a dynamic process actively reproduced through lived experiences and emotional attachments to space. The case of Fener reveals how nationalist-modernist planning, industrial work, and cultural institutions coalesce to create a unique memoryscape that continues to influence residents’ sense of belonging and identity.