From Building-Scale Conservation to Urban Fabric Conservation: Assessing the Morphological Conservation Capacity of a Conservation Development Plan

The shift from individual-building conservation to area-based approaches has repositioned conservation development plans as key instruments for managing change in historic urban areas. This study evaluates the morphological conservation capacity of such plans through the Ordu Urban Conservation Area in Türkiye. Using a qualitative single-case study design, directed qualitative content analysis was applied to plan maps, planning provisions, and the explanatory report. The analysis examined five dimensions: street pattern; plot and urban block configuration; built form and building–street relationships; building scale, height, and urban silhouette; and open spaces and figure–ground relationships. Findings show that conservation capacity is strongest for built form and building–street relationships, while urban block organization, silhouette, and visual relationships remain comparatively weak. Although the plan extends conservation beyond individual buildings, it does not ensure holistic morphological continuity. The study emphasizes explicit, measurable, and binding provisions and stronger consistency across planning documents.