Integrating social resilience into the sustainable management of Edirne’s historic city center

In recent years, the concept of social/community resilience has gained increasing attention in resilience discussions and is becoming more prominent in planning and conservation literature. This study examines the historical city center of Edirne, selected for its unique historical fabric, multi-layered cultural heritage, and diverse dimensions of vulnerability. Within this area, the Selimiye Mosque and its complex were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2011. Current interventions focus mainly on physical preservation, integrating social, cultural, and environmental dimensions is essential for sustainable outcomes. In this context, the study aims to identify the determinants of social resilience in the Historic Urban Landscape of Edirne and to examine the relationship between these determinants, management and planning processes. This study is designed as mixed-methods research and employed multiple data collection methods, including literature review, on-site observation, surveys, and semi-structured interviews. Participants were purposively sampled from groups directly involved with the historical city center. The survey was structured based on indicators of urban vulnerability, resilience, and social resilience, covering physical/environmental, social, economic, and administrative dimensions. This study was prepared to demonstrate that indicators of social resilience not only produce data describing the current social situation, but also offer a concrete information infrastructure that can be used in spatial planning processes. In this context, the study theoretically aims to operationalize social resilience in historic city centers through measurable indicators based on the integration of conservation and planning processes. Findings indicate that social resilience is critical for effective management, with community engagement, sense of belonging, and social awareness as key factors. Urban vulnerabilities are multidimensional, emphasizing the need for a holistic HUL approach. Edirne demonstrates how social resilience can be integrated into historic urban landscape management, providing a framework to balance conservation and contemporary urban use in historic environments.

Keywords: Edirne’s Historic City Center, Social Resilience, Urban Vulnerability, Sustainable Urban Planning and Management, Cultural Heritage Conservation.