From SEKA to Sekapark: An analysis of post-industrial transformation through measurable spatial indicators

Post-industrial urban transformation is widely discussed through brownfield redevelopment, industrial heritage conservation, waterfront regeneration, ecological recovery, and culture-led reuse. However, site-scale studies that evaluate such transformations through measurable spatial indicators remain limited. This study examines the transformation of the SEKA Paper Factory in İzmit, Türkiye, into Sekapark as a case of transition from a Fordist industrial production landscape to a post-Fordist cultural, recreational, ecological, and publicly accessible coastal landscape. The research employs a mixed-method design combining field observation, GIS-based spatial analysis, remote sensing, OSM-based network analysis, DEM-based elevation assessment, and archival interpretation. A total of 280 building units were evaluated through physical-structural, ecological-environmental, transport-accessibility, and heritage-urban integration indicators. These include building typology, use status, building condition and intervention priority, NDVI-based vegetation change, elevation-based coastal vulnerability, public transport proximity, pedestrian connectivity, cultural heritage value, and city-center integration. The findings indicate that transformation has been most strongly consolidated along the waterfront through cultural and recreational functions, while parts of the former production core continue to display transitional use and intervention needs. NDVI analysis for 2000–2025 shows that mean NDVI increased from 0.068 to 0.250 and vegetated surface increased to 36.3% by 2025. Accessibility analyses show a strong pedestrian network and close public transport proximity, although the transport assessment is based on stop buffers rather than full route-based accessibility. The study develops and tests an adapted indicator-based spatial evaluation framework for assessing post-industrial transformation at the site scale.