Reviving urban identity through hidden details: The Türbeönü manhole cover design workshop

Abstract

Public spaces include various design elements that shape a city’s identity, such as buildings, urban furniture, and information panels. However, some components of the urban fabric, like manhole covers, are often overlooked. Though typically infrastructural, manhole covers can serve as culturally and aesthetically meaningful design elements that enrich urban identity. To explore this potential, the study employs qualitative research methods, specifically case study and content analysis approaches. It first reviews artistic works, creative applications, and research on manhole cover designs worldwide. It then presents outcomes of an interdisciplinary workshop integrating design students’ skills with their urban environment. The workshop engaged students from Industrial Design, Cartoon and Animation, and Painting departments within the Faculty of Fine Arts. Participants designed manhole covers for Türbeönü, Konya- a historic area undergoing urban transformation. The workshop unfolded in three stages: project introduction, field research, and jury evaluation with an exhibition of student designs. The resulting designs were categorized based on common themes and analyzed through content analysis. Discussions and presentations occurred at The City Workshop, organized by Konya Metropolitan Municipality. The study evaluates the workshop’s process, highlighting its role in raising awareness of urban aesthetics and demonstrating how small-scale design interventions can shape city identity.