City transformations between urban expansion and development planning

This study discusses the complexity of the concept of urban transformation 
and urban change in planning history by focusing on the urbanization 
processes. The purpose of this study is to resolve the changes in theory and 
practice of urban transformation, and to reconsider diversified approaches 
in urban transformation by explaining it in an inter-disciplinary manner. 
Therefore; the objective of this study is threefold: (1) to explain conceptual 
evolution of urban transformation in planning history with reference to 
paradigm shifts, (2) to categorize theoretical developments and changes of 
urban transformation in planning theory, (3) to mark the spatial 
manifestation of urban transformation in planning practice. In view of that, 
a typology on the periods related with urban transformation is characterized 
by evaluating paradigm shifts in planning history by means of historical 
analysis. In conclusion, similarities and differences regarding theories and 
practices of urban transformation are debated as well as the possibilities 
and opportunities in advanced studies on urban transformation are 
proposed.
There is a complexity within the concept of urban transformation, in that 
planning history encapsulates the issues of urban development, urban 
change and urban conservation.