Bütüner, F., “Tradition Along the Edge: The Land Walls of İstanbul”, Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Working Paper Series, vol.255, 2015. TRADITION ALONG THE EDGE: THE LAND WALLS of ISTANBUL This study explores centuries-long spatial patterns along the old city walls of Istanbul -Land Walls. Being the edge of / in the city since the 5 th century, Land Walls and their near surrounding have been occupied by particular spaces and types. Unlike the complicated urban history and enormous urban implementations, some of these spaces and patterns have transmitted for centuries in the urban fabric of Istanbul. In spite of recent plans, projects and regulations that intend to domesticate the mural 1 landscape, the sacred places, cemeteries, bostans 2 and flow spaces still characterize the inherited landscape along the Land Walls. ...all other cities have their periods of government and are subject to the decays of time, Constantinople alone seems to claim a kind of immortality and will continue to be a city as long as humanity shall live either to inhabit or rebuild it. -P. Gilles 3 Being the capital of three empires –Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman- and the largest city of the Turkish Republic, Istanbul has exposed an immortal urban history. Wars, conquests, fires, earthquakes, great destructions, constructions and beautifications were effected the urban fabric. Land Walls, being one part of the Istanbul’s defense system and also being a significant urban component, have experienced all these conflicts. They served more than a defense structure, not only demarcated the west border of the city but also shaped and dominated the physical and social structure of Istanbul. Since their construction in the 5 th century until the expansion of the city in the mid-20 th century, Land Walls, marking a line approximately 7 km in length, served as an edge. As a productive edge, they generated many spaces, patterns and traditions. In each historical period, new ones were added to the mural zone or some existing ones were masked. However, some of these spaces have exposed an unusual continuity and transmission that presents them as a tradition along the Land Walls. Today, the integrated spatial history of the Land Walls and their surrounding spaces is blurry. In this respect, this study intends to reveal the interplay between the Land Walls and their near surroundings by particularly focusing on three types that still characterize the landscape of the mural zone; cemeteries, bostans and flow spaces. In recent years, many plans, projects and regulations have been developed; all proposing a conservation zone that covers the particular