Kentsel Mekân Olarak Meydanların Başarı Kriterlerinin Değerlendirilmesi: Aydın Kent Meydanı Örneği

Abstract

İlk kurulan şehirlerden günümüze dek kentsel mekân olarak meydanlar kentliler için toplanma, bir araya gelme ve etkileşim alanı olarak önemli bir yere sahip olmuşlardır. Tüm kentlinin özgürce erişebildiği, dilediğince zaman geçirebildiği bu mekânlar birlik ve beraberliği oluşmasına, sosyal farklılıkların yok olmasına büyük katkı sağlamıştır. Kentsel mekân olarak meydanlar zaman içinde değişen sosyal, politik, ekonomik, fiziksel şartlara ve güncel olaylara göre şekillenen dinamik alanlar olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Bu nedenle meydanlar sürekli tartışma ve çalışma konusu olmaktadır. Özellikle son dönemlerde meydanların gücü ve önemi yeniden gündeme gelmiş, meydanlar konusu farklı açılardan tekrar tartışılmaya başlanmıştır. Bu mekânlar kentin ve kentlinin ihtiyaçlarını gidermek için tasarlanırken birçok kriteri de yerine getirmesi gerekmekte ve beklenmektedir. Bu kriterler temel olarak, meydanın başarılı olmasını sağlayan; erişilebilirlik, konfor ve imaj, kullanım ve aktiviteler ve sosyalleşme olanakları olarak sıralanabilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, en önemli kentsel mekânlardan biri olan meydanların başarı ilkelerinin irdelenmesidir. Çalışma alanı olarak büyükşehir belediyesi olduktan sonra ihtiyaç çerçevesinde yeni bir meydana kavuşan Aydın kenti, kent için bir prestij projesi, imaj ve kimlik öğesi olarak tanımlanan Aydın Kent Meydanı seçilmiştir. Tez kapsamında, belirlenen başarı kriterleri Aydın Kent Meydanı’nda foto analiz yöntemi ile incelenmiş, meydan kullanıcısının görüşünü ve değerlendirmesini anlamak adına anket uygulanmıştır. Yapılan foto analiz ve anket çalışması sonucunda benzer bulgulara ulaşılan kriterler olmasına rağmen tamamen farklı sonuçlar da ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu bulgular üzerinden tartışılarak meydanın başarısının değerlendirilmesi, öneriler de bulunulması hedeflenmiştir. Çalışma boyunca yapılan gözlem, analiz, anket ve yüz yüze görüşmeler sonucunda, Aydın Kent Meydanı ışığında, büyümekte ve gelişmekte olan kentlerde ihtiyaç çerçevesinde oluşturulan yeni kentsel mekânların başarılı olmasını sağlayacak ölçütler ortaya konmuş, dikkat edilmesi gereken noktalar vurgulanmıştır. Bu çalışmada; imaj ve kimlik, çekim noktaları, konfor, esnek tasarım, mevsimsel strateji, erişilebilirlik, iç ve dış çember, çevreden ulaşım, idarenin merkezi rolü ve çeşitli kaynaklar ile desteklenmesi özelliklerinin karşılaması durumunda meydan başarılı olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Bunun yanı sıra, kentsel mekân olarak meydanlarda bu ilkelerin sağlanmasıyla birlikte kentin ve kentlinin temel ihtiyaçlarını giderdiği, bu sayede kullanıcı tarafından başarılı olarak algılanarak tercih edilen ve kullanılan meydanlar olduğu ortaya konmuştur.

Urban spaces are one the most important components of cities. Squares as urban spaces are vital subjects for city municipalities because of its image, identity and prestige. In addition, squares have been important areas for citizens as it hosts different activities like gathering and interacting point throughout history that are defined as accessible for all users, spending as much time as they like with activities and socializing. Moreover, squares help to provide unity and cooperation by destroying the social differences in all situations. City squares change according to social, political, economical, physical conditions and situations in time that makes squares dynamic spaces. Therefore, squares are always point at issue and study areas. Particularly in recent times, the strengths and prospects of the squares have come to the resurrection, and the squares have been discussed again at different perspectives. While these spaces are designed to meet the needs of the city, it is necessary and expected to bring more degradation. Basically, the square should have mainly four criteria to be successful that are; accessibility, comfort and image, use and activities and socialization possibilities. The purpose of this study is to examine the principles of success of the squares, one of the most important urban spaces of cities. Aydın City Square is selected as a study area because the square project is stated as a prestige project, image and identity element for city after Aydın was announced as a metropolitan city. Another reason is that Aydın is an Anatolian city where is in Aegean region of Turkey. Although it has hosted lots of civilization throughout history, it is a growing and developing city today. After becoming the metropolitan municipality, the projects related with the city have changed and accelerated. The city square project is one of them as a prestige project. The main aim is to analyze the success of Aydın City Square project by using photo analyze method, observations, questionnaire and interviews. The study consists of five parts which are “Introduction”, “Squares as Urban Spaces”, “The Studies About Squares”, “Analyzing the success criteria of Aydın City Square” and “Conclusion and Evaluation”. The first chapter introduces aim, scope and method of thesis. Then, in the second part, urban spaces and squares are examined in theoretical frame. In this study, urban spaces are classified as streets and squares. The main subject is related with squares for the thesis. Therefore, the term of square is studied in detailed way in terms of forms morphological and functional forms of the area. In addition, the development and change of squares according to Western and Turkish-Islamic civilizations are pointed out in historical processes. In the third part of the study, the principles of success of urban spaces and squares are mentioned. Firstly, great places, which can be defined as successful places, have four main qualities that are accessibility, image, comfort and sociality. Then, image and identity, attractions and destinations, amenities, flexible design, seasonal strategy, access, the inner and outer square, reaching out like an octopus, the central role of management and diverse funding sources are explained as important ten criteria of successful squares in this study. At the end of this chapter, successful urban squares from different parts of the world are analyzed in terms of main four qualities. In this study, image and identity defined as elements that help to identify the square with these elements, which can be structures, sculptures, fountains, towers etc. Furthermore, they become essential to determine the image or identity of cities for perception of people. Attractions and destinations are necessary part while designing squares to attract people. It is studied as activities that are organized in squares or designed places for people to come. Amenities are related with urban furniture that are seating elements, shady spots or canopies, lighting that should provide comfortable usage for users of square. In addition, it consists of cleaning, maintenance, security of square. Flexible design is interpreted as adaptable space for various activities in this thesis study. For seasonal strategy, square is analyzed convenience for four seasons with designed and natural elements. Access or accessibility is a must criterion for urban spaces and squares. Even, it is also a need for all people but in public spaces it have to be provided. The inner and outer squares mean places which support the central square in terms of activities, participation or coming of people. Also, squares should be reach all the neighborhoods in city like an octopus. All of these principles more related with design process. In addition to them, management and source are other issues which are relevant about administration of cities. These criteria are analyzed in Aydın City Square on photos and then with people. The fourth section is related with case area, Aydın City Square. The study area and its surroundings are discussed with the reasons of selection the city of Aydın and the square project in details. Then, the location and history of Aydın is mentioned. In addition, the study area that is Aydın City Square is analyzed with historical process and the project of today with surroundings. The main issue is the criteria of success of squares which are mentioned before as important ten criteria. Analyzing of case study consists of three parts that are photo analyzing of the square, survey and the relations of survey evaluations. First step of analyzing, the square is examined in the framework of the ten success principles. Then, people who are citizens, users or visitors of square evaluate these criteria. Lastly, the relations of criteria are questioned on SPSS in terms of their relation with each other. Within the scope of the thesis, a questionnaire is applied to determine the principles of success of Aydın City Square within participation of 121 voluntary people. Because of photo-analysis, the square is detected as a successful square in terms of mentioned criteria in general term. According to survey, 56% of participants think that Aydın City Square is a successful square. In other words, photo analysis and survey have similarities in terms of criteria, which make square successful or not. In conclusion, Aydın City Square has a successful image according to analysis, survey and interviews. Also, it is foreseen that square will be an identity element in future with environmental buildings which are Süleyman Bey Mosque, the Municipality Building and Ataturk Sculpture. In addition, square needs more activities to attract people. However, Aydın City Square is lack of seating and shading elements which make square uncomfortable in terms of amenities and seasonal strategy. In spite of these disadvantages, square is used for various activities thanks to flexible design. Also, accessibility and reaching all around are provided which are perceived and evaluated although they have some critical problems that have solutions. Generally, square is defined clean, well maintained and secure, which is provided thanks to municipality. However, the last criterion is mostly about governments and administrative parts of municipalities so there is no work for squares about finding sources for now. The study can be summarized as; Aydın City Square can be a successful square as prestige and image element for metropolitan city of Aydın. Although there are some lacking criteria, Aydın City Square can be a model as a successful project for urban squares which will be designed in growing and developing cities.