The evaluation of the decisions which affect the use of the squares as public space by the utilisers: The case of Baku

From past to present, it has always been required to have urban spaces where common life is sustained in cities. These spaces have been shaped by general custom and also reflected the culture, belief and life values of the community. Besides reflecting the culture of the community, the first urban public spaces in form of square have also been the spaces in which city community present the social life of city. The squares called as the very first places discovered to use have always had different functions and become integral part of city life throughout the history. Meeting the social and physical expectataions of the community by providing the key elements which create square has great importance in making the cities livable. Livable city has the setting which allow people to communicate and provide opportunity to actualize the basic functions like sheltering, working, transportation, relaxiation and entertainment in a comfortable way. In this term, the squares as an important part of city life should be responsive to the needs of community by providing qualified living spaces. In this study, the squares as an integral part of city and basic elements which compose the squares were examined and Baku Azadlıq Square chosen as a fieldwork was analysed in these terms. Utilisers's opinions about physical and functional qualities of Azadlıq Square and their attiudes towards the decisions which affect the use of Square were examined. The fieldwork was consisted of two phases. In the first phase, Azadlıq Square was analysed within the framework of social and physical factors.Functional and aesthetical proposals were put forward to enable the Square to reach the defined square qualifications. In the second phase, Utilisers's opinions about Azadlıq Square and their attiudes towards the decisions designed were interrogated via survey form. The data collected through the fieldwork were evaluated through statistical analysis methods. In line with the results obtained, it has come to light that Azadlıq Square has great accesing problem making functional use difficult. Results have also showed that the Square do not meet the expectations of community sufficiently. In this term, the project developed by puplic administration has been thought to solve the accessing problem and the other problems related to accessing problem and supported adequately. Keywords: Square, Urban Space, User Feedback, Azerbaijan Baku, Azadlıq Square.