Evaluation of transitional spaces in the context of individual and identity processes, Galata Bridge

Recently, the individual is considered as an anonymous entity. In other words, the individual and its unique personality is ignored in the design process of the urban public space. However, each individual has a unique identity. The potential to increase the degree of publicness and spatial quality of public space depends on undoubtedly both the mutuality and the existence of layers for the individuals' physical, perceptual and socio-cultural differences. In this way the layered city can give each individual an equal and more participatory role than the present in the practice of everyday life. For these reasons, the aim of this research is to evaluate the possession of the public space as individuals who have different physical, perceptual and socio-cultural characteristics, not as an anonymous individual and to discuss the possible layers of public space in the eyes of these individuals. In this study, the individual tactics of creating daily mechanisms, matching with existing mechanisms and spatial situations that allow these tactics have been investigated and has been supported by analyzes made at critical points in the city. The daily activities routes, which connect the spaces of daily activities with the individuals' vital needs, have high encounter potential. While some of these transitional spaces use their potential in a good way; some of them remain places that have passed. In this context, Galata Bridge, which it consists high degree of social diversity and where everyday accumulations are seriously experienced on, has been selected as a critical route. In addition to these, it is aimed to investigate the phisical space and individual interaction on this transition route in depth. All the issues that distinguish this route from others and make it special have been examined by analyzing the user's eyes in the intersection of social situations, tracing the scene through the ordinary and casual. This study focuses on the fact that the individual differences, which are often ignored in urban design, are an important potential for public spaces and aims to provide a perspective to assess the potentials of everyday activities which include the diversity of the ordinary. It has been argued that the importance of the transitional areas which interrupt the repetition of essential activities (including vital needs) and the diversity which community has and how can be incorporated to urban design. This scope of work; urban tactics, which will be able to make the public space more qualified by participating in the urban landscape.The variables of 'individual participation and social diversity, personalization and place attachment, optional activities and diversity of it and spatial reconciliation' which are effective in transforming public spaces into qualified places in the context of identity processes of the individual and the background of this idea; are explained in detail with examples from urban public spaces. In this process, the role that the individual actively takes in transforming the space has been exemplified in the context of urban tactics. The existence of such urban tactics is a result of the 'flexibility' and layers of that space. For this reason, daily routes of the city with high potentials; should be allow to the user s of the place for the creative activities, to enrich the daily experience. This work; Beyond researching a qualified transitional space, it makes an overall assessment on behalf of urban public spaces and suggests an multidimensional approach for the literature.