Urban squares with the analytic hierarchy process evaluation method: the case study of Mersin city center

Urban squares are the public spaces which are the most commonly used and continue to function under the conditions of the period from past to present. Urban squares are the spaces which are in the nature of the focus areas that give identity to the cities, arising from the need to come together for the development and maintenance of social life, social, cultural, political and commercial purposes. Although there are some areas used as town squares at historical times in Mersin city examined in this study, today, either these areas have been left for settlements or lost their function as square. The need particularly for open and green spaces including public outdoor areas have directed local administrations to develop these spaces and places including squares in the city having continuous settlements due to rapid population growth. However, there are certain conditions to arrange an area as square and internationally accepted criteria and local conditions need to be taken into consideration and complied in the decisions regarding the selection and the way of usage. Otherwise, a square cannot fulfill its functions and can remain inactive. In this context, in the declaration, it is intended to determine the sets of criteria and their importance level which will be base on the evaluation of square function of the areas used as squares or intended to use as squares by local administrations in Mersin city center and to evaluate these areas by using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) which is one of the multi-objective decision-making techniques. The findings to be reached in the study are expected to be in the quality of contributing to the effectiveness of the local administration's decisions regarding square planning.