A model proposal for the evaluation of public spaces in the residential areas in the context of social sustainability: Karsıyaka, Izmir as a case

Social sustainability is concerned with the continuity of the collective functionality of the society beyond the individual quality of life. Urban social sustainability is the ability of the city to offer livable conditions for human interaction and communication and cultural development in the long term. The link between social sustainability and society influences how various disciplines approach it. Its architectural potential is also based on its strong link with individuals and society. In this context, the study investigates the effect of public spaces, one of the spatial tools of the urban unit, on social sustainability. As a result of the comprehensive literature study, it is observed that the qualities of the public space overlap with the goals and concepts included in the social sustainability agenda. The study aims to reveal the basic components and contributions of public spaces, which are one of the main actors of community and social life, in providing social sustainability within the scope of housing areas. In order to determine the research framework, all indicators within the scope of the social sustainability agenda were investigated and concepts within the scope of the architecture discipline were determined. Accessibility, social infrastructure, belonging, neighborhood, security, and participation were identified as the primary components of study on the influence of public spaces in residential areas on social sustainability. The scope of the field study was confined to the scale of the neighborhood in order to identify the link between public spaces in residential areas and social sustainability. A mixed research model was built by employing multiple research instruments for the sub-components as a consequence of studying the scales in the literature for the evaluation of different aspects. Various facets of the issue were attempted to be exposed by spatial analyses and survey work within the framework of the research approach. The research method was tested in two neighborhoods of Karsiyaka, Izmir, which was chosen based on a number of factors. The link between public spaces in residential areas and social sustainability was reported as the consequences of the research findings, and proposals for assuring, promoting, and growing social sustainability were offered.