Shopping centers evaluation of accessibility: Konya province example

The disabled population worldwide is too high to be ignored. This multiplicity requires making arrangements for disabled individuals in many aspects, from official areas to social areas. These regulations consist mostly of issues that concern architects. Firstly, within the scope of acclimatization, it is aimed to set out the necessary conditions for individuals with disabilities and mobility disabilities to adapt to society and have equal access to public spaces. For this purpose, in order to better understand the subject, the concepts of "disability, mobility restriction, shopping center and accessibility" were defined and related to the study. Disability groups were evaluated and explained under the headings of "mental, hearing, visual, orthopedic disabilities and language and speech disorders". In the following sections of the study, the articles and theses made on accessibility were summarized and the parts directly related to this research were detailed. The importance of studies aimed at improving the quality of life of disabled people was emphasized. Within the scope of this study, qualitative research method and descriptive analysis technique were used. In the field study of the thesis, 4 large shopping malls located in Konya were selected as samples and evaluated according to the standards in the Accessibility Guide. In this direction, the study includes Novaland Shopping Mall, Kulesite Shopping Mall, Konya M1 Shopping Mall and Kentplaza Shopping Mall. Legal regulations related to accessibility in the world and in Turkey (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Law on Persons with Disabilities, Accessibility Monitoring and Supervision Regulation) were examined. The necessity of accessibility in accordance with the objectives of these international and national regulations was emphasized. The basic design rules, building entrances, parking lots, doors, windows, toilets, circulation areas, alarm-installation-marking issues within the scope of the Accessibility Guide are explained. However, Novaland Shopping Mall, Kulesite Shopping Mall, Konya M1 shopping Mall and Kentplaza Shopping Mall were evaluated in terms of whether they are accessible on the basis of disabled groups. Building entrances, circulation areas, toilets, parking lots and social areas were examined; positive and negative aspects were identified. As a result of the study, it has been revealed that shopping malls in Konya are generally inadequate in terms of accessibility. Suggestions for improvement were presented on issues such as transportation, orientation, toilets, social areas. The necessity of providing accessibility for the integration of disabled individuals into society was emphasized. Keywords: Shopping Center, Disabled, Disability, Disabled Groups, Accessible Place, Accessibility