A model proposal for the participatory landscape design process for childrens

All urban open spaces, especially public open spaces that serve the whole society, can be characterized as spaces where urban children establish a nature-city relationship. Therefore, children as well as all users have a say in the production of these areas. In this regard, within the scope of social justice and rights, participation is a very effective tool to create platforms where children can make their voices heard. Participation activities help to ensure the production of urban open spaces within the framework of joint decisions, taking into account children's rights. However, in child development; It also supports the formation of skills and attitudes such as responsible citizenship awareness, environmental awareness, and a sense of belonging to society and the environment. However, it is seen that child participation studies are not at an adequate and effective level. This is because child participation is challenging in many ways. The main challenges are the planning of the participation process and the effective implementation of the participation. For this reason, within the scope of the thesis, it is aimed to put forward a model proposal about the child participation process and the planning of the process in order to increase the child participation studies. Within the scope of the thesis study, the social and physical needs, skills and rights of children were examined; the emergence, definition and importance of participation were investigated; A literature review was conducted on participation models showing child participation levels and methods used in child participation. Then, in order to determine the stages of the participation process in design; First of all, the design process in landscape architecture and the requirements of the design environment were researched and the participation processes of the examples of child participation practices in landscape areas were examined. In order to determine the participation processes in design, the common processes of the landscape design process and the child participation studies carried out in the landscape areas were determined. The main stages of the participation process and the sub-stages of each workshop to be held in the main stages were determined by revealing the factors affecting participation in design and the components of participation. The main stages of participation are; information acquisition and awareness, technical knowledge and equipment, design, implementation, monitoring and follow-up. The stages to be carried out in a single workshop were determined as introduction and acquaintance, information transfer, exercises, results and evaluation. In addition, a flow chart has been developed for the planning and monitoring of participation, taking into account the components of participation and the factors affecting participation. Then, in order to choose the right participation methods in the stages of the participation process and a single workshop, hands-on children's workshops were held by making use of the flow diagram named "designing participation". The study, which was designed as three separate workshops, was completed with the participation of 30 children in the 7-8 age group, including all participation methods. Children's workshops provided the opportunity to experience the factors affecting the participation process, as well as testing the methods of child participation. In this way, the points to be considered in the child participation process were determined and used in model development. In line with the literature and application data; A model proposal was presented for the participatory landscape design process for children, in a repeatable and traceable manner, in order to ensure an efficient level of participation. In conclusion; It is thought that more and more efficient participation-level processes can be carried out with a reproducible model proposal developed based on academic data to increase child participation studies.