An evaluation within the scope of public open space development strategies: Bursa/Yıldırım as a case study

Public spaces are open and accessible to all people regardless of gender, race, ethnicity and socio-economic level. These areas strengthen community ties, support social life and help prevent social problems with these features. Public spaces, which have an important role in improving the quality of the urban environment, are of critical importance for urban health, as they provide benefits to physical and mental health. They play a major role in socialization, civic participation and the emergence of a sense of belonging by bringing together the citizens of every user group. These areas, which have an important place in social and individual life, have changed in the last century as a result of economic and social pressures such as rapid and unplanned urban developments, privatization and consumption, and they have gradually begun to lose their characteristics. These changes manifest themselves as a decrease in quality and quantity in the public sphere, commercialization and the deterioration of traditional public spaces. Yıldırım, the second largest district of Bursa in terms of population, has a dense and generally unqualified urban texture. Within the scope of the study, it is aimed to reveal the current status of the public spaces in this dense urban fabric and to create suggestions for their development. Within the scope of the thesis, literature research has been made on the concept of publicity and public spaces, their characteristics and historical development processes, and case studies aiming to improve public spaces in different cities of the world and at different scales have been examined. In order to investigate the problem in the urban environment and to develop suggestions and methods for its solution, the characteristics of Bursa Province and Yıldırım District were revealed and sample field studies were carried out in the neighborhoods representing the urban texture in Yıldırım district. In line with the findings obtained from literature reviews, field studies and field studies, the basic principles of the public space development strategy that can be applied in the field have been developed. Keywords: Public space, Yıldırım, Public space development strategies.