Evaluation of public open spaces through placemaking theory, cases of Bostanlı Sunset Terrace and Democracy Martyrs Square

Public open spaces, which are one of the important focal points of the city, allow individuals to meet in the city, establish relationships with each other and with the city, and create a basis for the emergence of an urban life unique to the society and the city. In recent years, with the globalization, the disconnection of public open spaces from the context and the weakening of the relationship between people and space in mental and sensory aspects cause uniformization in spaces. Ignoring the social dimension in space designs is one of the biggest reasons for this problem. Approaches developed on the social dimension of space, on the other hand, reveal the concept of place, which is associated with concepts such as belonging, meaning and experience. Placemaking theory, which is evaluated as a tool in transforming space into place, is a multi-faceted approach to planning, design and management that aims to create places where people feel safe and comfortable, responding to the needs of society. In this context, the Space Quality Diagram defined by the Project for Public Spaces on placemaking guides the evaluation of public open spaces. In the placemaking model created within the scope of the study using the Space Quality Diagram, physical, social and perceptual features were discussed under three headings. The aim of the study is to comparatively analyze the "place" nature of two public open spaces designed and implemented at different points of the coast in order to improve the quality of life within the scope of "Izmir Sea: Strengthening the Relationship of Izmir Residents with the Sea Project", by using the placemaking model developed within the scope of the study. Bostanlı Sunset Terrace and Democracy Martyrs Square, which were determined as the study area, were examined by observation and interview methods and evaluated according to the principles of the placemaking model.