Reading the conceptual and spatial articulation of public space: City squares and notion of publicness in the city of Istanbul

Urban spaces are formed through the articulation and interaction of multiple overlapping layers within the urban fabric. In addition to the physical transformation of space, the semantic transformation of space also occurs through changing representations. The most effective means of analyzing the impact of these transformations, which are shaped by many dynamics, is by examining the interrelationship between space society and power within the urban context. This is particularly evident in public spaces. Those in positions of power shape urban spaces in line with their ideologies and transform them through corresponding representations. Conversely, society alters spaces through its spatial practices. These transformations collectively influence how urban dwellers interact with and relate to space. Within the articulated structure of the city, spaces capable of evolving alongside the city become integral to the everyday lives of its inhabitants. Istanbul has evolved into its current multi-layered metropolis through a complex articulation process with many political, religious, social, and cultural dynamic influences. Shifting actors, social events, and urbanization dynamics continually introduce new situations and transformations to the city. These new situations continue to interact with and inform the existing layers of the city in both spatial and semantic terms. Therefore, when discussing Istanbul's public spaces, it is crucial to analyze them through their articulations.The changing representations of space provide a framework for debates about the qualities of publicness within public spaces. This thesis examines the articulations of Istanbul's public spaces within the framework of representations and relationships. The urban spaces of Sultanahmet, Beyazıt and Taksim Squares will be discussed as having undergone a lengthy process of transformation due to the influence of various political and social events. These three squares have been able to adapt to the city's historical evolution and are significant public spaces but have also been specifically selected for analysis within the context of the study to examine the interrelationship between space, society, and power. Public space is the space of relations, interaction, and action produced together with society. In this context, the public qualities of Kazlıçeşme, Yenikapı, and Maltepe Rally and Event Areas, which are imposed by the political power as 'new/alternative' public spaces in Istanbul, will be discussed in the context of the main axis of the thesis. Through these spaces, this study addresses the question: "Can these urban areas replace public spaces that have been produced through historical and social processes?" The semantic and spatial articulations of Istanbul's public spaces are tried to be revealed through diagrams created with the help of historical readings, archive scans and old city maps. In doing so, it aims to evaluate the concept of public space as a social product, as suggested by Lefebvre, by examining its manifestations and production processes in Istanbul. Ultimately, the study underscores the importance of understanding cities and public spaces as socially and spatially produced constructs specific to their location and context. Keywords: Public realm, articulation, production of space, political power, İstanbul