Investigation of urban place use in the context of universal design approach: Case of Kahramanmaraş city center

Every individual comes to the world with different abilities and accordingly their needs in life vary. In addition, there are people with different skills and abilities in the community, such as children, the elderly, women and people with disabilities. All individuals need different ways of using, according to their abilities in urban indoor and outdoor spaces in order to survive. The services provided for the needs of an individual who is considered to be healthy must be provided for the needs of individuals with any disability. The most important element in the discipline of City and Regional Planning is human. Every decision to be made with a focus on the city should be shaped according to the people and their needs. Every decision to be taken in this direction should be evaluated and given in a healthy manner in the thought of how to respond to the needs of residents and visitors of that city for providing better opportunities. Considering that the people living in the city have various physical and mental abilities, urban planning should not be done for only a certain part of the society. At the urban design point; a design approach that takes into account those with special needs, such as individuals with disabilities or individuals with temporary health problems, the elderly, children, pregnant women, strollers and load bearings should be adopted. In the theoretical part of the study, the studies in the literature seeking answers to the question of how people with different abilities and needs can be more involved in society are examined. The focus of this thesis is on the concept and principles of universal design that emerged as an inclusive design approach in this process. In this context, it is aimed to determine the conformity of the spatial uses in Kahramanmaraş City Center with the universal design principles within the scope of the field research of the thesis study. For this purpose, a Table of Standards (Use of Circulation and Circulation Systems, Public Transport Stations and Parking Garages, Urban Furniture) was created by utilizing national and international accessibility standards. These standards were examined in the sample area determined in Kahramanmaraş City Center where public institutions serving trade and entertainment and recreation places serving all residents of the city. Finally, the extent to which the urban space arrangements in the area have equal, comfortable and integrative structure for all individuals has been demonstrated