Public space configuration shaped by social dynamics in rural settlements: The case of Bursa

Rural settlements constitute a significant component of society with their cultural values, traditions, production relations, and ways of life. The ongoing processes of change in rural areas and the blurring of the rural-urban distinction necessitate spatial scientists to address conceptual debates, typically conducted in urban contexts, in a manner specific to rural environments. This thesis focuses on rural settlements, aiming to elucidate the configurations of public spaces in these areas and to examine the qualities of these spaces with unique criteria. The study is structured as a case study that questions whether public spaces in rural settlements undergo changes in the context of different social dynamics. Selected samples from rural neighborhoods in the central district of Bursa, namely Kumyaka and Kozluören settlements, constitute the basis of the study, which proposes an evaluation of public spaces in rural settlements. The findings shed light on the relationship between public spaces in rural settlements and social dynamics, presenting a relational perspective by emphasizing the interactions between spatial and social structures.