Questioning Accessibility of Disable People at Sea Front, Case Study: Kyrenia & Laguna Sea Fronts in North Cyprus

ABSTRACT: In general, accessibility is one of the main problems that the ambulant disabled people face with especially in public open spaces. This problem has negative influence on the quality of their lives because they must have equal social right with the other people. Therefore, accessibility should be handled as a significant right for the disable people in public open spaces. Nowadays, the majority of world population is living in coastline settlements. All individuals desire to go to seafronts as a citizen or tourist. Because, seafronts as a type of public open space that provides a common land for people to have various activities. Therefore, they should be designed in a way to meet the requirements of all users regardless their abilities. According to the literature review, disability may occur in the period of life or present from the birth. The study is considered the elder people, children, wheelchair users, persons with walking-aid users, prosthesis users, permanent and temporary disability as ambulant disabled people. Disable people also need to participate in public spaces for meeting, recreation and social experiences. Unfortunately, in general disable people are ignored to have equal access to public open spaces especially for people with mobility limitations. Thus, accessible design must be considered at public open spaces by all urban designers as a basic right. Seafront is a type of public open spaces to create various types of activities. One of the most important feature of seafront is accessibility to provide equal access for the disables. Kyrenia and Famagusta are the most important coastal settlements in Northern Cyprus not only for citizens but also for tourists. The Sea Fronts have positive effective in social and economic statements. Thus, the main aim of this study is to evaluate accessibility at these two Sea Fronts for physically disable people.Base on the main aim, the present research has been organized in five chapters. In the first chapter, introduction is given; then the second chapter is defined public open spaces, accessibility and disability. The third one is considered the most important accessible standards and guidelines. Consequently, the specified Sea Fronts are analyzed in the fourth chapter and the last one includes conclusion and recommendations. The findings are cleared that Laguna Sea Front is more accessible than the Kyrenia Sea Front because it is newly constructed and some disability standards are considered while designing. On the other hand, both of them create include many barriers and limitations for the disables. In order to improve accessibility at these Sea Fronts, accessibility standards should be applied to these spaces for increasing more livable environments to everybody. Keywords: Public Open Space, Sea Front, Accessibility, Disability, Kyrenia Sea Front, Laguna Sea Front.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………