Analysis of age-friendly environment criteria through space syntax and fractal dimension methods: The case of antalya airport

Aging is not merely a biological process; it is a lived experience shaped by gender, class, and the politics of physiology. Beyond representing individual transformation, the phenomenon of aging also entails social, spatial, and design-oriented transitions. Today, the rapid global increase in the elderly population compels professional disciplines such as urban planning, architecture, and landscape architecture to reconsider the creation of age-friendly environments. This study aims to reinterpret one of the core objectives of the landscape architecture discipline—designing "livable environments"—through the lens of universal design principles, with the ultimate goal of creating accessible spaces. Additionally, the research seeks to generate both scientific and practical data that can contribute to the age-friendly transformation processes of large-scale spaces. In this context, Antalya Airport has been selected as the material of study. Through a combination of quantitative methods such as space syntax and fractal dimension analysis, supported by qualitative data including observation forms and user surveys, the study presents a multidimensional picture of how elderly individuals experience space. In this regard, the research not only examines the physical structure of the airport but also assesses its psychological and social impacts on users. As a result of the study, significant deficiencies were identified in terms of accessibility and usability within the existing structure, particularly in the context of applying age-friendly design principles. As a result, at the scale of Antalya Airport, criteria have been developed for flexible, accessible, age-friendly, and biophilic planning approaches that go beyond conventional architectural standards and are responsive to user needs. Design proposals reflecting these criteria have also been presented.