The Use of Semi-public Spaces as Urban Space and Evaluation in Terms of Urban Space Quality

Abstract

The rapid physical change and increase in density of today’s cities lead to changes in urban space usage and habits in urban life. This change negatively affects the description and use of public spaces as socialisation spaces, which are one of the most significant urban components. As a result, city dwellers satisfy their need for public spaces with the use of different urban spaces. Urban life shifts from urban public spaces to semi-public spaces. Semi-public spaces are qualified and accessible spaces that ensure transition between private spaces (buildings) and public spaces. These spaces gain different attributes according to the characteristics (commerce, housing, tourism, etc.) of the urban spaces they coexist within and to the functions and designs of the structures surrounding them. These attributes determine their configuration as integrated or dissociated with the city and thus specify their relationship with the city. This relationship changes ‘city–space–structure–human’ interaction, and this change affects urban quality with the spatial quality of semi-public spaces. The aim of this study is to present how and related to which characteristics the use of semi-public spaces as urban spaces has changed, to detect the effects of this change on the urban environment and to establish the role of semi-public spaces in terms of urban quality. In conclusion, semi-public spaces with different characteristics located in different urban spaces will be examined as regards physical, schematic, functional characteristics and use within the scope of this study. In accordance with the data obtained by comparative analysis method, approaches to facilitate their use as urban spaces and to ensure their integration with the city will be introduced. Accordingly, criteria that semi-public spaces should possess in order to increase and sustain urban space quality will be determined.