Urban Squares Research Articles

Accessibility and sustainability of urban squares: The case of Sakarya / Arifiye square

Kamusal alan örnekleri olan kent meydanlarının evrensel tasarım prensipleri doğrultusunda, erişilebilirlik standartları dikkate alınarak planlanması ve sürdürülmesi toplumu oluşturan farklı özellikteki bireyler için önem taşımaktadır. Bu makalede engelli bireylerin erişilebilirlik konusunda yaşadıkları sorunlar kent meydanları bağlamında ele alınmıştır. Çalışmada üç kişiden oluşan görme engelli birey grubuyla seçili bir kent meydanında yerinde deneyimleme çalışması yapılmıştır. Sakarya İli, Arifiye Meydanı, bulunduğu konumu ile ticaret ve sanayi alanında gelişimini arttırarak imkanlarını genişletmekte olması ve engelli bireylere iş olanağı konusunda çalışma alanı yaratması nedenleriyle tercih edilmiştir. Alan çalışmasında yer alan katılımcıların seçiminde rastgele atama tekniği kullanılmış, öncesinde araştırmanın amacı, yararları, yürütme şekli ve kendilerinden beklenenler konusunda bilgi verilmiştir. Katılımcı grubu alanda günlük zorunlu ihtiyaçları doğrultusunda kullanabilecekleri varsayılan ve önceden belirlenmiş bir güzergâhta rehber eşliğinde dolaşım yaparak, kent meydanını yerinde deneyimlemiş, “evrensel tasarım prensipleri” doğrultusunda hazırlanan formun doldurulmasına bireysel olarak katılım göstermişlerdir. Bu doğrultuda mevcut yapılı Arifiye Kent Meydanının evrensel tasarım ilkeleri ve belirlenen alt parametrelerine uygunluğu değerlendirilmiştir. Gerçekleştirilen vaka çalışması sonucunda, meydanın fiziki koşullarının farklı yaş ve engel gruplarına sahip olan bireyler için yetersiz kaldığı, alanda erişim sorunları yaşandığı tespit edilmiş, engelli bireylerin fiziksel ve sosyal anlamda erişim sorunlarına yanıt bulabileceği bir örnek meydan tasarımı önerilmiştir. Kentin yaşam alanlarının toplumu oluşturan bireyleri ayrıştırıcı değil, bütünleştirici ve evrensel tasarım ilkeleri doğrultusunda yapılandırılmasının gerekliliği sürdürülebilir ve insana saygılı bir kentsel tasarım için gerekli görülmüştür. Yürütülen çalışmanın mevcut yapılı farklı kamusal alanlarda ve farklı denek gruplarıyla birçok kez yinelenebilmesi söz konusudur.

Measuring the relationship between spatial configuration, diversity and user behavior: A Post Occupancy Evaluation study in Istanbul’s peripheral districts

Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is a robust tool to systematically evaluate the effects of design decisions on spatial performance and to identify the relationship between the space and its users. Although there is a growing body of POE research on complex buildings, such as hospitals and education spaces, studies on the POE evaluation of public open spaces are limited. More importantly, few studies have investigated public squares designed at the periphery and how they are used.
 This study aims to identify the extent to which spatial configuration of public squares is related to users’ behavior (i.e., modes/distances of access, level of satisfaction). For this purpose, we focused on four peripheral urban squares located in Istanbul, Turkey. The methodology applied in the study includes a synthesis of three types of expertise: 1) behavioral mapping of urban squares (through the analysis of patterns of use based on direct observation), 2) cognitive evaluation of spaces based on perceived factors (through user questionnaires), and 3) quantifying urban public spaces objectively (through the methodology of space syntax and urban morphology).
 The results identify associations between objective characteristics of public spaces designed at the peripheral districts, patterns of use and users’ perception of these areas, to a certain extent. For example, the variety and intensity of activities within the square as well as the length of occupancy are highest for Avcılar square, which is most integrated within its urban surroundings with reduced average block size. An important finding is the association between the average street connectivity levels of these squares with their pedestrian catchment areas. In other words, the more integrated a public urban space is with its surroundings (800mt buffers), its users will access this space on foot from a larger distance. Based on these findings, spatial configuration as measured by space syntax measures appears to be an explanatory measure assessing the potentiality of public open spaces for bringing users together, hence, creating a lively, well-used space. However, the results also point to some disagreements between the perceived (users’ evaluations) and objective (syntactic analysis) measurements, which indicate that both types of measurements are needed in POE research of public spaces.

Innovative DSS for intelligent monitoring and urban square design approaches: A case of study

In this paper we proposed a new platform based on data processing suitable for urban square design optimization. The re-design of square in cities is important to make the urban squares livable especially for cities with high population density. Innovative solutions about green space design, computer vision and environmental sensing have been implemented, observing experimentally the influence of the public space on people’s behaviour. Furthermore, the platform processes data about weather condition, objects detected by image processing algorithms, environmental pollution and occupancy patterns to perform correlation analysis. A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) has been used to predict people occupancy over time, basing on a weather dataset. The platform implements a Decision Support System (DSS) aimed to read the data, and provide guidelines for urban square design optimization. The DSS is constructed by data modeling, data mining and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) tools tailored on the specific case of study. Experimental observations provide insights for a self-adaptive urban square design. Multiple correspondence analysis best fits qualitative and quantitative data obtained from sensors, and highlights people’s behaviour in the urban square in correlation with different variables. After a complete overview of factors which can influence the livability of a square and economical/social models are presented different results about citizen behaviour interpretation in function of weather data and attitudes. The proposed framework can be potentially applied for a generic urban square.

Green space configuration and its impact on human behavior and URBAN environments

Trees and green spaces are part of the environmental systems that are essential to the quality of human life in urban spaces. In general, Brazilian cities have a high proportion of impermeable surfaces which affect the urban microclimate. This paper examined the impact of vegetation presence and configuration on human behavior in three downtown squares in Aracaju, Brazil. The monitored period was summer in 2014–2015. The study collected data on the microclimates of urban squares, conducted surveys of urban features and pedestrian preferences, and developed human behavior maps. Results showed that the green spaces provided more stable microclimates during the day and lower surface temperatures than other urban settings in the squares, which provided a more comfortable thermal environment for people. However, the preferences of pedestrians were not aligned to green spaces in the human behavior maps in two of these squares. It was found that the configuration of the landscape design in squares and surrounding commercial activity influenced human behavior more than the microclimate benefits of vegetation in the urban environment. Urban planning laws can be used to adjust the design and environmental conditions in highly developed urban centers to increase thermal comfort or climate resilience.

The beauty of contemporary façade. Tradition, technique, technology

The article focuses on the contemporary diversity of creating facades of public utility facilities. Approaches, in which trends of the tradition of place, as well as technique and technology, have a significant influence on the architectural image and the beauty of the façade, are analysed and arranged. The elevation of the building plays an important functional and aesthetic role. It protects the interior against environmental conditions and, at the same time, is the characteristic feature of the building. The necessity of prestige, being distinguished in its surroundings and/or appearing in the consciousness of residents make the architects seek original, innovative and often beautiful solutions. The searches are multi-layered and depend on the architect’s conception. They become visible when the relation between the architecture of the building and the urban context is considered. Because of the geometry of the building and the material which is used in the façade influence, the perception of the building in urban surroundings, buildings of rectilinear geometry in urban space were analysed. The nonconventional materials implemented on the elevation or used in a non-conventional form may be grouped in the following way:• Traditionalism of the material. Due to the technique and/or technology, the formal image of the elevation changes, yet remaining the matter which originates from the historic record of the implemented material. For example, ceramics used in contemporary architecture do not always resemble classical brick, however, its formal distinctness does not change the essence of materiality.• Transparency and transience of the image. In contemporary searches, it leads both to the impression of levity and/or to the creation of an illusion, weightlessness of the building and creation of the impression of unity of the architecture with the surrounding landscape.• Multilayering of contemporary shielding wall helps in introducing ‘additional’ functions into the external wall. Except for the basic function, the protection of the interior against surrounding conditions, multimedia, transparency, and energy-efficiency is also implemented.The above relationships are described based on examples of the architecture of contemporary Poland. Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School at the University of Silesia (arch. Baas arquitectura, Grupa 5 Architekci, Maleccy Biuro Projektowe, 2017), fitted in the historic frontage shows the new form of traditional material-brick. The impression of transparency of the building is shown on the complex, glass elevation of The Polin Museum in Warsaw (arch. Lahdelma& Mahlamäki, 2013) standing among residential blocks. In contrast, the multimedia façade of the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures in Lublin (arch. Bolesław Stelmach, Biuro Architectoniczne Stelmach i Partnerzy, 2015) relates to the function of the building and the space of the urban square where it is located. The suggested approach shows that architectural innovation is manifested by the search for solutions to contemporary multi-layered materiality of shielding walls

Air quality assessment and health site guidelines for city squares based on RANS method

The concentration of pollutants and pathogens in the air directly affects human health. When the pollution source remains unchanged, effective ventilation determines air quality. It is therefore critically needed to establish a quantitative determination index for effective ventilation, which can be used for real-time evaluation of air quality in specific areas, so as to guide residents to choose healthy outdoor activity places. In this study, Reynolds average Navier-Stokes (RANS) method was used to establish urban air pollution simulation system by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology. The correlations among wind speed, pollutant concentration, and pollutant diffusion efficiency were analyzed. With real-time meteorological data, wind field simulation and air quality evaluation were carried out for different periods of urban square space. The results showed that the critical wind speed value at pedestrian height (1.5 m) for the effective diffusion of pollutants was 1.0 m·s-1, which could be used as an air quality evaluation standard. With reference to this judgment index and the real-time weather system link, the pedestrian height wind speed distribution could be obtained through simulation. Therefore, the spatial variation of air quality could be visually displayed in real time, which help realize fair, efficient and reasonable use of urban space resources. This work could provide guidelines for choosing healthy outdoor venues, and provide technologies and means for public disease prevention and health promotion.

Evaluation of design schemes for urban squares in arid climate cities, Mendoza, Argentina

The design of urban squares in the city of Mendoza, Argentina, is based on aesthetic and landscaping criteria without consider strategies to enhance the benefits that green areas generate on the city’s micrometeorological conditions. The paper aims to evaluate different design alternatives with the purpose to determine which proportion and distribution of green and sealed areas contributes to achieve the best conditions in terms of thermal behavior and comfort. ENVI-met software was used to simulate thermal conditions over twenty three scenarios, and COMFA method was employed to determine comfort in the scenarios that show the best thermal behaviour and are representative of current design trends. The results show that the most effective scheme for the memorial squares rehabilitation is the one concentrating 60% of woodlot around a sealed center with an area that does not exceed 20% the square surface. Another effective alternative is the one concentrating 60% of woodlot at the center of the area. These findings highlight the importance of an adequate relation between proportion and distribution of woodlot/sealed areas to improve thermal performance and comfort conditions of open spaces.

An investigation into the Urban Square's Layout in Turkman Era to Develop the Sustainable Pattern in Northwest Iran

The appearance of Square in Northwest Iran, as a traditional element of the city, did not have a certain definition in the urban planning due to its structural disruption in the spatial fabric as well as its chaotic present in the manifestation of its identity. On the other hand, since the concept of the square in this area does not match to the similar models existing in the central plateau of Iran including the characteristics of being enclosed and architectural integrity, most researchers have assumed that the irregularity of the form in the squares of northwest Iran is because of gradual growth, lack of spatial desirability, and performance without a predesigned plan. This descriptive-analytic research studies the effect of climate on the formation of the structural layout of Saheb Abad Square as a case study. In this way, a specified framework would be suggested, and a fixed sustainable urban pattern would be achieved regarding the form of a square in modern urbanism in this region. According to the findings of this study, the disintegrated layout of the square in Northwest Iran is not only because of its structural weakness, but it was in certain parallels with environmental and natural conditions. It is obvious that the investigation of this innovation could lead to sustainable development in modern urban constructions.

Role of local and urban textures in promoting social interactions of residents and emphasizing living centers theory of Christopher Alexander

Local and urban squares play a crucial role in the presence and participation of people and in their interaction promotion. Alexander explained the profound geometric relations and discipline in nature, using the concept of life phenomenon theory and living structures. He believes that humans can revive creatures through creating strong centers and an integrated whole. This study selects Avicenna tomb square and center of Aqajani Beig neighborhood, Hamedan. The main research questions include what the role of Alexander's theory of living centers is in promoting the social interaction in local and urban square and which pattern of Alexander's theory mostly affects social interactions in squares and how the individual factors impact social interactions in local and urban squares. Results reveals that patterns of Alexander's theory are efficient in promoting social interactions in local and urban squares. Individual factors are not effective in this regard, but strong centers and urban square contradictions are more effective in resident's social interactions than that of void spaces and strong centers. Architects, planners, and urban designers can apply the results in designing new urban and local squares.

Immersive Virtual Reality-Aided Conjoint Analysis of Urban Square Preference by Living Environment

Though several studies have explored the ways in which people perceive the qualities of urban squares, the influence of living environments on such perceptions has received little attention. To fill this gap, this study examined differences in preferences for urban square design elements, particularly, the ratio of the width of a public space to the height of the surrounding buildings (D/H ratio), square size, and façade details, among people with different living environments. Virtual reality simulation techniques were used in controlled experiments with 100 participants of various nationalities, mostly Koreans, and conjoint analysis was applied to determine what combination of design elements most influenced urban square preferences. Participants experienced eight virtual squares designed with different combinations of the three design elements and assessed them based on five indicators of the quality of urban squares. Among the three design elements, the D/H ratio most significantly influenced the perceptions of quality, regardless of participants’ living environments. We conclude that the level of experience in various urban environments may affect people’s familiarity with these environments and their spatial perception and preferences. We thus suggest that socio-cultural differences related to users’ living environments should receive more attention in urban design practice. We also demonstrate that the emerging combination of immersive virtual reality technology and conjoint analysis can function as a useful tool for urban design research.

Sense of Place and Placelessness of Urban Open Spaces in Dar es Salaam

Provision of urban open spaces, such as parks and squares has been manifested during planning and designing of cities with the goal of enhancing ecological, social and economic benefits. Socially, it is argued that urban open spaces offer urban residents solace and recreational platforms where residents can interact and perform active and passive recreational activities. Through observations and interviews conducted in two urban squares in Dar es Salaam, it has been revealed that the spaces do not produce a sense of place to its users due to low frequency of visitors and unintended uses. This paper concludes that in order to enhance sense of place, the provision of urban open spaces should address the socio-cultural everyday experiences and desires of the target population.

Analysis of activity, space and user relations in urban squares

With the increasing density of built spaces in urban areas, the need for open spaces increases every day. Squares are one of the most important of these open spaces. Urban squares allow various activities and exhibit functional differences based on location and culture. The diversity of activities conducted in squares is extremely important for the quality and viability of liveable urban spaces. Urban residents prefer spaces that are suitable for individual requirements and desires and allow for a variety of activities. These spaces also contribute to social life. This article aimed to determine the user profile, occupancy, facilities and activity diversity at the Atatürk Plaza (Trabzon urban square) in Trabzon, the capital city of Trabzon Province, Turkey. The occupants of the square and their numbers were analysed via the behaviour observation method. As a result of the observations conducted in the square over one year, 17 activities were identified. The majority of these activities were necessary activities and that the most common activity was walking. The occupancy density and distribution in the square were analysed using the Geographical Information System (GIS). These research findings and analyses could serve as a guide for future urban square and urban open space designs.

Assessing Imageability of Port Cities Through the Visibility of Public Spaces: The Cases of Famagusta and Limassol

Characteristics of port cities are significantly different than inland cities since they have a spatial relation with water. Waterfronts, main urban squares, and major streets are specified as the predominant components affecting socio-spatial configurations. The research assumes that the imageability of port cities, which refers to “port city identity” in this research, is associated with the visibility of these key public spaces. The port cities of Famagusta and Limassol—the current major port cities of divided Cyprus—were selected to be evaluated on the specified public spaces to reveal this association. The specified spaces are scrutinized through both the space syntax methodology and land-use and movement patterns in relation to visibility parameters. The results show that Limassol is more successful than Famagusta in terms of imageability, as it presents higher spatial and social visibility of public spaces, which also strengthens its port city identity.

Effects of urban square entry layouts on spatial ventilation under different surrounding building conditions

Effective urban square ventilation is important for the living comfort and health of residents. This research aims to establish some principles of street entry layouts for urban square ventilation optimization. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation techniques, two types of street entry squares (two-intersection and four-intersection) were investigated under the effect of surrounding buildings. Three indices—the spatial mean velocity ( ), air change rate (ACH) and mean flow rates ( ) through the street entry and square roof—were calculated to quantify the square ventilation performance. The simulation results indicate that the surrounding buildings could influence the square space ventilation. When the surrounding building conditions change to a building coverage ratio of 0.25, the entering through the street entry can be reduced by 35%, and the within the square decreases by more than 45%. The optimal street entry layout design depends greatly on the wind direction. When the wind direction is perpendicular to the square street entry, the corner oblique-entry layout square shows a better ventilation performance than the other designs. When the wind direction is oblique to the square street entry, the declines greatly (up to 68%), and the lateral-entry layout design shows the best ventilation performance.

Shading analysis of urban squares using open-source software and free satellite imagery

The purpose of the study is to develop a method for analyzing, from satellite imagery and GIS tools, the impact of shading from surrounding buildings on open public squares in a subtropical location in Brazil, in order to assist and provide subsidies for urban planning. The method integrates open data, spatial data, and GIS simulation tools for the analysis of shading profiles on winter and summer solstices, and spring equinox. Different types of spaces were analyzed for the current configuration of adjacent buildings, starting with a historic square, Japan Square, in Curitiba. The analysis for 25 urban public squares with the current height configuration showed that four of them had more than 50% of their surface area shaded more than 3 h in winter solstice. The detailed analysis of a possible future scenario for one of the squares evaluated showed that the study of the impact of future constructions on open-air public spaces is important and necessary, especially when vertical growth is allowed in cities such as Curitiba, characterized by a cold winter, when solar access is largely recommended. The method proved to be applicable and reliable, and can be useful for the initial stages of urban planning, as well as for readjustments of existing spaces. Furthermore, it is a tool to analyze the impact of new constructions of surrounding buildings or even for studies of boundary height parameters of buildings around these sites.

Urban square as a strip development revitalization element (case study: Dr Mansur street corridor, Medan City)

Indication of urban sprawl at the center of urban growth are characterized by strip development of residential-commercial zoning changes uncontrollably. One of the strip developments that took place in the city of Medan was Dr. Mansur street corridor. Changes in residential allocation functions become uncontrolled commercial places because of the dynamics of community activities and become a development degradation that requires efforts to revitalize the area. By uncovering the potential of urban square forming with direct observation in the field of social activities that take place in shared public spaces in this corridor, research raises the local wisdom of community behavior and potential places of interest that are bottom up development. The finding this research is the identification mapping of revitalization elements in the form of urban square (place and activity) for the complimentary of generic and organic revitalization models, which can later become a guide for the community and government in addressing changes from and by the community so that the negative strip development indication can be controlled.

Игровые компьютерные среды и меняющийся опыт городских коммуникаций

Thanks to mobile technologies, a modern city exists as an intersection of real and virtual worlds, combining face-to-face and online communications. Also, a city is a constantly recreated object in virtual gaming spaces and is not just a passive background, but an important resource for the development of gameplay. Hybridization as the addition of physical space to virtual space, and transmediation as the free transfer of content between different platforms, provide new opportunities for citizens to participate and observe urban life. The article's aim is a conceptualization of changes in the urban communication experience on the example of commemorative activities. The authors discuss the case of the Victory Parade on May 9, 2020, which was hosted by gamers in the online space, but thanks to streamers it was broadcast to a wide audience. All participants tried to somehow correspond to a real parade: they used equipment and combat subunits (units), chose locations similar to urban squares, tried to walk, ride or fly in formation, used the marches or songs of the war years. Both gamers and official teams of game developers created their parades. Authors concluded that gaming space, its architecture, and artifacts are of essential importance for this event and creates the basis for a full, partial, or creative reconstruction of the event. The authors note that online games are changing the experience of urban interactions, becoming a platform for both communication and maintaining cultural patterns, for example, for developing citizen rituals. The reproduction of urban rituals in gaming spaces reconfigures the collaborative social activities of nowadays citizens.

Retraction Note to: Modelling thermal comfort of visitors at urban squares in hot and arid climate using NN-ARX soft computing method

Visitors utilize the urban space based on their thermal perception and thermal environment. The thermal adaptation engages the user’s behavioural, physiological and psychological aspects. These aspects play critical roles in user’s ability to assess the thermal environments. Previous studies have rarely addressed the effects of identified factors such as gender, age and locality on outdoor thermal comfort, particularly in hot, dry climate. This study investigated the thermal comfort of visitors at two city squares in Iran based on their demographics as well as the role of thermal environment. Assessing the thermal comfort required taking physical measurement and questionnaire survey. In this study, a non-linear model known as the neural network autoregressive with exogenous input (NN-ARX) was employed. Five indices of physiological equivalent temperature (PET), predicted mean vote (PMV), standard effective temperature (SET), thermal sensation votes (TSVs) and mean radiant temperature (T mrt) were trained and tested using the NN-ARX. Then, the results were compared to the artificial neural network (ANN) and the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The findings showed the superiority of the NN-ARX over the ANN and the ANFIS. For the NN-ARX model, the statistical indicators of the root mean square error (RMSE) and the mean absolute error (MAE) were 0.53 and 0.36 for the PET, 1.28 and 0.71 for the PMV, 2.59 and 1.99 for the SET, 0.29 and 0.08 for the TSV and finally 0.19 and 0.04 for the T mrt.

The outdoor thermal comfort of urban square: A field study in a cold season in Chongqing

With the development of urban development and various outdoor activities, the outdoor activities time of residents continue to grow, and the good outdoor environment have an important impact on the physical and mental health of residents. For the winter outdoor thermal comfort problem with less attention, taking the Chongqing Three Gorges Square in the hot summer and cold winter area as an example, a winter thermal environment measurement and thermal comfort questionnaire were conducted. The Rayman software is used to calculate the PET (physiological equivalent temperature) value as thermal comfort evaluation parameters, establish a functional relationship between TCV (thermal comfort voting value), TSV (thermal sensation voting value) and PET. The winter thermal comfort range of different outdoor environmental spaces were obtained, and propose a suitable winter thermal comfort evaluation model for hot summer and cold winter area. The research results can provide basic data reference for the improvement of outdoor thermal comfort research in hot summer and cold winter areas.

Plant health and arborization of two squares in the municipality of Belterra, Pará, Brazil

A quality arborization in cities and, mainly, in public places destined for entertainment, such as squares, is indispensable for the well-being of the population, besides, to contribute to the aesthetic enhance of the environment. Thus, this work aimed to analyze the phytosanitary nature of tree vegetation in two squares, Brazil square and square of Estrada 8, located in the municipality of Belterra, in the west part of the state of Pará. The number of individuals found at Brazil square was 56, while at square of Estrada 8, it was 21. According to the results, 61% of crowns of the first square, and around 70% in the second one, were in good health. The tree stems in the two squares did not show any apparent problem, the values of sanity for them were 67%, and 60%, respectively. Concerning the root situation, about 83% of the individuals analyzed at Brazil square had no problems, only one individual from Ipê pointed to rot in their roots. However, at the square of Estrada 8, about 79% had no damaged roots. In Brazil square, 67% of the species are regularly pruned, although, the ficus trees showed a need for removal, indicating 4% of the individuals with severe phytosanitary problems with termite attack. At square of Estrada 8, it is necessary to remove 38% of individuals, followed by 35% of pruning, replacement by 6% and only 21% of arboreal individuals are in an adequate situation for urban squares.