Evaluating two shopping centers in the light of principles of universal design


Thesis Type: Postgraduate

Institution Of The Thesis: Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Turkey

Approval Date: 2011

Thesis Language: English

Student: Muhammet Sancar Sevük

Supervisor: VACİT İMAMOĞLU

Abstract:

EVALUATING TWO SHOPPING CENTERS IN THE LIGHT OF PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN Sevük, Muhammet Sancar M. of Arch., Department of Architecture Supervisor of the thesis: Prof. Dr. Vacit İmamoğlu April 2011, 156 Pages Starting from the second half of the 20th century, the number of aged people and people with aging-related disabilities has increased significantly in the world. Parallel to this increase, special projects have been developed for aged people in the developed countries, but with these projects aged people were often excluded from society. People with disabilities were already living isolated from society. With the effect of raising awareness in the public after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, in the course of the last sixty years studies have been realized and new standards and principles have been developed for elderly people and people with disabilities to benefit from the social life equally together with everyone and to raise their quality of life. Starting with the barrier-free design approach, a new period improving and changing the view point of design from general and private design to design for all, to inclusive and/or the universal design has begun. In the thesis, this period has been reviewed through the summarized definitions of these stages. The effects of these improvements have been related to the design and construction of the built environments and buildings. Therefore, people with disabilities started to participate in the society more than ever. The implementation of principles of the Universal Design in the public buildings, especially to hospitals, cultural centers and shopping centers has gained more importance in order to advance full social integration of people with disabilities to the society. Number of shopping centers in Turkey increased rapidly after 1995. In this thesis, two examples were examined and evaluated in the light of universal design principles. The problems faced in these buildings were examined in order to design more inclusive buildings and environments. A brief history of shopping centers was presented. Brief information about some examples of old bazaars from Anatolia and shopping centers from different countries were given.