Understanding perceptions regarding the aesthetics of urban public space: Tunali Hilmi Street, Ankara

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mimarlık Fakültesi, Kentsel Tasarım, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2011

Tezin Dili: İngilizce

Öğrenci: YONCA PEHLİVANOĞLU

Danışman: Zübeyde Müge Akkar Ercan

Özet:

Urban aesthetics has been the concern of many academic researches, and there have been now more than hundred definitions of urban aesthetics. It is crucial to understand that aesthetics is more than just about the form and physical qualities of a place. Likewise, urban aesthetics is not only the concerns of academics, but also the concern of urbanites of cities and daily users of urban space. It is therefore important to understand what daily users of cities understand from the concept of urban aesthetics and what kind of aesthetically pleasant spaces they desire in cities, especially when public spaces are concerned. This thesis aims to find out the aesthetic qualities of urban space and understanding of urbanites on urban aesthetics, focusing on Tunali Hilmi Street, a widely used sub-centre of Ankara. It seeks to discover the aesthetic characteristics of the street and the perception of urbanites. The examination is carried out on the architecture, street furniture, floorscape, landmarks, planting and open spaces of Tunali Hilmi Street regarding seven variables which are harmony, rhythm, balance, order, complexity, scale and upkeep. The thesis argues that it is possible to achieve better-working public spaces if we are also able to identify what the daily users of public spaces envisage as an aesthetically pleasant environment.