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Silent Details of Urban Identity: Urban Furniture on Siirt Gures Street

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 83 - 98, 30.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.30516/bilgesci.1749578

Abstract

The development of technology, changes in living habits, and the rapid urbanization process have increased interaction between cities, leading to the formation of cities that are increasingly similar, lacking distinct identities and aesthetic appeal. In this process, urban furniture that shapes the urban space plays a crucial role in constructing both visual aesthetics and urban identity. Urban furniture not only enhances user comfort but also embodies components of identity that reflect the city's historical, cultural, and physical characteristics. This study aims to evaluate the aesthetic qualities of urban furniture on Gures Street in Siirt city centre and its relationship with urban identity. In the research, which was carried out by on-site observation, photo documentation and qualitative analysis methods; seating units, garbage bins, delimitation elements, artistic objects, tree grates, parking spaces, lighting components and water elements were examined in terms of functionality, visual harmony, maintenance status and connection with local identity. The findings show that although the furniture elements meet the needs at the functional level, they contain designs that fall short of aesthetic integrity and fail to align with the regional cultural context. This situation weakens the original identity of the street and creates discontinuity in urban perception. The study reveals that urban furniture should be reconsidered not only as physical objects but also as aesthetic elements with cultural meaning.

References

  • Aksu, Ö. V. (2012). Urban furniture of design original approaches. Inonu University Journal of Art and Design, 2(6).
  • Akyol, E. (2006). Designing and usage process of the street furniture (Master's thesis, Istanbul Technical University, Institute of Science, Department of Landscape Architecture). YÖK National Thesis Center.
  • Arruda, A., Moroni, I., Bezerra, P., Silva, P., de Paiva, R.B.F. (2017). Practical urban: the urban furniture and ıts relationship with the city. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 486. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41685-4_37
  • Bayazıt, E., Kısakürek, Ş. (2020). The urban equipment evaluation in terms of urban aesthetics: case of Kahramanmaraş. Turkish Journal of Forest Science, 4(1), 40-59. https://doi.org/10.32328/turkjforsci.701182
  • Bayramoglu, E., Ozdemir, B. (2012). The evaluation of the urban furniture through Uzun Sokak in Trabzon city in front of urban identity. Kastamonu University Forestry Faculty Journal, 12(2), (182–191). https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20133157371
  • Birol, G. (2007). Bir kentin kimliği ve Kervansaray Oteli üzerine bir değerlendirme. Arkitekt Dergisi, 514(1), 46-54.
  • Bolkaner, M. K., İnançoğlu, S., Asilsoy, B. (2019). A study on urban furniture: Nicosia old city. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 8(2), 1-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14207/ejsd.2019.v8n2p1
  • Carmona, M. (2021). Public Places Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315158457
  • Catalyurekoglu, S., Altiparmakogullari, Y. (2023). Evaluation of design processes and ergonomics of urban furniture in the frame of manufacturer and user views. Tasarim+ Kuram, 19(39), 296-315. https://doi.org/10.59215/tasarimkuram.398
  • Demir, Ş. (2023). Urban planning activities in Siirt from the Ottomans to the present. Van Yüzüncü Yıl University The Journal of Social Sciences Institute, (RepublicSpecial Issue), 182-201. https://doi.org/10.53568/yyusbed.1307694
  • Derin, A. (2021). A public space discussion: The case of Van Cumhuriyet Street. Vankulu Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, (8), 155-176. D ogan, F. (2024). A holistic approach to urban identity. Online Journal of Art and Design, 12(2). https://adjournal.net/articles/122/1229.pdf
  • Grabiec, A. M., Łacka, A., Wiza, W. (2022). Material, functional, and aesthetic solutions for urban furniture in public spaces. Sustainability, 14(23), https://doi.org/10.3390/su142316211.
  • Gul, Ş. (2013). The effect of branding the city image: Case of Kahramanmaraş (Master's thesis, Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Public Administration). YÖK National Thesis Center.
  • Guler, T., Şahnagil, S. Güler S. (2016). Indicators of urban consciousness and ways of improving urban consciousness. PARADOKS Economics, Sociology and Policy Journal, (Special Issue) 11, 58-104.
  • Gunduz Gezer, D. (2022). Research on the solution of transportation problems with the urban design method in the urbanization process problems and solution proposals in using Siirt province Güres Street as a pedestrian road (Master's thesis, Siirt University, Institute of Natural Sciences). YÖK National Thesis Center.
  • Kır, İ. (2009). Effects of urban squares on urban identy; Izmir case (Master's thesis, Ege University, Institute of Science, Department of Landscape Architecture). YÖK National Thesis Center.
  • Lynch, K. (1960). The Image of the City. MIT Press.
  • Matzarakis, A., Mayer, H. (1996). Another kind of environmental stress: Thermal stress. WHO newsletter, 18, 7-10.
  • Matzarakis, A., Rutz, F. Mayer, H. (2007). Modelling Radiation fluxes in easy and complex environments – Application of the Rayman model. International Journal of Biometeorology, 51, 323–334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-006-0061-8
  • Mieczkowski, Z. (1985). The tourism climate index: a method for evaluating world climates for tourism. Canadian Geographer, 29, 220–233. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0064.1985.tb00365.x
  • Morgan, R., Gatell, E., Junyent, R., Micallef, A., Özhan, E. Williams, A. (2000). An improved user – based beach climate index. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 6(1), 41-50. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02730466
  • Nia, H. A., Olugbenga, F. (2020). A quest on the role of aesthetics in enhancing functionality of urban planning. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 8(5), 873-879.https://doi.org/10.13189/cea.2020.080514.
  • Nikolopoulou, M., Steemers, K. (2003). Thermal comfort and psychological adaptation as a guide for designing urban spaces. Energy and Buildings, 35(1), 95-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7788(02)00084-1
  • Ozgen, N., Karadogan, S. (2009). Establishment and development of the Siirt city. Fırat University Journal of Social Science, 19(2), 61-81.
  • Radwan, A. H., Morsy, A. A. G. (2016). The importance of integrating street furniture in the visual image of the city. International Journal of Modern Engineering Research (IJMER), 9(2). https://ssrn.com/abstract=3264621
  • Relph, E. (1976). Place and Placelessness (Vol. 67, p. 45). London: Pion.
  • Rossi, A. (2006). Şehrin Mimarisi, (Trans: N. Gürbilek), Istanbul, Kanat Publications. Schulz, C. N. (1980). Genius Loci: Towards A Phenomenology of Architecture. New York: Rizzoli.
  • Siirt Directorate of Culture and Tourism (2025). Siirt provincial directorate of culture and tourism, Gures Street images. https://www.instagram.com/p/DJQAxGFoe4c/ (Accessed June 5, 2025)
  • Stathopoulos, T., Wu, H., Zacharias, J. (2004). Outdoor human comfort in an urban climate. Building and Environment, 39(3), 297-305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2003.09.001
  • Tan, M., Bayezit, G. (2023). Spatial reflections of urban ıdentity: the example of Siirt Güres Avenue. International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Social Sciences, 7(3), 127-141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/ijiasos.2023.607.1
  • Toy, S., Yilmaz, S., Yilmaz, H. (2007). Determination of bioclimatic comfort in three different land uses in the city of Erzurum, Turkey. Building and Environment, 42(3), 1315-1318.
  • Uslu, E., Bolukbasi, A. E. (2019). Urban furniture in historical process. Journal of History Culture and Art Research, 8(4), 425-444. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7596/taksad.v8i4.2336
  • Wang, Z. (2018). An atmospheric approach to urban aesthetics. Módulo Arquitectura CUC, 21, 161-180.https://doi.org/10.17981/moducuc.21.1.2018.06.
  • Yilmaz, S., Irmak, M. A., Matzarakis, A. (2013). The importance of thermal comfort in different elevation for city planning. Global NEST Journal, 15(3), 408-420.
  • Yücel, G. F. (2006). Kamusal açık mekânlarda donatı elemanlarının kullanımı. Ege Mimarlık, 4(59), 26-29.
  • Yücel, G. F. (2013). Street furniture and amenities: Designing the user-oriented urban landscape. In Advances in landscape architecture. IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/55770
  • Ziyaee, M. (2018). Assessment of urban identity through a matrix of cultural landscapes. Cities, 74, 21-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2017.10.021

Kent Kimliğinin Sessiz Detayları: Siirt Güres Caddesi'nde Kent Mobilyaları

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 83 - 98, 30.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.30516/bilgesci.1749578

Abstract

Gelişen teknoloji, değişen yaşam alışkanlıkları ve hızlı kentleşme süreci, kentler arası etkileşimi artırarak birbirine benzer, kimliksiz ve estetikten uzak kentlerin oluşmasına neden olmaktadır. Bu süreçte, kent mekânını biçimlendiren kent mobilyaları hem görsel estetik hem de kent kimliğinin inşasında temel rol oynamaktadır. Kent mobilyaları, yalnızca kullanıcı konforunu değil, aynı zamanda kentin tarihî, kültürel ve fiziksel özelliklerini yansıtan kimliksel bileşenleri de taşımaktadır. Bu çalışma, Siirt kent merkezindeki Güres Caddesi üzerinde yer alan kent mobilyalarının estetik nitelikleri ve kent kimliği ile ilişkisini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Yerinde gözlem, fotoğraf belgelenmesi ve nitel analiz yöntemleriyle gerçekleştirilen araştırmada; oturma birimleri, çöp kutuları, sınırlandırma elemanları, sanatsal objeler, ağaç ızgaraları, bisiklet park yerleri, aydınlatma elemanları ve su öğeleri, işlevsellik, görsel uyum, bakım durumu ve yerel kimlikle bağı açısından incelenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, mobilya elemanlarının işlevsel düzeyde ihtiyaçlara cevap verse de estetik bütünlükten ve yerel kültürel bağlamdan uzak tasarımlar içerdiğini göstermektedir. Bu durum, caddenin özgün kimliğini zayıflatmakta ve kentsel algıda süreksizlik yaratmaktadır. Çalışma, kent mobilyalarının yalnızca fiziksel nesneler olarak değil; kültürel anlam taşıyan estetik unsurlar olarak yeniden ele alınması gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır.

References

  • Aksu, Ö. V. (2012). Urban furniture of design original approaches. Inonu University Journal of Art and Design, 2(6).
  • Akyol, E. (2006). Designing and usage process of the street furniture (Master's thesis, Istanbul Technical University, Institute of Science, Department of Landscape Architecture). YÖK National Thesis Center.
  • Arruda, A., Moroni, I., Bezerra, P., Silva, P., de Paiva, R.B.F. (2017). Practical urban: the urban furniture and ıts relationship with the city. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 486. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41685-4_37
  • Bayazıt, E., Kısakürek, Ş. (2020). The urban equipment evaluation in terms of urban aesthetics: case of Kahramanmaraş. Turkish Journal of Forest Science, 4(1), 40-59. https://doi.org/10.32328/turkjforsci.701182
  • Bayramoglu, E., Ozdemir, B. (2012). The evaluation of the urban furniture through Uzun Sokak in Trabzon city in front of urban identity. Kastamonu University Forestry Faculty Journal, 12(2), (182–191). https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20133157371
  • Birol, G. (2007). Bir kentin kimliği ve Kervansaray Oteli üzerine bir değerlendirme. Arkitekt Dergisi, 514(1), 46-54.
  • Bolkaner, M. K., İnançoğlu, S., Asilsoy, B. (2019). A study on urban furniture: Nicosia old city. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 8(2), 1-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14207/ejsd.2019.v8n2p1
  • Carmona, M. (2021). Public Places Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315158457
  • Catalyurekoglu, S., Altiparmakogullari, Y. (2023). Evaluation of design processes and ergonomics of urban furniture in the frame of manufacturer and user views. Tasarim+ Kuram, 19(39), 296-315. https://doi.org/10.59215/tasarimkuram.398
  • Demir, Ş. (2023). Urban planning activities in Siirt from the Ottomans to the present. Van Yüzüncü Yıl University The Journal of Social Sciences Institute, (RepublicSpecial Issue), 182-201. https://doi.org/10.53568/yyusbed.1307694
  • Derin, A. (2021). A public space discussion: The case of Van Cumhuriyet Street. Vankulu Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, (8), 155-176. D ogan, F. (2024). A holistic approach to urban identity. Online Journal of Art and Design, 12(2). https://adjournal.net/articles/122/1229.pdf
  • Grabiec, A. M., Łacka, A., Wiza, W. (2022). Material, functional, and aesthetic solutions for urban furniture in public spaces. Sustainability, 14(23), https://doi.org/10.3390/su142316211.
  • Gul, Ş. (2013). The effect of branding the city image: Case of Kahramanmaraş (Master's thesis, Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Public Administration). YÖK National Thesis Center.
  • Guler, T., Şahnagil, S. Güler S. (2016). Indicators of urban consciousness and ways of improving urban consciousness. PARADOKS Economics, Sociology and Policy Journal, (Special Issue) 11, 58-104.
  • Gunduz Gezer, D. (2022). Research on the solution of transportation problems with the urban design method in the urbanization process problems and solution proposals in using Siirt province Güres Street as a pedestrian road (Master's thesis, Siirt University, Institute of Natural Sciences). YÖK National Thesis Center.
  • Kır, İ. (2009). Effects of urban squares on urban identy; Izmir case (Master's thesis, Ege University, Institute of Science, Department of Landscape Architecture). YÖK National Thesis Center.
  • Lynch, K. (1960). The Image of the City. MIT Press.
  • Matzarakis, A., Mayer, H. (1996). Another kind of environmental stress: Thermal stress. WHO newsletter, 18, 7-10.
  • Matzarakis, A., Rutz, F. Mayer, H. (2007). Modelling Radiation fluxes in easy and complex environments – Application of the Rayman model. International Journal of Biometeorology, 51, 323–334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-006-0061-8
  • Mieczkowski, Z. (1985). The tourism climate index: a method for evaluating world climates for tourism. Canadian Geographer, 29, 220–233. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0064.1985.tb00365.x
  • Morgan, R., Gatell, E., Junyent, R., Micallef, A., Özhan, E. Williams, A. (2000). An improved user – based beach climate index. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 6(1), 41-50. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02730466
  • Nia, H. A., Olugbenga, F. (2020). A quest on the role of aesthetics in enhancing functionality of urban planning. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 8(5), 873-879.https://doi.org/10.13189/cea.2020.080514.
  • Nikolopoulou, M., Steemers, K. (2003). Thermal comfort and psychological adaptation as a guide for designing urban spaces. Energy and Buildings, 35(1), 95-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7788(02)00084-1
  • Ozgen, N., Karadogan, S. (2009). Establishment and development of the Siirt city. Fırat University Journal of Social Science, 19(2), 61-81.
  • Radwan, A. H., Morsy, A. A. G. (2016). The importance of integrating street furniture in the visual image of the city. International Journal of Modern Engineering Research (IJMER), 9(2). https://ssrn.com/abstract=3264621
  • Relph, E. (1976). Place and Placelessness (Vol. 67, p. 45). London: Pion.
  • Rossi, A. (2006). Şehrin Mimarisi, (Trans: N. Gürbilek), Istanbul, Kanat Publications. Schulz, C. N. (1980). Genius Loci: Towards A Phenomenology of Architecture. New York: Rizzoli.
  • Siirt Directorate of Culture and Tourism (2025). Siirt provincial directorate of culture and tourism, Gures Street images. https://www.instagram.com/p/DJQAxGFoe4c/ (Accessed June 5, 2025)
  • Stathopoulos, T., Wu, H., Zacharias, J. (2004). Outdoor human comfort in an urban climate. Building and Environment, 39(3), 297-305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2003.09.001
  • Tan, M., Bayezit, G. (2023). Spatial reflections of urban ıdentity: the example of Siirt Güres Avenue. International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Social Sciences, 7(3), 127-141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/ijiasos.2023.607.1
  • Toy, S., Yilmaz, S., Yilmaz, H. (2007). Determination of bioclimatic comfort in three different land uses in the city of Erzurum, Turkey. Building and Environment, 42(3), 1315-1318.
  • Uslu, E., Bolukbasi, A. E. (2019). Urban furniture in historical process. Journal of History Culture and Art Research, 8(4), 425-444. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7596/taksad.v8i4.2336
  • Wang, Z. (2018). An atmospheric approach to urban aesthetics. Módulo Arquitectura CUC, 21, 161-180.https://doi.org/10.17981/moducuc.21.1.2018.06.
  • Yilmaz, S., Irmak, M. A., Matzarakis, A. (2013). The importance of thermal comfort in different elevation for city planning. Global NEST Journal, 15(3), 408-420.
  • Yücel, G. F. (2006). Kamusal açık mekânlarda donatı elemanlarının kullanımı. Ege Mimarlık, 4(59), 26-29.
  • Yücel, G. F. (2013). Street furniture and amenities: Designing the user-oriented urban landscape. In Advances in landscape architecture. IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/55770
  • Ziyaee, M. (2018). Assessment of urban identity through a matrix of cultural landscapes. Cities, 74, 21-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2017.10.021
There are 37 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Forestry Sciences (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Esra Bayazıt 0000-0001-8390-0212

Publication Date September 30, 2025
Submission Date July 23, 2025
Acceptance Date September 3, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 9 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Bayazıt, E. (2025). Silent Details of Urban Identity: Urban Furniture on Siirt Gures Street. Bilge International Journal of Science and Technology Research, 9(2), 83-98. https://doi.org/10.30516/bilgesci.1749578