The Evaluation of Public Open Space Quality from the Perspective of Syrian Refugees Living in Bursa, Turkey

Year 2021, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 56 - 71, 30.04.2021

Shaza Alsallomy , Sibel Polat

Abstract

Public open spaces are the areas where social relationships take place and cultures mix, where people interact with each other and with the local authorities. When these spaces are well-designed, relationships are built between users of these spaces; cooperation is improved, and benefits to the communities that accommodate newcomers, refugees, or migrants are increased. The scope of this research is to gain a better understanding of how refugees use, perceive, and experience public open spaces. The research sheds light on a case study of incoming Syrian refugees in Altıparmak and adjacent neighbourhoods in Bursa, Turkey. A mixed-method approach is used to gather information consisting of literature review, observation, and interviews. The questions of the interviews were designed based on the principles of the Project of Public Spaces (PPS) approach to measure the quality of a space, as well as to define the basic elements that make a space good, and make refugees feel welcomed and comfortable. The findings show that the public open spaces in the case study area have been successful in creating social networking, access, and links, uses, and activities, but have not met the criteria of image and comfort. The research highlights that public spaces are affected by the national and cultural identity of refugees. The findings also show that the best public open spaces for refugees give importance to create links between their homeland and host country.

Keywords

public open space;, quality of public space;, Project for Public Spaces;, placemaking;, refugee.

Bursa-Türkiye’de Yaşayan Suriyeli Göçmenlerin Perspektifinden Kamusal Açık Alan Kalitesinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Kamusal açık alanlar, sosyal ilişkilerin oluştuğu ve kültürlerin karıştığı, insanların birbirleriyle ve yerel yönetimlerle etkileşimde bulunduğu alanlardır. Bu alanlar iyi tasarlandığında, kullanıcılar arasında iyi ilişkiler kurulur; işbirliği geliştirilir, yeni gelenleri, mültecileri veya göçmenleri barındıran topluluklara sağlanan faydalar artar. Çalışmanın amacı, mültecilerin kamusal açık alanların kullanımlarını ne şekilde algıladıklarını ve deneyimlediklerini araştırmaktır. Makalede Suriye’den Türkiye’ye, özellikle de Bursa, Altıparmak mahallesi ve çevresine göç eden mültecilere yönelik bir alan çalışması yapılmıştır. Yöntem olarak, literatür tarama, gözlem ve görüşmeler kullanılmıştır. Görüşmelerde mekan kalitesini ölçmek için Kamusal Mekanlar için Proje (PPS) yaklaşımının ilkelerini temel alan sorular sorulmuştur. Sonuç olarak, çalışma alanının sosyal ilişkiler, erişilebilirlik, kullanım ve aktivite konularında başarılı olduğu, ancak imaj ve konfor kriterlerini karşılamadığı ortaya çıkmıştır. Araştırma, kamusal açık alanların mültecilerin ulusal ve kültürel kimliklerinden de etkilendiğini göstermesi açısından önemlidir. Bulgular, en iyi kamusal açık alanların mültecilerin anavatanları ile ev sahibi ülke arasında bağ oluşturmaya önem verenler olduğunu göstermektedir.

Keywords

kamusal açık alan, kamusal alan kalitesi, kamusal mekanlar için proje, yer yapma, mülteci

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