Kent Meydanlarında Yüzeyselleşme: Kamusal Yaşam, Kentsel Bellek ve Yaşanabilir Meydan Gereksinimi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme

Fatma Zehra Taş; Ceyhun İlsever

doi:10.5281/zenodo.20746446

EN TR

The Superficialization of Urban Squares: An Assessment on Public Life, Urban Memory, and the Requirement for Livable Squares

Abstract

This study re-evaluates our need for urban squares through the concept of superficiality, an increasingly prominent phenomenon in contemporary cities. In this context, the square is evaluated not merely as an open urban void, but rather as a living ground constructed through social encounter, urban memory, public representation, a sense of belonging, everyday use, and human scale. Throughout history, urban squares have served as fundamental public spaces where individuals convene, interact, converse, rest, celebrate, protest, engage in commerce, and experience the city. From ancient agoras and Roman forums to medieval plazas, from mosque-centered and külliye-oriented open spaces in the Ottoman era to ceremonial and representational spaces in modern cities, squares have functioned as the communal stage of urban life across different epochs. The primary assertion of this research is that what people truly need is not merely “vast open spaces designated as squares,” but rather squares that are genuinely livable, functional, memorable, and capable of fostering social relations. Within this framework, superficiality is defined as the attenuation of a square's social, functional, climatic, mnemonic, and public depth, despite its formal physical presence. The methodology of the study consists of a literature review and an analysis of three case studies. The manifestations of superficiality are examined through Taksim Square in Türkiye, alongside international examples including Piazza d’Italia and Sergels Torg. In the concluding section, pragmatic, actionable, and human-centric recommendations are proposed to reintegrate squares into everyday life.

Keywords

Urban square, superficiality, public space, urban memory, authentic square, urban design

Ethical Statement

As this study employs a qualitative research design and does not involve human subjects or primary data collection, ethics committee approval was not required.

Kent Meydanlarında Yüzeyselleşme: Kamusal Yaşam, Kentsel Bellek ve Yaşanabilir Meydan Gereksinimi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme

Abstract

Bu çalışma, kent meydanlarına ihtiyacımızı, günümüz kentlerinde giderek belirginleşen meydanlarda yüzeyselleşme kavramı üzerinden yeniden ele almaktadır. Çalışma da meydan, yalnızca açık bir kentsel boşluk olarak değil; sosyal karşılaşma, kentsel bellek, kamusal temsil, aidiyet, gündelik kullanım ve insan ölçeği üzerinden üretilen bir yaşam zemini olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Kent meydanları, tarih boyunca insanların bir araya geldiği, karşılaştığı, konuştuğu, dinlendiği, kutladığı, protesto ettiği, ticaret yaptığı ve kenti deneyimlediği temel kamusal mekânlardan biri olmuştur. Antik agora ve Roma forumlarından Orta Çağ meydanlarına, Osmanlı’da cami çevresi ve külliye odaklı açık alanlara, modern kentlerdeki tören ve temsil alanlarına kadar meydanlar, farklı dönemlerde kentin ortak yaşam sahnesi olarak işlev görmüştür. Araştırmanın temel savı, insanların ihtiyaç duyduğu şeyin yalnızca “meydan adı verilen geniş açıklıklar” değil, gerçek anlamda yaşanabilir, kullanılabilir, hatırlanabilir ve toplumsal ilişki kurdurabilen meydanlar olduğudur. Bu çerçevede yüzeysellik, meydanın biçimsel olarak var olmasına rağmen sosyal, işlevsel, iklimsel, belleksel ve kamusal derinliğinin zayıflaması olarak tanımlanmıştır. Çalışmada yöntem olarak literature taraması ve üç örnek üzerinden inceleme yapılmıştır. Türkiye’den Taksim Meydanı; uluslararası örneklerden Piazza d’Italia ve Sergels Torg üzerinden yüzeyselleşme halleri okunmuş; son bölümde meydanların yeniden gündelik yaşama katılabilmesi için basit, uygulanabilir ve insan odaklı öneriler geliştirilmiştir.

Keywords

Kent meydanı, yüzeysellik, kamusal alan, kentsel bellek, gerçek meydan, kentsel tasarım

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma nitel araştırma niteliğinde olup, insan özneleri veya birincil veri toplamayı içermediği için herhangi bir etik kurul onayına gerek duyulmamıştır.

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Details

Primary Language

Turkish

Subjects

Sociology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Fatma Zehra Taş ^*
0000-0002-5214-2057
Türkiye

Ceyhun İlsever
0000-0003-0826-1873
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 24, 2026

Submission Date

May 18, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 31, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 5 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20746446

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA72FK95HX

APA

Taş, F. Z., & İlsever, C. (2026). Kent Meydanlarında Yüzeyselleşme: Kamusal Yaşam, Kentsel Bellek ve Yaşanabilir Meydan Gereksinimi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme. Siirt Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 5(1), 66-83. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20746446

AMA

1.Taş FZ, İlsever C. Kent Meydanlarında Yüzeyselleşme: Kamusal Yaşam, Kentsel Bellek ve Yaşanabilir Meydan Gereksinimi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme. Siirt Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi. 2026;5(1):66-83. doi:10.5281/zenodo.20746446

Chicago

Taş, Fatma Zehra, and Ceyhun İlsever. 2026. “Kent Meydanlarında Yüzeyselleşme: Kamusal Yaşam, Kentsel Bellek Ve Yaşanabilir Meydan Gereksinimi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme”. Siirt Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi 5 (1): 66-83. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20746446.

EndNote

Taş FZ, İlsever C (June 1, 2026) Kent Meydanlarında Yüzeyselleşme: Kamusal Yaşam, Kentsel Bellek ve Yaşanabilir Meydan Gereksinimi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme. Siirt Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi 5 1 66–83.

IEEE

[1]F. Z. Taş and C. İlsever, “Kent Meydanlarında Yüzeyselleşme: Kamusal Yaşam, Kentsel Bellek ve Yaşanabilir Meydan Gereksinimi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme”, Siirt Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 66–83, June 2026, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.20746446.

ISNAD

Taş, Fatma Zehra - İlsever, Ceyhun. “Kent Meydanlarında Yüzeyselleşme: Kamusal Yaşam, Kentsel Bellek Ve Yaşanabilir Meydan Gereksinimi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme”. Siirt Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi 5/1 (June 1, 2026): 66-83. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20746446.

JAMA

1.Taş FZ, İlsever C. Kent Meydanlarında Yüzeyselleşme: Kamusal Yaşam, Kentsel Bellek ve Yaşanabilir Meydan Gereksinimi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme. Siirt Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi. 2026;5:66–83.

MLA

Taş, Fatma Zehra, and Ceyhun İlsever. “Kent Meydanlarında Yüzeyselleşme: Kamusal Yaşam, Kentsel Bellek Ve Yaşanabilir Meydan Gereksinimi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme”. Siirt Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, vol. 5, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 66-83, doi:10.5281/zenodo.20746446.

Vancouver

1.Fatma Zehra Taş, Ceyhun İlsever. Kent Meydanlarında Yüzeyselleşme: Kamusal Yaşam, Kentsel Bellek ve Yaşanabilir Meydan Gereksinimi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme. Siirt Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi. 2026 Jun. 1;5(1):66-83. doi:10.5281/zenodo.20746446

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