Evaluation of Public Urban Space as a Context for Social Interaction

Abstract

One of the contemporary critical issues in urban areas is to develop and improve the effective strategies for provision of opportunity for "social interaction" among citizens, eventually revitalizing contemporary or so-called modern urban communities. Several studies have analyzed specific physical factors of public urban space influence on social interaction. To understand the factors leading to social interaction, physical characteristics of urban space need to be considered along with the general socio-demographic characteristics of each city. In this study, the physical features and characteristics of selected public urban spaces in central district of Erzurum, Turkey, were categorized and examined based on the variables of connectivity, accessibility, and visibility, in relation to socio-demographic characteristics. The results of the analyses were finally combined, and compared to determine their relationship with the social interaction in public urban spaces.