Abstract:

Urban furniture has a highly distinctive determinant effect on the human and society relations. Nowadays, in urban design applications, urban furniture is accepted as an integral part of the space; and a particular importance has been given to it in urban design works. Urban furniture is the equipment that determines and constrains the relations of urban residents, with other people, with institutions and with the city and meets the urban needs of urban residents. Certainly, functionality is important in designing and placing the urban furniture. However urban furniture should be tackled at the design stage by considering the space integrity and it should not be missed that the urban furniture is an inseparable part of the urban identity. Urban furniture must be evaluated in unison with the urban space’s historical, environmental and cultural texture; and must be considered as an enriching and aesthetic element of the urban fabric and urban space. Designing urban furniture needs a much more diligent approach, particularly in the historical places conveying the urban identity. In this study, concepts such as urban, urban space, urban outer space are evaluated and relation between the urban furniture and urban space is handled in detail. Urban furniture in and around Sultanahmet Square -which are chosen as the sample case for the field research of the this study- is investigated on site and evaluated in terms of their cohesion with the historical urban space, design and application. Also, the relation between historical places and urban furniture in terms of urban identity and culture are exhibited. As a conclusion, suggestions are made on the design and application plan regarding the furniture of Sultanahmet Square and its surroundings.

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