Suchergebnisse

Urban furniture can be defined as aesthetics and comfort elements that reflect the identity of a city and enable the urban space to become livable. Urban furniture is an important element of the city in order to improve the quality of urban life, to create a comfortable and reliable environment and to meet the needs of the users in the best way. For designing these elements, the social, economic, cultural and architectural structure of the city should be considered and evaluated. It is important to adapt the urban furniture to the urban texture and to the cultural structure achieving an urban identity, in order to ensure the survival and sustainability of the historical environments. In this study, a study was carried out in the context of urban furniture in Nicosia Walled City, which has many architectural cultures with its historical texture. In this context, firstly the concept of urban identity and urban furniture was explained and then, information about urban furniture was given in historical circles with urban furniture samples from different countries. As a field study, a main axis was determined and the streets and squares on this axis were discussed. These areas have been explored starting from Kyrenia Gate in North Nicosia; İnönü Square, Girne Street, Atatürk Square, Arasta Square, Lokmacı Barricade and on the south side Ledra Street and Eleftherias Square. In this context, the existing furniture in the North and South were determined and evaluated in terms of urban identity accordingly. As a result, it can be suggested that the existing street furniture equipments, especially on the north side, do not have any characteristic to emphasize the urban identity. According to the findings, it was determined that the urban furniture in the streets and squares on the north side is generally older and neglected, and does not provide a unity with the environment, whereas on the south side, these elements on the street and square are relatively new, functional and environmentally compatible.Key words: urban furniture, historical environment, urban identity, Nicosia Old City

Historical neighbourhoods are among the most significant indicators of the cities; as they involve history, culture, architecture and social life. It is very important to protect and ensure sustainability of these places. This goal needs to be achieved without damaging the urban identity via protecting the historic entities. Additionally the restoration and re-use works need to take place under the supervision and cooperation of related government bodies and civil society organisations. Nicosia with its Walled City is a historical environment with a rich architectural and cultural heritage that is currently the focal point of conservation and rehabilitation activities as a circle of urban design implementations. Within this framework in this study, the aim is to evaluate perception and views of the users about urban design implementations involving rehabilitation and conservation activities via survey. Based on the results, the users seemed satisfied with the outcomes of the rehabilitation and re-use of the buildings. However the participants also highlighted the existence of car parking problems, inadequate infrastructure and urban furniture and environmental pollution. Additionally the users do not prefer the areas that have not been renovated and the regions with low socio-cultural characteristics.
Keywords: Historical environment; urban design; user perception; Nicosia Walled City