Exploring User Preferences and Place Attachment in Urban (Public) Spaces: A Case Study of Kadıköy Historical City Centre, Istanbul, Türkiye

Abstract

Different user groups perceive urban (public) spaces and interact with them in different ways. This experience is influenced by complex interactions of cultural, economic, environmental, geographical, political, social, and technical factors. These interactions shape the attachment individuals develop to these spaces, rooted in both direct and indirect physical and social engagements in their daily routines. In this context, this study aims to explore the preferences of different user groups for urban (public) spaces, as well as their selective behaviours within these spaces, by analysing and comparing the place attachment these groups develop with them. The study centres on the Kadıköy Historical City Centre (KHCC) in Istanbul, Türkiye, as it accommodates multiple user groups from different socio-cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and has been one of the most important sub-centres of the Istanbul Metropolitan Region since the 19^th century. A total of 473 participants, encompassing residents, employees, and visitors, were engaged in a public online survey aimed at understanding their preferences and sense of attachment to public spaces. To analyse the survey results, a rigorous approach was adopted, utilizing techniques such as descriptive statistics, discourse analysis, and mapping, to provide a thorough understanding. It was found that there were significant differences in terms of urban space preferences among those living and working in KHCC and visiting it, and that the physical and social relations established by different user groups with the space were diversified and differentiated. The emotional and social ties of residents with the place were very strong, and the meaning they attribute to the urban space was determined considering these premises, whereas visitors mostly referred to the physical elements of the urban space when describing the KHCC. In addition, when a detailed analysis was made in terms of the purposes for coming to KHCC by the visitors, it was also determined that there were subdivisions in terms of their spatial preferences, revealing that the different sub-regions of KHCC were intensively used and preferred by different user groups. In other words, different user groups are clustered in different regions of this urban space, interact with different parts of it, and have different spatial experiences. Likewise, the public spaces of KHCC host different user groups despite the coastline, which is the main common public space for all types of users. Considering the transformation that KHCC is currently undergoing, it stands out that there is a high need to design and plan urban (public) spaces that are inclusive of all user groups and respond to their needs and demands. Furthermore, these findings are expected to significantly contribute to the international urban planning discourse, emphasizing the importance of socio-cultural diversities in shaping the future of urban spaces and placemaking.