İzmir-Karşıyaka’da Çevresel Algıyı Çözümlemeye Yönelik Bir Araştırma

Karşıyaka’da Çevresel Algı Araştırması

Abstract

Cities’ legibility and definability are essential in order to satisfy citizens security, belonging, socializing and navigating needs and to provide a positive human-environment interaction. Moreover, an urban settlement can be evaluated and ameliorated through environmental perception and city image studies. In this scope, developping empirical environmental perception studies and applying new research approaches are crucial. In this paper, case study has been the method used and the research field has been determined as Karşıyaka, İzmir. Evaluating Karşıyaka’s environmental perception holistically with cognitive and affective processes of perception which forms memory, emotions and behaviour is the main aim of the study. In this context, firstly the theoretical background has been established through literature research and then field research consisting semi-structured interviews including open-ended questions and cognitive mapping has been done with participants chosen by random sampling. Analysing the data derived from this research, Karşıyaka’s environmental perception and city image, thus its potentials and weaknesses have been revealed. It is concluded that Karşıyaka is qualified, imageable, embraced, sensed, positively percepted and used urban space which provides a fulfilling urban experience in commercial, social, recreative and cultural terms for its users.