3.1 Role and Functions of Public Squares

3.1 Role and Functions of Public Squares

According to Lewis Mumford, primary function of cities is the acculturation and humanization of its inhabitants and for these purposes public spaces are the essential tools in the city.

Figure 23: Sultanahmet Mosque and Sultanahmet square

Some basic functions of the urban squares as: (Kostof, 1992)

o As part of the transport system, the junction, collection and waiting points for both foot and car traffic are public squares. o Commercial activities: public plazas are civic centres in which people participate in commercial activities. Throughout history, markets have been one of the main components of public plazas. o Games and sports: games and sports events have always been an important part of public life, and there have been many historical examples of games and sports activities in public plazas.

Kostof also believed that the links between public squares within a city forms a “system”. He also stated that this approach was one of the primary issues in city planning and design during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Open spaces surrounded by houses and other structures within a city are urban public squares. In the sense of the mass and void composition of a region, they thus play an important role. Cities consist of a mixture of masses and voids. A town's structure is

determined by the volume and ratio of masses and voids. Too many masses without any relation to any voids (e.g. streets, parks and squares) (e.g. buildings and structures) can make a city crowded, illegible and chaotic. Hence, urban public squares serve as a stabilizing force especially in contemporary crowded cities.

Public squares have spaces for different recreational and outdoor events for people. In such public areas, people in the city can relax, sit, read a book, play games, meet friends, etc. Activities in urban plazas are not predefined or restricted. Public squares can also be used as marketplaces and for celebrations, rituals, political meetings, musical performances, even theater.

In the urban world, public squares also have ecological benefits. For living species, green areas and water surfaces within a square provide shelter. The presence of green areas inside a public square also contributes to enhancing the quality of air, reducing the pollution of surface water, reducing noise levels and showing unnecessary or unwanted views, and reducing the detrimental impact of urban heat islands.

Well planned public squares improve the appeal of the visual landscape and add to the aesthetics of the city. Visual landscapes enjoyed by individuals also have positive psychological effects on the users of the place when contributing to the overall city picture. Another psychological advantage that urban plazas have is that during their busy urban everyday lives, they are where people can relax and enjoy their spare time.

Any economic benefits for the city could also be provided by urban public squares. It is a well-known fact that the presence of open and green spaces boosts surrounding property prices. It is also possible to use urban plazas as marketplaces or they can be part of commercial operations, such as shopping malls. There are also examples of squares where the dominating function is marketing. One of the well-known examples here is Times Square in New York City. It is also one of the world's most popular and most visited tourist attractions. Located in Manhattan, it's year-round with busy foot traffic and density. Times Square also hosts numerous events and rituals, such as annual New Year celebrations, throughout the year. It is one of the icons of the city of New York and an important part of the picture of the city.

Figure 24: Times Square, New York City, USA

In addition to their physical and ecological features, public plazas contribute tremendously to civic stability and local identity. Like social catalysts, they work. The key role of urban squares is for different purposes and events, to put people together. They have a "coexistence" symbolic sense. In terms of democracy, urban public squares are therefore the main elements of the city. Fair access to public spaces is open to people of all social, economic and cultural backgrounds, age groups, etc. One of these public spaces where individuals and groups learn to value and accommodate others is urban squares. Therefore the areas where social contact and social harmony takes place are urban squares. The local identity is demonstrated by the manner and meaning of this social contact. Many public squares are also of historical significance to the identity of the city and typically represent the community's common values.

All the above-mentioned tasks and functions of urban public squares also contribute to the well-being of people and communities. Therefore in order to maintain and enhance our existing squares or build enjoyable new ones, it is important to rethink and revisit urban public square design approaches.