Asadollahi Asl Zarkhah, S., Tuna Ultav, Z., & Ballice, G. (2019). Evaluating Public Activities and Behaviors as a Component of Place Identity in Public Interiors: The Case of Kızlarağası Inn, İzmir. In M. Pourjafar, E. Ranjba (Eds.), Proceeding of the First International Conference on Future of Urban Public Spaces (407-420). Tarbiat Modares University.
This paper analyzes public behavior and activities as a component of place identity, to create an understandable insight in socio-spatial context. This understanding clarifies the importance of activities in these areas, and their repercussions on the continuity of place identity.
The growing conjunction between the concepts of “public” and “interior” highlights the complex relationship between urban and interior conditions. Public interiors as a part of public space and generally seen as the place where socio-spatial transformations become visible, has a significant role in creating place identity. In environmental psychology, place is mainly defined by a physical environment, established based on its interrelationship with the attributes and activities of the place. In other words, places can be associated with peoples’ activities, and their behavior through these activities.
The aim of this study is to analyze public behavior and activities as a component of place identity, to create an understandable insight in socio-spatial context. This understanding clarifies the importance of activities in these areas, and their repercussions on the continuity of place identity.
With this purpose, Kızlarağası Inn, located in the Kemeraltı neighborhood, a historical center, and a bazaar district of İzmir-Turkey, is introduced as a semi-open public interior. From the past to the present, it has been a place for social interaction that indicates the social significance of this place. Data concerning activities and its indicators were achieved through observations, on-site documentation, questionnaire, interviews, behavior mapping, and tracking.
Consequently, the result of analysis in attributes and elements of activities in the selected case study are revealed. Regarding these findings, it is stated that, the consequence of place identity in public interiors is related with not only the physical environment, but also social environment. That is to say, activities, situations, and events beside the place’s physical setting and the individual as well as group meanings created concerning these places have roles in creating place identity.